Quick Answer: BelGioioso Ricotta con Latte won America's Test Kitchen's tasting; Organic Valley won Sporked's (10/10). For whipped ricotta with honey: Galbani, dense and lightly sweet. Budget: Great Value.
Our top picks
On a board, ricotta shows up whipped in a bowl with honey and crostini. The taste tests below disagree in a useful way: some tasters want dense and smooth, others want loose and fresh.
All 6 picks
Prices are store listings checked November 2026; supermarket prices vary by store.
Best overall
BelGioioso Ricotta con Latte Whole Milk
- Made with
- Whey and whole milk
- Texture
- Dense, very creamy
- Where
- Most supermarkets
Why it's here: America's Test Kitchen's winner: dense, ultra-creamy and lightly sweet, packed gently so the curds stay intact. Good plain and baked.
Watch out: ATK's tasting is from 2016; it's still widely sold, but recipes and prices can change.
Why we picked it (sources)
ATK's tasting and price at testing (America’s Test Kitchen).
Best flavor
Organic Valley Whole Milk Ricotta
- Score
- 10/10 at Sporked
- Milk
- Organic, pasture-raised
- Texture
- Loose, curdy
Why it's here: Sporked's best of the best: grassy, fresh and the closest to homemade ricotta of any brand they tried.
Watch out: ATK's panel marked it down for a loose, cottage-cheese texture. Strain it 30 minutes before whipping.
Why we picked it (sources)
Sporked; America’s Test Kitchen; straining tip from Milk Street.
Best classic
Polly-O Original Ricotta
- Score
- 9.5/10 at Sporked
- Flavor
- Mild, neutral
- Where
- Most supermarkets
Why it's here: Mild and just curdy enough to mix with herbs, lemon or honey without turning soupy.
Watch out: Neutral flavor needs seasoning: salt, lemon zest and good olive oil.
Why we picked it (sources)
Sporked's ranking (Sporked).
Best for whipped ricotta
Galbani Whole Milk Ricotta
- Ranked
- #2 at ATK
- Score
- 8/10 at Sporked
- Texture
- Thick, like cream cheese
Why it's here: ATK's runner-up and Sporked's best dense ricotta: thick and a little sweet, so it whips up smooth and holds a swirl of honey.
Watch out: Contains gums, and it's stiff to fold into fillings.
Why we picked it (sources)
Best budget
Great Value Part-Skim Ricotta
- Score
- 8.5/10 at Sporked
- Style
- Part skim
- Where
- Walmart
Why it's here: The most flavorful part-skim ricotta in Sporked's test: fresh and milky, not sweet, and very cheap.
Watch out: Part skim is less rich; use whole milk for a showpiece bowl.
Why we picked it (sources)
Sporked's ranking (Sporked).
Best splurge
Bellwether Farms Basket Ricotta
- Made with
- Milk and salt only
- From
- Sonoma County, CA
- Where
- Cheese shops
Why it's here: Milk Street's taste-test winner: rich and buttery with tender curds, made from nothing but milk and salt.
Watch out: Harder to find and short-lived; buy it close to the day you serve it.
Why we picked it (sources)
Milk Street's tasting (Milk Street).
How to pick ricotta, and how to serve it on a board
- Whole milk for a board; part skim is fine for lighter cooking.
- Short ingredient list: milk or whey, an acid and salt. Gums make it stiffer.
- Watery or grainy? Drain it in a mesh strainer for 30 minutes, stirring now and then. Milk Street found that brought supermarket ricotta close to the better brands.
- Whipped ricotta: blend 1 cup ricotta with 1 to 2 tbsp olive oil, a pinch of salt and lemon zest until smooth. Top with honey, hot honey or chopped pistachios.
- On the board: a bowl of it with crostini, figs, prosciutto or a spoonful of ’nduja. About 2 oz per person.
- Use it fast: fresh ricotta only lasts a few days once opened.
Topping ideas: the best honey for cheese, the best hot honey and the best ’nduja.
Ricotta questions
What is the best ricotta brand?
BelGioioso Ricotta con Latte won America's Test Kitchen's tasting; Organic Valley won Sporked's. For whipped ricotta, Galbani.
Whole milk or part skim for whipped ricotta?
Whole milk. It whips smoother and tastes richer.
Why is my ricotta watery or grainy?
Some brands have a loose, curdy texture. Drain it in a strainer for 30 minutes, then whip it.
Can you put ricotta on a charcuterie board?
Yes: whip it and serve it in a bowl with honey, crostini and figs.
Is ricotta the same as cottage cheese?
No. Ricotta has finer curds and a sweeter taste, and is traditionally made from whey.
How we picked these, and sources
We compared three published taste tests: America's Test Kitchen's whole-milk ricotta tasting, Sporked's ricotta ranking and Milk Street's ricotta test, plus Milk Street's straining test. Where they disagree, we say so. Checked November 2, 2026.
- America's Test Kitchen: the best whole-milk ricotta
- Sporked: the best ricotta cheese (updated Mar 2025)
- Milk Street: ricotta taste test
- Milk Street: for better ricotta, break out your strainer
Making a full spread? See the best burrata for another soft cheese. Every guide is on our charcuterie buying guides page.
