6 Best manufacturers of curd mass: features, which one to choose, comparison with analogues

Curd mass is a popular product in Russia that can serve as a full breakfast, snack or base for traditional Easter. Cottage cheese is its main component, which means that the dessert contains a lot of protein, calcium, and dried fruits in the composition serve as a source of magnesium and vitamins.

Often, manufacturers add a lot of sugar and artificial additives that negate all the benefits of the product. It is also worth mentioning that the lactic acid environment is an ideal sphere for the spread of bacteria, and temperature fluctuations provoke the growth of yeast and fungi. For the review, we selected 6 types of curd mass with raisins in order to study their features and conclude which one is better to buy and which one is not worth it.

Rating of TOP 6 brands of curd mass with raisins

Upon completion of the study of the modern dairy market, 6 varieties of curd mass with raisins filling were selected. The list of popular brands today is as follows:

"Ostankinskoe"

Fermented milk product with raisins and sugar in a shiny bag. The product has a light beige tint and a uniform, slightly loose and spreadable consistency. It is characterized by light vanilla aroma and sweet creamy taste. Moderate blotches of raisins add a slight sourness.

According to the results of the Roskontrol examination for 2018, the product was blacklisted as a fake due to the presence of non-dairy fat, preservatives and starch, as well as due to other shortcomings. The examination of Roskachestvo for 2020 showed the best results, but revealed an excess in the content of mold and yeast.
Expiration date: 14 days.

Delicious and hearty mass with a lot of raisins, used to be often bought for breakfast. Now the quality has become unstable, sometimes lumps come across, then fat is released on the surface.

"ROSTAGROEXPORT"

Sweet curd product with raisins in a soft flow pack. Additional packaging in the form of a paper backing is available. It has a delicate and soft texture, the color is light cream. The aroma is dominated by creamy vanilla notes, the taste is pronouncedly sweet. There are a lot of raisins in the mass, without debris and seeds. Suitable for preparing a traditional festive dessert - Easter.

The product has been tested in the laboratories of Roskontrol and Roskachestvo. In the first case, the curd product received low marks due to the presence in the composition of vegetable fat, preservatives, starch, as well as in connection with other violations. A more recent test showed better results: the curd mass was recognized as safe, vegetable fats were not found. There were only minor drawbacks - a powdery taste and a discrepancy between the actual fat content and the declared one. Expiration date: 14 days.

I love to buy this mass and in the morning I go with tea with a bang! Delicious and tender, and at the same time, of course, very fatty and sweet — the product is clearly not for losing weight. There is nothing criminal in the composition and the price is acceptable, so you can sometimes indulge yourself.

"B.Yu.Aleksandrov"

Sweet curd mass in branded cardboard packaging with additional foil wrapper. The product is of a creamy shade with a pasty, slightly friable consistency and abundant interspersed with dried berries. The aroma is light fermented milk, with hints of vanilla. The mass is juicy and sweet to taste, with a slight mealy in the aftertaste.

The product has successfully passed both expert checks from the organizations "Roskontrol" and "Roskachestvo". In both studies, only small comments on organoleptic properties were found (too dense consistency, powdery taste). Manufactured in accordance with GOST R 53666-2009.
Expiration date: 15 days.

Superior quality curd — head and shoulders above analogues both in taste and composition. The packaging reliably protects the wet product from leakage. A portion is designed for exactly 1 portion, it is convenient to take with you. Pricey but worth it.

Kozelsk Dairy Plant

Sweet fermented milk product with sugar and raisins in a foil wrapper and a vacuum plastic bag. Has a delicate and fragile texture of a creamy shade interspersed with dried grapes.

The brand did not participate in quality control examinations. Contains no preservatives, trans fats or thickeners.
Shelf life: 5 days, after opening it is recommended to store no more than 24 hours.

The dairy products of the Kozelsk plant have earned the trust of our family due to their taste and quality, their curd mass — not an exception. There are no comments on the composition, moderately sweet and a lot of raisins. I buy myself and my husband for breakfast — very tasty to combine with sour cream, satiety lasts for a long time!

"Ruzskoe Milk"

Low-fat sweet curd mass with raisins in a plastic cup with foil. As a filler, not only raisins are used, but also sugar syrup with lemon juice. The consistency is thick and creamy and without lumps, contains a large amount of raisins without tails and seeds.

The product received high marks according to the results of the laboratory examination by Roskachestvo. Among the shortcomings, a slight excess in the mass fraction of fat and a sour taste were noted. Expiration date: 5 days.

Very high quality curd mass on all counts — both to taste and composition of 5 points. No additives, preservatives or vegetable fats. This is the first time I meet a mass with so many raisins, which is also nice. Delicious and nutritious product, for which it is not a pity to overpay once again.

"Svitlogorye"

Dessert curd product with raisins in a flow pack.A creamy beige mass with a uniform and crumbly texture without grains. The aroma contains notes of dried fruits and vanilla. The taste is bright, creamy and sweet with a slight sourness from raisins.

Based on the results of the old Roskontrol examination, the product was recognized as a fake due to numerous violations. A repeated study in 2020, but already from Roskachestvo, showed the best results, but revealed an excess in the presence of mold and yeast. Expiration date: 30 days.

I have no complaints about the taste and consistency of the curd mass — it is exactly as it should be. It strains a large amount of condensate, because of this, when opening, you will get all smeared, the packaging would be more technologically advanced. The shelf life is quite long, which suggests the presence of preservatives not listed in the composition.

What to look for when choosing a curd mass

Despite the enormous popularity of the curd mass, many adherents of a healthy diet have a lot of questions about the safety of its use in food. The following recommendations will help you quickly navigate the purchase, as well as minimize the risks of purchasing low-quality products:

• First of all, we study the label. The name of the product you are looking for should consist of two words “Curd mass”, and no other variations (for example, “mass”, “mass with curd”, etc.) are not suitable for us. If the manufacturer deviates from this rule, then the composition contains vegetable substitutes for milk fat.
• The list of ingredients of high-quality curd mass should contain: cottage cheese, butter, granulated sugar, vanillin and dried fruits as a filler. The presence of preservatives, palm oil, sweeteners and starch makes the product cheaper and lowers the quality, and there is no question of any benefits.
• The most important criterion is compliance with the storage conditions of the product in the store. The counter should be kept at a low temperature, just like in a refrigerator. Violation of the temperature regime leads to rapid spoilage due to the rapid multiplication of fungus and yeast. It is also not recommended to freeze the mass, because after defrosting, it will lose its consumer properties.
• Keep in mind that the product is perishable, which means you need to check the production date and expiration date. After opening, it is better to transfer the mass to a tightly closing container if you plan to eat it later (in case the “native” package is already not tight enough).
• Packaged in a foil envelope or parchment, the mass can release moisture. This is normal, as a fermented milk product contains whey. If there is too much moisture, there is a possibility that the tightness has been compromised during storage. Therefore, be sure to check the packaging for damage.