I shudder when I remember the low-fat craze that took hold during my 1980s childhood: skim milk, nonfat cottage cheese, nonfat yogurt (sweetened with aspartame!), artificial eggs, margarine, nonfat salad dressing (with sugar to make up for the lack of flavor), and worst of all, nonfat cheese, which looks and tastes exactly like shards of hard plastic.
Those were dark days. And the food was terrible.
Fortunately, nutritional science has caught up with our instincts and taste buds to tell us, whoops! Our bad: naturally-occurring fat (not trans fat) is okay! And often good for you. Sorry for the terrible cheese.
I’m glad I’ve lived long enough to witness that 180-degree turnaround. Good quality oils, butter, and whole milk taste so much better than their fake-food counterparts. Fortunately Aldi has lots of inexpensive healthy fats to choose from, including olive oil, coconut oil, tuna, and a nice selection of nuts.
Whole fat dairy products aren’t as good for you as those, but they’re still fine to eat in moderation and will keep you fuller for longer than their low or non-fat versions. Enter one of my personal Aldi favorites: the humble Friendly Farms Cottage Cheese (small curd, 4% milkfat variety). Yes, it comes in 2%, too, but didn’t we just establish that we don’t have to torture ourselves with low fat food? Go ahead and buy the good stuff.
I love cottage cheese. My mom used to serve it up with fruit (canned peaches, because life is never perfect), and I’d pick off the slimy fruit to eat the cheese. It’s one of my favorite comfort foods and also a nice high-protein snack or breakfast. It’s creamy-meets-salty flavor is addictive, once you get over how unappealing it looks.
Cottage cheese is such a basic, humble product that you wouldn’t think there’d be much variety out there. But as a life-long lover of curds and whey, I’m here to tell you that they’re not all created equal. Some are too sour; some are too grainy; some are too thick and lumpy; and some are too thin. Ideally, cottage cheese should have soft curds and a rich milky flavor with a hint of saltiness.
Friendly Farms Cottage Cheese is perfect. I’ve never had a bad carton, and you can imagine I’ve gone through plenty of them. They’re consistently creamy, a little salty, and smooth. I’ve had much higher priced cottage cheeses from other stores that can’t stand up to this one in terms of flavor and texture.
Each 1/2 cup serving contains 100 calories, 5 grams of fat (3 saturated), 11 grams of protein, and 8% of your daily calcium. It also contains 20% of your recommended sodium, so be careful if you’re following a low-sodium diet. There are no serving instructions, but I recommend a bowl or cup and a spoon because your family might give you strange looks if you just stand in the kitchen eating it straight out of the carton. Hypothetically, of course.
The Verdict:
If you love cottage cheese, or you love someone who does, then save yourself money and disappointment by buying the Aldi whole milk version. You won’t regret it; and it’s not even bad for you. And if I’m coming over to visit, please buy two.
I purchased the cottage cheese and each time, it had way too much water couldn’t even see the cottage cheese. The only way I could eat it was to dump it in a mesh colander and that only helped very little.I purchased this at Aldi Brighton St PSL
That’s why I’m on this site right now. To see if anybody else was experiencing this. I used to buy 3 or 4 containers of their cottage cheese at a shot. When it’s done right, this stuff is INCREDIBLY great tasting. But anymore, it’s like a hit or miss for me. Sometimes, like the new one I opened today, there’s just too much liquid. I don’t know if this is responsible for upsetting my stomach or what, but even if it’s not, it takes the enjoyment out of eating it. It’s RUNNY. It’s gross. It’s 180° out of phase from when I buy it and it’s not overly saturated and is nice and firm. And when it’s like that – as it should be, it’s the best cottage cheese I’ve ever had. When it’s runny, it’s the worst I’ve ever had. I’m shopping at the Aldi on Chesapeake Boulevard in Elkton, MD. It’s gotten to the point where I’m going to have to contact them. This cottage cheese has gone from the best find I made at Aldi, to almost the WORST.
