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I Tasted 17 Kinds of Cottage Cheese to Find the 5 Best Tubs

The creamiest, squeakiest, and curd-iest tubs that won me over.

22 July 2024
6 min read
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*This article includes mentions of merchants or brands who are partners of DoorDash, and DoorDash may receive a commission if you choose to make a purchase from these merchants or brands.

Cottage cheese is not controversial in my world: the creamy dairy flavor, light tang, and big squeaky curds are an unbeatable combination. I eat it with black pepper for breakfast, stir it into tomato sauce to give it extra body, and bake it into lasagna. I understand that there are people who don’t like it, however, as well as those who aren’t sure what cottage cheese even is. Having tasted 17 different kinds of cottage cheese to find the best ones, I understand why there are so many cottage cheese haters: They probably have yet to find the right cottage cheese for them.

With my trusty tasters, we tried versions as thick as milkshakes, ones without much detectable liquid, and altogether too many that were oddly foamy. We ate spoonfuls of large, tender curds and tiny curds that resembled dry nubbins of chalk. We went through bowls of bland, salty, sweet, and often sour cottage cheese and persevered to find the best of the bunch: big, well-defined curds suspended in a cool, creamy, tangy, balanced, and liquid-y whey.

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The Tasters

There are two types of cottage cheese eaters: those who don’t particularly enjoy it but like a ready-to-eat food high in protein and low in fat, and those who love it. I am the latter. My best friend is the former. Both of us regularly make our way through at least a tub of cottage cheese a week. My six-year-old joined in for the fruit-included category.

The Methodology

We tested each cottage cheese by category, starting with the low-fat versions, then working our way up to the full-fat, then onto the fruit-included versions. We each took a spoonful to start, but circled back at the end to re-taste many with the perspective gained from the rest of the selection.

The Results

Best Overall: Daisy Pure & Natural Low Fat Cottage Cheese

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This might be the first tasting ever where a low-fat version wins the overall. But the results were consistent: Across the board, we found that the low-fat variety from a brand tended to have a cleaner flavor and more defined curds. Daisy was a prime example. This winning tub featured robust curds, plenty of salt, no sour notes, and a light creaminess. Unlike many of its competitors, it lacked unnecessary additives, which we appreciated. While a lot of the cottage cheeses that used stabilizers like guar gum or locust bean gum were still great, Daisy’s simplicity really showed in the fullness of the dairy flavor.

Best Organic: Organic Valley 2% Milkfat Small Curd Lowfat Cottage Cheese

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Organic Valley’s low-fat version had nicely defined curds, if a touch on the firmer side, and a pleasant, balanced ratio of curd to liquid. The main thing keeping this tub from competing for the best cottage cheese overall was a bit of blandness; it lacked some of the signature tang of cottage cheese and just tasted a bit flatter. However, in certain applications, this could be helpful: I use cottage cheese in lasagnas and kugels, and this would be the first I’d reach for.

Best For Yogurt Lovers: Nancy's Organic Probiotic Low Fat Cottage Cheese

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As a lifelong cottage cheese fan, I found this one a bit odd. My friend and fellow taster, who just joined the cottage cheese club recently for nutritional reasons, loved it. As we talked and tasted, it became clear: If you’re eating cottage cheese for the protein advantage over yogurt, this is the one. It has a vibrant tang and the cultured taste of yogurt. The curds are much less defined, making for a smoother spoonful that’s more like yogurt. For cottage cheese purists, this one doesn’t quite work, but for yogurt fans, it’s the perfect entry into a new dairy category.

Best For Curd Fans: Organic Valley 4% Milkfat Small Curd Cottage Cheese Tub

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I like big curds and I cannot lie. I want the curds to be chickpea size and chunky, to stand out from the whey. While there were other brands that had bigger curds, only Organic Valley managed to have big curds that also weren’t afloat in a sea of foam or tasted of last month’s milk. The curds were a bit firmer than ideal, but that’s the sacrifice required for a size queen.

Best For Lunchboxes: Good Culture Simply 2% Milkfat Simply Pineapple Cottage Cheese

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I have no rational explanation for why the Good Culture single-serve size was so good when its larger tubs couldn’t compete. Some of the smoothness and lack of curd definition worked well in this fruit-on-bottom style container. And once mixed up, the pineapple gives the overall flavor a nice boost. A huge problem with many of the single-serve styles was overly sweet filling, but Good Culture managed to use much less sugar than competing brands, and the result nicely balanced the savory notes of the cottage cheese.

