Mozzarella Cheese vs. Ricotta Cheese
Nutrition comparison of Mozzarella Cheese and Ricotta Cheese
Ever wonder how your favorite foods stack up against each other in terms of nutrition?
We compared the nutritional contents of
mozzarella cheese
versus
ricotta cheese
(100g each)
below using 2020 USDA and NIH data[1].
For a quick recap of significant nutrients and differences in mozzarella cheese and ricotta cheese:
- Both mozzarella cheese and ricotta cheese are high in Vitamin A, calcium, calories and saturated fat.
- Mozzarella cheese is an excellent source of protein.
- Ricotta cheese has more pantothenic acid.
- Ricotta cheese is a great source of potassium.
USDA sources for nutritional information: Mozzarella Cheese (Cheese, mozzarella, whole milk, low moisture) and Ricotta Cheese (Cheese, ricotta, whole milk) . Have a correction or suggestions? Shoot us an email.
Calories and Carbs
calories
Both mozzarella cheese and ricotta cheese are high in calories. Mozzarella cheese has 112% more calories than ricotta cheese - mozzarella cheese has 318 calories per 100 grams and ricotta cheese has 150 calories.
For macronutrient ratios, mozzarella cheese is heavier in protein, lighter in carbs and heavier in fat compared to ricotta cheese per calorie. Mozzarella cheese has a macronutrient ratio of 27:3:70 and for ricotta cheese, 20:19:61 for protein, carbohydrates and fat from calories.
Macro Ratios from Calories:
| Mozzarella Cheese | Ricotta Cheese | |
|---|---|---|
| Protein | 27% | 20% |
| Carbohydrates | 3% | 19% |
| Fat | 70% | 61% |
| Alcohol | ~ | ~ |
carbohydrates
Mozzarella cheese and ricotta cheese contain similar amounts of carbs - mozzarella cheese has 2.5g of total carbs per 100 grams and ricotta cheese has 7.3g of carbohydrates.
sugar
Mozzarella cheese and ricotta cheese contain similar amounts of sugar - mozzarella cheese has 1g of sugar per 100 grams and ricotta cheese has 0.27g of sugar.
Protein
protein
Mozzarella cheese is an excellent source of protein and it has 186% more protein than ricotta cheese - mozzarella cheese has 21.6g of protein per 100 grams and ricotta cheese has 7.5g of protein.
Fat
saturated fat
Both mozzarella cheese and ricotta cheese are high in saturated fat. Mozzarella cheese has 142% more saturated fat than ricotta cheese - mozzarella cheese has 15.6g of saturated fat per 100 grams and ricotta cheese has 6.4g of saturated fat.
trans fat
Both ricotta cheese and mozzarella cheese are low in trans fat - ricotta cheese has 0.33g of trans fat per 100 grams and mozzarella cheese does not contain significant amounts.
cholesterol
Ricotta cheese has 45% less cholesterol than mozzarella cheese - mozzarella cheese has 89mg of cholesterol per 100 grams and ricotta cheese has 49mg of cholesterol.
Vitamins
Vitamin A
Both mozzarella cheese and ricotta cheese are high in Vitamin A. Mozzarella cheese has 64% more Vitamin A than ricotta cheese - mozzarella cheese has 197ug of Vitamin A per 100 grams and ricotta cheese has 120ug of Vitamin A.
Vitamin D
Mozzarella cheese and ricotta cheese contain similar amounts of Vitamin D - mozzarella cheese has 18iu of Vitamin D per 100 grams and ricotta cheese has 10iu of Vitamin D.
Vitamin E
Mozzarella cheese and ricotta cheese contain similar amounts of Vitamin E - mozzarella cheese has 0.21mg of Vitamin E per 100 grams and ricotta cheese has 0.11mg of Vitamin E.
Vitamin K
Mozzarella cheese and ricotta cheese contain similar amounts of Vitamin K - mozzarella cheese has 2.5ug of Vitamin K per 100 grams and ricotta cheese has 1.1ug of Vitamin K.
