Cheese Database

Cottage cheese vs Fromage blanc

Cottage cheese, field guide plate
Cottage cheese, photographed

Cottage cheese

Facts

Milk
Cow
Texture
Fresh
Type
Fresh
Rind
No rind
Country
United States

Cottage cheese is fresh cow's-milk curd kept in soft lumps, usually in a creamy dressing. The name points to farm kitchens, where people made a simple cheese from milk they had on hand.

Fromage blanc, field guide plate
Fromage blanc, photographed

Fromage blanc

Facts

Milk
Cow
Texture
Fresh
Type
Fresh
Rind
No rind
Country
France

Fromage blanc is a fresh cow's milk cheese from France, soft and white, with no rind and no aging. The name means white cheese, and the body is smooth enough to eat with a spoon. Makers set the milk with lactic cultures, then drain the whey until the curd is thick but still moist. A plain pot tastes mildly tangy, like cultured cream that has been lightly soured. It belongs with yogurt and quark, not with pressed wheels that sit on a board for a long time.