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PHOTO CREDIT:
Photography: Paul Quitoriano
Art Direction: Sarah Ceniceros Gomez

Finding the best cottage cheese comes down to understanding what you love—whether that’s a small-curd texture, a rich full-fat creaminess, or a high-protein option that fits into your weekly routine. With so many styles on the shelves, paying attention to curd size, fat content, and flavor profile can help you pinpoint the perfect tub for snacking, cooking, or topping your favorite meals. Once you know what you’re looking for, comparing brands becomes easy, and you can shop them all in one place without a trip to the store. Explore your favorites through DoorDash Grocery Delivery.

Frequently Asked Questions about Ordering Cottage Cheese on DoorDash

To quickly locate your go-to grocery brands and staple items on DoorDash, just type the name of the product—like “cottage cheese,” “whole milk,” or your favorite brand name—into the search bar. Because DoorDash pulls from a wide network of grocery stores, convenience shops, and supermarkets, you’ll see plenty of familiar everyday staples available in one spot. You can also browse by category (like “Dairy & Eggs → Soft Cheeses”) to scan through all the brands and sizes at once. When you’re ready to restock, you can explore local options through DoorDash Grocery.

The easiest way to compare cottage cheese styles on DoorDash is to search for “cottage cheese” and then scan the product labels shown right in the listings. Most tubs clearly call out whether they’re small curd, large curd, high-protein, low-fat, or organic, so you can compare styles side by side without jumping between stores. You can also open a store’s Dairy or Cottage Cheese category to see all options grouped together, making it simple to match texture, protein level, and price in one view—perfect for stocking up or topping off your weekly staples.

You can easily see which nearby stores carry top cottage cheese brands by using the search bar in the DoorDash app. Just type “cottage cheese” or a specific brand name, and the results will show products along with the store offering them—so you can quickly spot which grocers near you stock your favorites. You can also browse a store’s Dairy section to see its full selection in one place. It’s a simple way to compare availability across multiple retailers without jumping between apps or making extra trips, and you can start browsing local options through DoorDash Grocery.

Yes — while DoorDash doesn’t use a dedicated dietary filter for every category, it’s still easy to shop by needs like high-protein, organic, or low-fat. Just type keywords such as “high-protein,” “organic cottage cheese,” or “low-fat dairy” into the search bar, and the app will surface matching items across nearby stores. Product labels make it clear which tubs meet your preferences, and browsing within a store’s Dairy section can help you spot specialty options grouped together. It’s a quick way to match your dietary goals without hunting through every listing.

Yes — if you forget fruit, crackers, or any of your favorite cottage-cheese pairings, you can usually add them after checkout as long as your order hasn’t been shopped yet. Just open your active order and tap Add Items to quickly include anything you missed. It’s a convenient way to top off your cart without starting over, whether you’re planning snacks for the week or pulling together a last-minute meal. With fast grocery delivery, those extra add-ons can be on the way just as quickly as the rest of your order.

DoorDash keeps refrigerated items like cottage cheese cold and fresh by having your order picked and packed by a trained, top-rated shopper who handles cold items last and keeps them separate from shelf-stable groceries. During delivery, Dashers are instructed to transport chilled products promptly and carefully so they arrive in the same condition you’d expect from an in-store trip. And if anything doesn’t meet your standards, DoorDash’s Quality Guarantee has you covered with quick fixes or refunds—so your dairy stays cold, creamy, and ready for the fridge.

Yes — DoorDash makes it easy to compare prices and spot promotions across multiple stores when you’re shopping for dairy. Just search for the item you want, like “cottage cheese,” and the app will display options from different nearby grocers side by side, each with its own price and size clearly listed. You can tap into individual stores to see deals, strike-through pricing, or in-app promotions that might help you save. It’s a simple way to find the best value without switching between apps or making extra trips.

Yes — DoorDash lets you schedule your grocery delivery so chilled items like cottage cheese arrive exactly when you need them. At checkout, just select Schedule Ahead and choose the delivery window that fits your plans, whether you want everything waiting for you after work or timed perfectly for meal prep. It’s a convenient way to keep cold items fresh without stressing about timing, and with delivery in as little as 30 minutes when you need it sooner, you’re covered either way.

If the cottage cheese you ordered arrives damaged, warm, or not quite what you selected, just head to your order in the DoorDash app and tap Help to report the issue. You’ll be able to request a refund or credit through the Quality Guarantee, which covers problems like incorrect items, temperature issues, or damaged packaging. Most fixes are handled quickly, so you can get back to stocking your fridge with the fresh, chilled groceries you expected—no extra trips or hassle required.

If a refrigerated item arrives damaged, warm, or different from what you expected, the quickest fix is to open your order in the DoorDash app and tap Help. From there, you can report the issue and request a refund or credit through DoorDash’s Quality Guarantee, which covers problems like temperature issues, broken seals, or incorrect items. Most resolutions are handled fast, so you can restock without stress and keep your groceries as fresh and reliable as if you’d picked them out yourself.