The calories in cottage cheese vary based on the milkfat percentage of the product. The higher the milkfat, the higher the calories. For example, if you were to buy a 4 percent milkfat cottage cheese, it would have more calories per serving than a 1 percent cottage cheese. Obviously, fat free would then have the lowest calories.
There are three different types of cottage cheese based om milkfat: regular, lowfat/reduced fat, and nonfat/dry curd. Regular cottage cheese has 4 percent milkfat or greater, but most brands found in grocery stores are around 4 percent milkfat. Lowfat or reduced fat cottage cheese can have 0.5 to 2 percent milkfat. Nonfat or dry curd may have 0.5 percent or less milkfat. You will notice in the store that most brands will have the variety (i.e. reduced fat) along with the milkfat percentage (i.e. 2 percent) located on the label.
How Many Calories In Cottage
To show how many calories are in cottage cheese we have first provide the general nutrition facts from the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) nutrient database. We then provided calorie data for some of the popular cottage cheese brands. All serving sizes will be one cup. You will find an approximate 80 calorie difference between the regular 4% milkfat and fat free cottage cheese, based on the brand sample data. The difference is over 100 calories when looking at the USDA data.
Cottage Cheese Calories - USDA Nutrient Database
Serving Size 1 Cup| Cottage Cheese Variety | Calories |
|---|---|
| Nonfat | 104 |
| 1% | 163 |
| 2% | 183 |
| Regular (Large Curd) | 206 |
| Regular (Small Curd) | 220 |
Cottage Cheese Calories - Brands
Serving Size 1 Cup| Cottage Cheese Brand/Variety | Calories |
|---|---|
| Borden Regular 4% | 220 |
| Borden Low Fat 1% | 160 |
| Borden Fat Free | 160 |
| Breakstone's Regular 4% | 220 |
| Breakstone's Lowfat 2% | 180 |
| Breakstone's Fat Free | 160 |
| Clover Regular 4% | 240 |
| Clover Lowfat 2% | 180 |
| Clover Fat Free | 160 |
| Crowley Regular 4% | 240 |
| Crowley Lowfat 1% | 180 |
| Crowley Nonfat | 180 |
| Daisy Regular 4% | 220 |
| Daisy Lowfat 2% | 180 |
| Dean's Reduced Fat 2% | 200 |
| Dean's Regular 4% | 220 |
| Dean's Lowfat 1% | 180 |
| Dean's Fat Free | 160 |
| Friendship Dairies California Style 4% | 240 |
| Friendship Dairies Lowfat 2% (Pot Style) | 180 |
| Friendship Dairies Lowfat 1% | 180 |
| Friendship Dairies Nonfat | 160 |
| Hood Country Style 4% | 240 |
| Hood Lowfat 1% | 180 |
| Hood Fat Free | 160 |
| Horizon Organic Regular 4% | 240 |
| Horizon Organic Lowfat 2% | 200 |
| Kalona Super Natural Regular 4% | 240 |
| Kalona Super Natural Regular 2% | 160 |
| Lactaid Lowfat 1% | 160 |
| Nancy's Organic Lowfat | 160 |
| Organic Valley Regular 4% | 220 |
| Organic Valley Lowfat 2% | 200 |
While the data above shows a significant calorie difference between fat free and regular 4 percent milkfat, taste does play a factor. After all, you typical want to enjoy a food if you are going to regularly eat it. Hopefully the above information will give you a solid idea of the calories in cottage cheese no matter what variety you enjoy eating.