Is ricotta cheese healthy to eat? | You Ask, We Answer (2024)

FAQs

How healthy is ricotta cheese? ›

Compared to most cheeses, ricotta is a healthier choice because it contains less salt and fat - 10 per cent fat, of which 6 per cent is saturated. It's light and creamy with a slightly grainy texture and delicate flavour that can be used on its own or in sweet and savoury dishes.

Ricotta lovers will be happy to know that ricotta cheese is a healthy food and belongs to the dairy food group. It can be enjoyed every day as part of a balanced diet. Ricotta is an Italian word that means 'recooked'.

For adults, the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) recommends consuming 2-3 servings of dairy per day, which includes milk, cheese, and yogurt. Therefore, consuming one serving of ricotta cheese as a part of a balanced diet would be appropriate.

A serving of cottage cheese or ricotta will pack a healthy dose of protein, and they're typically lower in calories; half a cup of cottage cheese is roughly 110 calories. Ricotta is higher in calories — about 180 calories for half a cup — but is loaded with calcium.

If you are limiting your cholesterol or saturated fat intake, or simply want to eat a more heart-healthy diet, the following tips might help: Do a cheese swap: Try using cottage cheese or ricotta instead of high-fat cheeses in your recipes. You may discover that these taste just as good.

One key detail to keep in mind is whether the package of ricotta cheese has been opened or not. Unopened ricotta will last about two weeks in the fridge, while opened ricotta will last just a week. As for the freezer, you can store ricotta for up to three months.

So those with particularly sensitive stomachs will want to avoid creamier varieties such as ricotta or cottage cheese at all costs. Sugar is the primary component of lactose that makes it difficult to digest, which means that aged, hard cheeses—which have a lower sugar content—are easier on the stomach.

Ricotta Cheese

And with only 136 mg of sodium per half-cup of cheese, per the USDA, you can enjoy your favorite ricotta cheese dishes knowing that you aren't overloading your body with too much salt (as long as the other ingredients used are low in sodium as well).

Dairy digestion

On average, skimmed milk and low-fat cheese (such as low-fat cottage cheese or ricotta) take 1.5 hours to digest, whereas whole-milk cottage cheese and soft cheeses will leave your stomach in 2 hours. Whole-milk hard cheeses can take up to 5 hours to properly digest.

Ricotta, may provide several benefits as compared to other foods as a delivery vehicle of probiotic microorganisms due to its intrinsic characteristics.

Can you freeze ricotta cheese? ›

If you have an unopened container of ricotta, you can stick the whole thing right in the freezer, but if the package has been opened, you have to transfer the cheese to a new container. Use a clean, airtight container or freezer bag to prevent freezer burn and bacterial contamination.

Often considered one of the healthiest cheese varieties, ricotta cheese nutrition contains all nine essential amino acids and is high in protein, calcium and selenium, as well as several other important vitamins and minerals.

Used in sweet and savory dishes, or eaten straight as is, it seems homemade ricotta is everyone's favorite cheese!

Fat-free, 1% and 2% fat cottage cheese have less saturated fat and fewer calories than the 4% fat variety, which includes cream. Lower fat varieties also generally have slightly more protein.

The calcium and protein in ricotta cheese helps contribute to bone health. This intake is important in preventing fractures and osteoporosis, as well as reducing bone mass loss due to aging.

It often serves as an ingredient in desserts, such as cannoli and ricotta cake; a dip for fresh fruit; and as a filling for lasagna and ravioli, as well as a component of many other pasta dishes. Along with its mild, slightly sweet taste, ricotta also presents several nutritional health benefits.

But high lactose cheeses like cottage and ricotta are the most likely to cause digestive issues. These particular cheeses tend to undergo short straining processes, and less lactose gets removed as a result.