That was my complaint. Good taste, but the container was one-half liquid. I actually emptied it and ran it through a strainer before I could plate it. Disappointing as my experience with ALDI has been excellent.
if u stir it all up and then its fine trust me it’s all like that even from SAVE-A-LOT i have it from both places in my fridge right this moment if you stir clear to bottom of them they are fine !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
This sounds like the 2%. Try the whole milk; it’s much creamier, though much “heavier”.
I just bought some and AMP is exactly right. Way too watery. I won’t buy again.
Yep, way too much water. First tast each serving has a weird and butter flavor, which subsides thereafter. Not again for me.
Just started going to Aldies and trying their stuff. Some good some not so. This is very good I also love cottage cheese and this has great favor. It is a bit watery but I have had that with others. Will be getting more this week.. Just wish Aldies would print where their stuff is made.
Purchased small curd cottage cheese from Aldis and there were about 30 big “curds” like the size of a grape. To me these were just gross as I only care for small curds. Smashed them into smaller chunks then the cottage cheese was drier than I like.
Yes, I just posted above and I also noticed this when it was also just downright too watery. I actually prefer it drier – much drier.
low fat cottage cheese watery, so I purchased the 4% milk fat, just as watery as the low fat! Aldi’s need to address this problem. Won’t buy again.
Contains carrageenan a toxic ingredient can cause stomach cancer and anaphylactic seizure. Banned in many countries because it is so toxic. Used as a thickened to reduce water.
Well, apparently they’re not using enough of it. Figured I’d do a test and try purchasing another container of it. Ate it one time, had an upset stomach that I’m beginning to believe was connected to it, and ended up tossing it. What a waste of money. It’s incredible that Aldi isn’t concerned enough about this to do anything about it. I’ve spoken with the twice and the second time I was told they’re working with the manufacturer, but in the end, it’s the same lousy cottage cheese – except when there’s NOT too much liquid in it. Then it’s some of the best tasting I’ve ever had. Dump the manufacturer.
You need to do more research. It’s the same misinformation that gave MSG a bad name.
Excellent point! We never purchase anything containing carrageenan, bad stuff any way you cut it.
Just purchased the cottage cheese. Full of cream and about 30 curds. Will not buy agian
Lousy with gums and other gut disruptors. Cottage cheese should contain milk, cream, and salt. Those are the listed ingredients in the Daisy brand.
Aldi brand contains:
grade a skim milk, cream, salt, whey, phosphoric acid, glucono delta lactone, guar gum, calcium sulfate, xanathan gum, mono and diglycerides, natural and artificial flavors, carrageenan, locust bean gum, potassium sorbate preservative), enzymes.
WHY?
That, I think, would be a great question to ask Aldi, if you haven’t done so already: http://www.aldi.us/contact/
Are friendly farm cottage cheese consider vegetarian .
Is it kosher ??
This cottage cheese is so watery I can drink it like milk! Bottoms up 😭
Too much water taste awful
ive been complaing since september 10 2019 they dont care so i dont bye it ther
That thought DID occur to me – that the company manufacturing it for them is adding water for weight. They SHOULD be concerned because it’s a hit to their reputation, not whatever xyz company is putting it out for them. I complained on their website last night. There’s a link posted in here someplace. I also mentioned their sour cream. I suspect the same people are producing that, though of course I could be wrong. Not as pronounced as the cottage cheese, but still way too liquidy.
The liquid you’re talking about in sour cream — and even in cottage cheese — is whey. It’s natural and healthy. https://www.mashed.com/176429/why-does-sour-cream-get-watery/
Yeah, I get it, but there is WAY (no pun intended) too much of it. It’s the difference between night and day and makes the cottage cheese so unappealing that for the first time since I began shopping at Aldi, I’m probably going to take it back and stop purchasing it there. It’s seriously BAD. Cottage cheese should (almost) have the consistency of water.
