How many pounds of skim milk are required to make one pound of dry curd cottage cheese?

To produce one pound of dry curd cottage cheese, approximately 7.3 pounds of skim milk are required. This is due to the fact that the production process involves removing a significant portion of the water and whey from the milk, which concentrates the solids, including proteins and fats. The exact ratio can vary slightly depending on the specific methods and efficiencies used in the cheese-making process, but the industry standard indicates that about 7.3 pounds of skim milk yield one pound of dry curd cottage cheese. This value is supported by food science and dairy processing practices, emphasizing the conversion rates of milk solids to cheese products. Understanding this ratio is important for those working in dairy production and quality control as it affects production costs and product yield.