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–+ servings
Homemade cottage cheese.

Old Fashioned Cottage Cheese Recipe

This old fashioned homemade cottage cheese recipe uses just milk, lemon juice, and salt to create fresh, creamy cottage cheese from scratch. It's simple to make and ready in about 25 minutes.
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Prep Time 5 minutes
Cook Time 10 minutes
10 minutes
Total Time 25 minutes
Servings: 2 cups
Course: Side Dish
Ingredients Method Notes

Ingredients
  

  • 8 cups milk whole or semi-skimmed milk
  • 3 tablespoons lemon juice or white vinegar
  • ½ teaspoon salt

Method
 

  1. Warm the milk in a large saucepan over medium heat until it reaches about 185°F, stirring occasionally.
  2. Remove the pan from the heat and stir in the lemon juice or vinegar. Let the mixture stand for 10 minutes until the curds fully separate from the whey.
  3. Pour everything through a cheesecloth-lined strainer and allow the liquid to drain. Rinse the curds gently under cool water.
  4. Transfer the curds to a bowl, stir in the salt, and serve immediately or refrigerate until chilled.

Notes

  • Whole milk makes the creamiest cottage cheese, but 2% milk also works well.
  • Avoid ultra-pasteurized milk since it may not separate properly.
  • Stir in a little heavy cream after draining if you prefer a creamier texture.
  • Homemade cottage cheese keeps well in the refrigerator for up to 4 days.

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