Take 3 liters of store-bought milk and in 15 minutes you get 1 kilogram of granular cottage cheese

It’s definitely possible to make cottage cheese at home from store-bought milk, and it’s a relatively quick process. However, achieving exactly 1 kilogram of cottage cheese from 3 liters of milk can vary depending on several factors, including the type of milk used and the efficiency of the straining process.

Here’s a general overview of the process:

Basic Process:

• Heating the Milk:
  • The milk is heated to a specific temperature, but it’s crucial not to boil it.
• Curdling:
  • An acidifying agent, such as vinegar or lemon juice, is added to the warm milk. This causes the milk proteins (casein) to coagulate and form curds.  
• Separating Curds and Whey:
  • The mixture is then strained through a cheesecloth or fine-mesh sieve to separate the solid curds from the liquid whey.  
• Rinsing and Draining:
  • The curds are often rinsed to remove excess acidity and then drained to achieve the desired consistency.  

Factors Affecting Yield:

• Milk Fat Content:
  • Whole milk will yield more cottage cheese than skim milk due to its higher fat content.  
• Straining Efficiency:
  • The amount of whey that is removed during straining will affect the final yield.
• Acidity:
  • The amount of acid used can influence the size and texture of the curds, which can also affect yield.

General Steps:

• Here’s a simplified view of the process.
  • Heat the milk until it’s warm, but not boiling.
  • Add an acid, like vinegar or lemon juice.
  • Let the mixture sit until curds form.
  • Strain the curds using cheesecloth.

Important Notes:

• Using pasteurized milk works well. However, ultra-high temperature (UHT) milk may not produce the best results.
• The quality and type of milk you choose plays a large role in the out come of your cottage cheese.
• There are many variations of the process, and using things like buttermilk, as a starter, can change the outcome of the cottage cheese.

While you can indeed make cottage cheese quickly, reaching that exact yield of 1 kilogram may vary.