Where To Find Cotija Cheese In Grocery Store?

As its name indicated, cotija cheese is a kind of salty cheese. Hence, you should locate the product on the cheese section or aisle in a grocery store.

However, take a deep look at the package before buying cause there are often hundreds of kinds of cheese on the shelf. A wrong pickup might lead to a terrible result, not only in cooking.

Also, some stores might not have a cheese shelf. Then, seek the cotija cheese in the eggs and dairy aisle. It is a kind of product that originated in milk.

Which Stores Sell Cotija Cheese?

You can find cotija cheese in many offline and online stores.

For example, Amazon is a well-known place to visit. On the site, you can look for several brands of cotija cheese, including El Mexicano, Trader Joe’s, and others.

Plus, what is more convenient than just sitting in your house, clicking on some buttons, and the high-quality products sitting right in front of your door after a few hours?

Visiting the Amazon, you also never have to be worried about the cheese being out of stock.

Other options are Whole Foods Market, Kroger, and Costco.

Especially in Kroger, you can notice various products and services, varying from bakery stuff, recipes, gift cards, digital coupons, and others. With the cotija cheese, there are several flavors and brands for you to choose from, both soft and aged types.

Keep in mind to check the Kroger online supermarket before physically buying the product to save your time.

Furthermore, you might not want to ignore Mexican grocery stores while buying cotija cheese simply because it is the main condiment in many Mexican meals. Plus, the authenticity of the product is higher than in other shops.

Additionally, I love buying my groceries in Walmart cause they seem to provide everything I want, not only the cheese.

Better than that, suppose I do not know where the nearest store is; I can find out the location on the Walmart app. That saves a lot more time and energy for my family and me in seeking cooking ingredients.

What’s more, Wegmans, Publix, and Safeway are familiar names with housemakers in buying the condiments for your meals.

What Should You Know About Cotija Cheese?

Now you know where to look for the cotija cheese, I would like to provide you with a few more information about the product.

A Quick Look At Cotija Cheese

Cotija cheese is a type of cheese that has its roots in Mexico. It is named after a town in the state of Michoacan.

It achieves high fame due to its perfect combination of crumbly texture and salty flavor. Plus, there are two types of cotija cheese to choose from: aged and fresh cheese.

The aged cheese is quite hard while the fresh one is softer. However, both can be used in many Mexican dishes, ranging from tacos, tostadas, enchiladas to beans.

Cotija Cheese Usage Guide

There are three popular ways to use cotija cheese, including garnishing, filling, and taking a dip.

For more details, when you cook some kinds of soup like black bean soup or tortilla soup, you can crumble the cotija cheese and drizzle it on the food’s surface. It can make your dish a more attractive look and additional savory flavor.

Also, the cheese can be used as a filling when it comes to cooking quesadillas and burritos. To do that, remember to grate the intricate pieces of cheese before putting them inside the food. At the high heat, the cheese becomes soft, also playing the role of adding more flavor to your dish.

Plus, you can use the cotija cheese to make a delicious dip. To do that, you put the grated cotija cheese in a bowl, adding a few salsas.

After that, you heat the mixture in a microwave for a few minutes until it becomes a smooth paste. The dip can complement well on dishes like vegetables, toast, and chips.

Cotija Cheese Storage Guide

Cotija cheese can be used for up to one to three months in excellent storage condition. That means, either it is aged or fresh cotija cheese, it should be put in a refrigerator with the parchment paper or wax wrapped in properly.

Plus, it would be best to utilize an air-tight plastic bag or container to seal the cheese in case it causes bad smells for your fridge.

Cotija Cheese Alternatives

Once you are in a hurry and can not find the cheese in the nearest grocery store, you can try other substitutes for the cheese, such as feta cheese, goat cheese crumbles, and queso fresco.

With queso fresco, opt for those from well-known brands such as the 365, Cheddar, Whole Foods Market, and others that would give you the best flavor. Although the queso fresco looks quite similar to the cotija cheese, its taste might not be as strong as its peer.

The second alternative is the Feta cheese. Both products have a salty taste and a crumbly texture. Plus, the Feta would not make much change in your dish flavor as an alternative.

The famous brand I suggest when you buy the Feta cheese is Trader Joe’s. Not only does their cheese have better quality, but it also has a lower level of fat.

Last is the goat cheese crumbles, which have a similarly salty and spicy taste as the aged cotija cheese. However, you might sense that the crumbles are a little like the Parmesan cheese instead of the cotija one due to its Italian flavor.

But, that often does not make a huge difference or ruin your Mexican meals in the end.

Frequently Asked Questions 

Is Queso Fresco And Cotija The Same Cheese?

While they look pretty familiar, queso fresco and cotija cheese are the two different types of cheese. The Cotija cheese has a bold flavor, but the queso fresco is milder. For this reason, you should not use too much cotija cheese in case it ruins your dish.

Plus, when you see the cotija cheese’s name, it might remind you about the Cotija town in Mexico, which is its origination.

Can Cotija Cheese Be Refrigerated?

Of course, you can store the cotija cheese in the refrigerator for more extended use, around one to three months. Bear in mind to wrap it accurately in the wax and put it into an air-tight container before preserving.

Moreover, you can do that with other types of cheese such as Feta, Cheddar, and Mozzarella.

Is Cotija And Mexican Crumbling Cheese The Same?

Cotija and crumbling Mexican cheese have a similar crumble texture. However, concerning the flavor, the Mexican one is much milder, softer, and creamier. Otherwise, the cotija cheese is saltier, and it can add a more robust flavor to your dishes.

Conclusion

To sum up, above are the information on where to find cotija cheese in the grocery store.

In a nutshell, you can look for the ingredient in the cheese aisle or the store’s dairy section. Plus, it would help if you bought it in some popular shops such as Kroger, Amazon, or Walmart for the best result.