7 Best Low Sodium Cottage Cheese Brands
Cottage cheese is a delicious sandwich filling and salad ingredient enjoyed by many families, but it is not always as healthy as we might first assume!
Many favorite cottage cheese brands are packed full of sodium, which raises concerns about health problems such as high blood pressure.
So, what are the best low sodium cottage cheese brands? Cottage cheese does not taste great without salt, so opt for a brand with reduced levels of sodium rather than no salt. Cottage cheese that contains high-quality ingredients like organic milk will taste better with reduced levels of salt.
Are you looking for the best low-sodium cottage cheese brands? Read on to find out what makes the best low sodium cottage cheese, including our picks for the 7 best reduced salt cottage cheese brands.
What Is Cottage Cheese?
Cottage cheese is a fresh cheese product, meaning it has not been aged like hard cheeses such as parmesan and cheddar.
It is soft in texture, made from the curds that form early in the cheese-making process. These are normally pressed to make cheese, but when it comes to cottage cheese they are left as a soft, spoonable cheese product.
Cottage cheese is made by adding an acid to milk, which triggers a process called curdling. This means the milk separates into two components – a jelly-like white substance, the curd, and a cloudy white liquid, the whey.
The whey is drained away, and the remaining curd is sliced into small lumps. This is mixed with cream, salt, and often different additives such as herbs, or even fruit!
Why Does Cottage Cheese Contain Salt?
Many brands of cottage cheese are high in sodium, also known as salt. Some of this salt naturally occurs in the milk used to make cottage cheese, but most of it is added during the manufacturing process.
There are two reasons why salt is added to cottage cheese. Firstly, it acts as a natural preservative, reducing levels of bacteria in this dairy product.
And secondly, salt is added for the same reason we’ve been using it on food for thousands of years – it enhances the flavor!
Any type of cheese that does not contain salt is bland and tasteless. Add in a sprinkling of salt, and the flavor will be transformed into something absolutely delicious.
Why Choose Low Sodium Cottage Cheese?
While cottage cheese has many health benefits, this is often counterbalanced by the high levels of sodium. And while sodium, or salt, is an essential nutrient, in the modern world many of us eat far too much salt on a daily basis.
Consuming a diet that is high in salt greatly increases the risk of health problems such as high blood pressure, heart disease, and stroke.
Health authorities advise that adults should consume around 1,500 milligrams of sodium per day. Some brands of whole-fat cottage cheese contain 900 milligrams of sodium in one cup, which is nearly two-thirds of your daily salt allowance!
For a product to be labeled as low-sodium, it must contain 140 milligrams or less of sodium per serving. You will also see reduced-sodium products, which contain 25 percent less sodium than the amount normally found in the regular product.
If you are watching your salt intake, then these are the figures you need to pay attention to. Truly low-sodium cottage cheese is a rarity, as when the levels of salt are this low the product becomes tasteless and bland.
However, many manufacturers are making efforts to keep levels of salt in their products as low as possible.
There is one other thing to look out for, and that is the recommended serving size on the packaging. The recommended serving may only be half what you normally eat, so you may be consuming far more salt than you realize.
For our review of the best low sodium cottage cheese brands, you will notice that very few on the list are labeled as truly low sodium.
Although some low-sodium cottage cheese brands do exist, they are often pumped full of other artificial ingredients to compensate for this.
So we’ve searched for the very best brands of cottage cheese with lower levels of sodium, perfect if you are trying to keep your salt levels within the recommended amount.
If you’re trying to reduce your sodium intake even further for health reasons, it may be worth weighing up the benefits of the cottage cheese brands with the lowest sodium.
Or you could just pick one of our best reduced-sodium brands, and eat half the amount instead!
How To Choose The Best Low Sodium Cottage Cheese Brands
There is such a wide variety of cottage cheese brands available that sometimes it becomes overwhelming to choose one for your family.
Is all cottage cheese the same, or are there certain things you need to think about when buying this dairy product?
If you are on the hunt for the best low-sodium cottage cheese, here is what you should take into consideration.
Small Or Large Curd
Many popular brands of cottage cheese produce both small and large curd varieties. But, apart from the obvious difference in size in the curds, why does the curd size matter?
Large curd cottage cheese is generally considered to be a superior product in terms of flavor, more milky, and with a creamy, rounded taste.
Small curd cottage cheese can be slightly more acidic, giving it a sour tang.