Their 1% cottage tastes and has the consistency of what other brands call 2,3 or 4%.
Just tried their “non fat” yogurt today and it has the consistency and taste of full fat yogurt. There is something fishy cause I doubt Aldi found the miracle of making non fat and low fat products taste and look and feel like full fat!
I buy at Aldias “Friendly Farms” 4% cottage cheese. It’s always been good. But what a surprise when I opened our “new” container !!! It was very soupy and not but a few curds!!! I don’t know maybe it was the end or the beginning of filling the containers. Heres the upc no.
041498192174 date good until 9/18/20 plant#39-13
Seriously, Margaret. You NEED TO REPORT THIS TO THEM. I already did and when I complained that I didn’t think they were taking it seriously, they directed me to a manager. It’s bad and even their own employees are aware of it because I asked point blank. Some of them purchase it themselves. Seriously, report it. I also told them about this sight where there were multiple complaints. It’s not just us.
I do get small variations in texture and saltiness, but I have to say that it is the best cottage cheese I ever had. I’ve gone through about 20 (not at once ;)) and I still can’t get enough. Great storage containers too. And I do eat it right out of the container in the kitchen in front of the family.
VERY WATERY EVERY CONTAINER AND THE STAMP THE EXPIRATION DATE ON TOP OF THE LID WHERE U CANT READ IT BECAUSE THEY STAMP IT IN THE BAR CODE. AND I GOT SOME THAT WAS SOUR SO THE DATE MUST BEEN EXPIRED.
I agree. I love this cottage cheese. I eat it every single day sometimes twice a day yes there is a small amount of liquid that needs to be stirred in each time I use it. But not enough to bother me. I eat it with crushed pineapple for breakfast everyday. And no I don’t skimp on the fat
After cottage cheese curds are formed and the whey has been drained, there is no liquid. It is pebbly. What the company adds to it determines how rich and creamy it will taste. High end cottage cheese has cream added to the curds. But high end cottage cheese has all but disappeared from the marketplace. To fix the disgusting water found in the Friendly Farm cottage cheese, drain it, and add some cream. It will again be rich and luscious. That’s what i do with mine. That’s what people who make their own whole milk cottage cheese use.
I just googled “aldi cottage cheese is the best” expecting to find all the rave reviews. Saw this article but was surprised by the comments saying it isn’t good.
I have gone on a bit of a cottage cheese tour lately. Have had daisy, breakstone, hiland dairy, walmart, kroger, and michigan cottage cheeses. Hands down came back to aldi happily. The others were all far more watery (with the exception of michigan which was more like ricotta) than aldi and most were flavorless. Just came home with a new tub of friendly fams and it is so delicious and the perfect consistency.
Wonder if there is a regional difference (like the peanut butter cups changed recently in my region but dont seem to have changed else ware) or if what im looking for in cottage cheese is just way different then the other comenters lol
Talking about the non low fat one, of course.
Carrageenan is an extract from a red seaweed commonly known as Irish Moss. This edible seaweed is native to the British Isles, where it’s been used in traditional cooking for hundreds of years. It’s also widely used in the food industry, mostly as a thickener and gelling agent. You’ll find it in ice cream, cottage cheese, non-dairy milks, jelly, pudding, and infant formula. Unlike gelatin, which is made from animal products, carageenan is appropriate for vegans. This article is worth a read to give another viewpoint that carrageenan is bad.https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/the-carrageenan-controversy/#:~:text=Carrageenan%20is%20an%20extract%20from,a%20thickener%20and%20gelling%20agent.
Is Friendly Farms I a boa free container?
4% small curd hands down the best cottage cheese I have ever had.
We just bought some low-fat cottage cheese brought it home and noticed there was no expiration date printed on it anywhere. Anyone else ever have this?
I’ve never had that happen before. Sometimes you have to look closely to find the date, but it’s always there.
Can’t find a date on mine either. A n y w h e r e!