Cottage Cheese Vs Farmer Cheese: What's The Difference? - Tasting Table

"Among the many different dairy products to choose from, there are actually more curd-based options than meet the eye. Two main choices for delicious and nutritious styles of cheese include cottage cheese and farmer cheese. Whereas cottage cheese is more popular in the United States given its prevalence during both World War I and the 1970s, farmer cheese (also known as farmers cheese or farmer's cheese) is a style of cottage cheese derived from traditional European cheesemaking methods."

"However, the biggest difference between the two is texture. Cottage cheese is more moist and creamy with a uniquely wet consistency given the dressing in which the curds are set. On the other hand, farmer cheese is much drier and can be spread in the same way as cream cheese with a more grainy sort of mouthfeel akin to ricotta."

Cottage cheese and farmer cheese are curd-based cheeses with different origins and characteristics. Cottage cheese is common in the United States and retains a moist, creamy, wet consistency because curds are set in a dressing. Farmer cheese stems from traditional European cheesemaking and is drier, spreadable like cream cheese with a grainy mouthfeel similar to ricotta. Both cheeses are mild in flavor and versatile for sweet and savory applications. Nutritionally, cottage cheese contains significantly more sodium due to added salt, while farmer cheese tends to have higher fat, calories, and protein. Recipe substitutions between the two should be considered case-by-case.

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