However, these differences are very subtle, and the choice between large and small curd cottage cheese often just comes down to personal taste.
Nutritional Content
OK, so we know that we’re looking for the best quality cottage cheese with minimal levels of salt here, but when picking the best cottage cheese brands we also need to look at the remaining nutritional content.
Cottage cheese is generally regarded as an excellent source of protein, which is vital for building healthy body tissues. It is also high in calcium, and some cottage cheese brands also contain probiotics to help maintain a healthy digestive system.
However, while cottage cheese is packed full of energy-boosting protein, it is also high in fat. This gives it a high calorie count, so if you are following a calorie-restricted or low-fat diet then opt for cottage cheese with reduced fat content.
Added Seasonings & Flavorings
You will see many options when it comes to cottage cheese, from traditional plain cottage cheese to varieties with added herbs, or even fruits such as blueberries or pineapple.
These are not to everyone’s tastes, so it might be worth trying a small pot of flavored cottage cheese before splashing out on that multipack. Otherwise, you’ll be stuck with a whole load of cottage cheese that no one wants to eat!
Additives
It is a good idea to look for cottage cheese brands that contain as few additives as possible.
It is not unheard of for this delicious cheese product to be pumped full of artificial flavorings and preservatives, turning a healthy food option into something to avoid.
This is a particular problem with low-salt products, as alternative artificial ingredients are used to compensate for the lack of salty flavor.
Check the label carefully – if it lists a whole load of E-numbers and additives, then it is probably a product to avoid.
Welfare Standards & Quality Of Ingredients
In the modern world, many of us trying to source food products that meet the highest possible welfare standards. You will see many words used to describe how dairy cows are cared for, and these can be the source of much confusion.
There are some basic terms you can look out for that will help you to choose dairy products that come from cows that have the best life possible:
Organic – this means that the cow is cared for using methods that are free from chemicals as much as possible, including the food that it eats.
This is the healthiest option for us to consume, and we can be reassured by the fact that organic dairy cows live a very natural life.
Free-range – for dairy products to be labeled as free-range, the cow must be able to spend the majority of its life outside, in natural conditions. This is a high-welfare farming method and it is a good idea to buy free-range dairy products if you can afford them.
Antibiotic free – it is a sad reality of modern-day farming that many animals are given antibiotics in a way that many people feel is unnecessary or unhealthy. If you are keen to reduce your intake of antibiotic residues in your food, choose antibiotic-free dairy products.
Best Low Sodium Cottage Cheese Brands
There is such a wide variety of cottage cheese brands available that sometimes it becomes overwhelming to choose one for your family. Here are our top picks for the 7 best low-sodium cottage cheese brands to help you out!
| Rank | Product | Sodium Content | Key Features |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | Breakstone's Lowfat Small Curd Cottage Cheese | 250mg | Small curd, 2% milkfat, large resealable tub |
| 2. | Prairie Farms Low Fat Cottage Cheese | 240mg | Handy snack cups |
| 3. | Hiland Low Fat Cottage Cheese Less Sodium | 240mg | Large resealable tub |
| 4. | Nancy’s Probiotic Low Fat Cottage Cheese | 300mg | Traditional recipe with probiotics free from artificial growth hormones |
| 5. | Knudsen Lowfat Small Curd Cottage Cheese & Pineapple | 320mg | Naturally sweetened with pineapple, small curd |
| 6. | Trader Joe’s Small Curd Cottage Cheese | 320mg | 4% milkfat, small curd |
| 7. | Kalona Super Natural Organic Reduced Fat 2% Cottage Cheese | 360mg | Certified organic, free from artificial additives |
1. Breakstone’s Lowfat Small Curd Cottage Cheese
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Our top pick for the best low sodium cottage cheese brand just had to be Breakstone’s Small Curd 2% Milkfat Lowfat Cottage Cheese with Low Sodium!
This high-quality small curd cottage cheese contains 45% less sodium than other top cottage cheese brands.
It is made with Grade A milk and cream and comes in a large resealable tub for handy storage.
2. Prairie Farms Low Fat Cottage Cheese
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This is a super-healthy snack-size pot of cottage cheese, with just 80 calories per serving and 50% less sodium than other cottage cheese brands.
It is made using Grade A pasteurized milk and seasoned with sea salt for a naturally delicious flavor.
3. Hiland Low Fat Cottage Cheese Less Sodium
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Hiland Low Fat Cottage Cheese is an excellent source of protein, made with the best quality farm-fresh milk.
