What is the truth about fat-free cheese?

[maizeyoats]

So many of the recipes that I see sound so great and then I see they call for fat-free cream cheese and fat-free cottage cheese and then I think "yuk". I really hope that I am wrong about this and that it is not as tasteless as I imagine it to me.
Please give me your honest opinion on this. Low-fat I can understand but fat-free!!!

[ellielk]

Maizeyoats:

I have to agree with you about the taste of fat free cheeses. I'd switched to low-fat cottage cheese and figured that the fat free wouldn't taste that much different. Wrong!! However, I find that using fat free in a recipe only makes a difference if there's not enough other 'flavor' to make up for it. There may be some difference in the feel of the food in your mouth (especially in things like cheesecakes) but that's all.

I don't ever think I'll get used to the taste difference of those products on their own.

[Jewel]

I think it depends on the product and how its used. I have used Fat Free Sour Cream and Cream Cheese for so long, the full fat versions just gross me out. I really enjoy the flavor and texture of both! I found a 1% Cottage Cheese that DH and I both love (Lucerne from Safeway).

As for cheese, if I'm melting it in any way, I try to use 2% Kraft Sharp Cheddar or Monterey Jack. I think the taste of these two cheeses are wonderful on their own! I'm a big 'chunk 'o cheese' eater, and I've always enjoyed the Kraft. If its for a really special dish, I'll use real cheese, but I'll use Sharp instead of Mild Cheddar so you get more flavor bite for your fat content. I also use full fat Pepper Jack in limited quantities. http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/biggrin.gif

[MrsReber]

I don't mind the fat free cream cheese if it's being used in a recipe. I refuse to put it on a bagel or anything else, though. Yuck. I opt for the neufchatel cheese. I don't like cottage cheese at all so I can't offer an opinion there. My favorite low fat sour cream is Friendship. It seems much thicker than the other ones and so much closer to the real thing.

[BosunsWife]

I will only go down as far as 2% cheese. I tried that shredded fat free stuff ONCE, it was too scary to even try to think about. I don't notice a difference between low fat and fat free sour cream, but will only buy Land O'Lakes brand. I also buy ff cream cheese both for cooking and spreading! No one but me will eat cottage cheese so I hardly ever buy it.