It contains 50% less sodium than other top brands and is gently seasoned with sea salt to give great flavor and the perfect texture.
4. Nancys Probiotic Low Fat Cottage Cheese
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Although Nancy’s Probiotic Low Fat Cottage Cheese is slightly higher in sodium than our top three picks, it is the first on the list to be free from artificial additives and growth hormones.
This delicious creamy cottage cheese is made using traditional methods and contains billions of live probiotic cultures to help maintain a healthy digestive system.
5. Knudsen Lowfat Small Curd Cottage Cheese & Pineapple
Finally, a low sodium cottage cheese for those of you with a sweet tooth!
Pineapple and cheese might sound like an odd combination, but these two pair surprisingly well together to bring you a snack that is both delicious and nutritious.
6. Trader Joe’s Small Curd Cottage Cheese
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Trader Joe’s Small Curd Cottage Cheese is made from Grade A pasteurized whole milk, giving it a thick and creamy texture and deliciously tangy but sweet flavor.
It is tasty enough to be enjoyed on its own, or paired up with other savory or sweet foods.
7. Kalona Super Natural Organic Reduced Fat 2% Cottage Cheese
The final cottage cheese on our list is not the lowest in sodium here, but it is still far lower than many of the leading brands.
Plus it is the only lower sodium cottage cheese we could find that is made from organic milk, and you really can taste the difference!
This traditionally made cottage cheese is produced using milk from pasture-grazed cows and is free from artificial ingredients.
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Thanks Jaron,
I appreciate the insight into the differences in cottage cheeses. I love cottage cheese but not the sodium and extra additives.
thanks, Kathy Dvorak
Are there any cottage cheeses with even LOWER sodium counts and where might a person find them? Is there a company that makes LOTS of low sodium foods?
Thank you!
Michele
I can’t tell when the article was published but it seems to be a while ago. The links to the first two are no longer active. A search for them indicate the sodium is almost double what is listed in the article. Would it be possible to get an update?
Low sodium is defined as no more than 140 mg per serving, so none of the products on your list are low sodium and half of them have more than twice the amount.
Defined by whom, exactly? This is hysterical. There is no hard and fast rule for what can be defined as “low sodium.” It’s all relative. A food that is naturally high in sodium can be called low sodium if it has less sodium than what would normally be found. You’d be hard pressed to find bacon with a sodium content of 140 mg per serving (and who cares about serving size, my god… please think for yourself. You don’t ACTUALLY have to eat the serving size suggested). But if you buy bacon that has less sodium than all the other brands, what? You can’t say you have low sodium bacon. Good grief, Loren! These cottage cheeses are low sodium compared to all the others. And, here’s another tip: cut the serving size in half and suddenly you’re below your “technical” (what a laugh) definition of low sodium. SMH
Per the FDA: To claim it is “low sodium”, the item must have 140 miligrams of sodium or less per serving, and “No Added Salt” does not have salt added, but does not mean that it is a “sodium free” food – and must state this if this is the case.
“Health authorities advise…”
HAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!! You know what else they advised? High carb low fat diets without any concern with calorie intake. So people went out, bought potato chips, and ate the entire bag thinking they’re being healthy because “health authorities advised.” They also advised avoiding red meat, even though the basis for these “advisements” were based on correlation rather than causation. Now, as we have better data sets and more ability to tease out the variables, it appears that the idea that red meat is bad for you is completely BS. You know what else they advised? Low sodium diets. A meaningless endeavor unless you actually have a health concern. The average person has no need to avoid sodium.
I would NOT call 300+ mg sodium a “low salt” cottage cheese!
Where is the remarkably-low 60mg sodium per 1/2 cup LUCERNE cottage cheese?
AFFILIATE LINK to Trader Joe’s high sodium cottage cheese?
What a waste of my time!
Per the FDA: To claim it is “low sodium”, the item must have 140 miligrams of sodium or less per serving, and “No Added Salt” does not have salt added, but does not mean that it is a “sodium free” food – and must state this if this is the case.
Thank you, Jaron. I discovered the Prairie Farms brand with reduced sodium a few months ago. I was trying to add protein to my diet but I have tinnitus and HTN which are both affected by salt/sodium laced products. When I realized the tremendous amount of salt in the 1/2 cup in most brands, I beyond discouraged. The Prairie Farms is great! Thank you for adding to my choices.