The B Vitamins
Ricotta cheese has more pantothenic acid. Both mozzarella cheese and ricotta cheese contain significant amounts of thiamin, riboflavin, niacin, Vitamin B6, folate and Vitamin B12.
| Mozzarella Cheese | Ricotta Cheese | |
|---|---|---|
| Thiamin | 0.016 MG | 0.013 MG |
| Riboflavin | 0.27 MG | 0.298 MG |
| Niacin | 0.094 MG | 0.137 MG |
| Pantothenic acid | 0.071 MG | 0.461 MG |
| Vitamin B6 | 0.062 MG | 0.097 MG |
| Folate | 8 UG | 4 UG |
| Vitamin B12 | 0.73 UG | 0.85 UG |
Minerals
calcium
Both mozzarella cheese and ricotta cheese are high in calcium. Mozzarella cheese has 179% more calcium than ricotta cheese - mozzarella cheese has 575mg of calcium per 100 grams and ricotta cheese has 206mg of calcium.
iron
Mozzarella cheese and ricotta cheese contain similar amounts of iron - mozzarella cheese has 0.2mg of iron per 100 grams and ricotta cheese has 0.13mg of iron.
potassium
Ricotta cheese is a great source of potassium and it has 192% more potassium than mozzarella cheese - mozzarella cheese has 75mg of potassium per 100 grams and ricotta cheese has 219mg of potassium.
Antioxidants and Phytonutrients
carotenoids
Carotenoids are micronutrients commonly found in plants and some animal products. An example is beta-carotene, the notable carotenoid which is a popular source of Vitamin A.[4][5]
For specific types of carotenoids, both mozzarella cheese and ricotta cheese contain significant amounts of beta-carotene.
| Mozzarella Cheese | Ricotta Cheese | |
|---|---|---|
| beta-carotene | 63 UG | 33 UG |
Omega-3 and Omega-6
omega 3s
For omega-3 fatty acids, mozzarella cheese has more alpha linoleic acid (ALA) than ricotta cheese per 100 grams.
| Mozzarella Cheese | Ricotta Cheese | |
|---|---|---|
| alpha linoleic acid | 0.212 G | 0.043 G |
| DHA | ~ | 0.001 G |
| EPA | ~ | 0.004 G |
| DPA | ~ | 0.006 G |
| Total | 0.212 G | 0.054 G |
omega 6s
Comparing omega-6 fatty acids, both mozzarella cheese and ricotta cheese contain significant amounts of linoleic acid.
| Mozzarella Cheese | Ricotta Cheese | |
|---|---|---|
| linoleic acid | 0.566 G | 0.356 G |
| other omega 6 | ~ | 0.012 G |
| Total | 0.566 G | 0.368 G |
Customize your serving size
The comparison below is by weight, but sometimes 100g isn't that intuitive of a measurement for food. View a custom portion comparison (e.g. cups, oz, package).
You can try adding or subtracting the amount of either Mozzarella Cheese or Ricotta Cheese .
Note: The specific food items compared are: Mozzarella Cheese (Cheese, mozzarella, whole milk, low moisture) and Ricotta Cheese (Cheese, ricotta, whole milk) .
Mozzarella Cheese g
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Daily Values (%) |
Ricotta Cheese g
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| KCAL % |
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5% | calories | 5% |
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5% | carbohydrates | 5% |
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5% | dietary fiber | 5% |
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5% | total fat | 5% |
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5% | saturated fat | 5% |
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| G | 5% | monounsaturated fat | 5% | G | |||
| G | 5% | polyunsaturated fat | 5% | G | |||
| G | 5% | trans fat | 5% | G | |||
| MG | 5% | cholesterol | 5% | MG | |||
| MG % |
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5% | sodium | 5% |
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| 5% | Vitamins and Minerals | 5% | |||||
| UG % |
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5% | Vitamin A | 5% |
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5% | Vitamin C | 5% |
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| IU % |
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5% | Vitamin D | 5% |
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5% | calcium | 5% |
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5% | iron | 5% |
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5% | magnesium | 5% |
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5% | potassium | 5% |
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5% | thiamin (Vit B1) | 5% |
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5% | riboflavin (Vit B2) | 5% |
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5% | niacin (Vit B3) | 5% |
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5% | Vitamin B6 | 5% |
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5% | pantothenic acid (Vit B5) | 5% |
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5% | folate (Vit B9) | 5% |
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5% | Vitamin B12 | 5% |
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5% | Vitamin E | 5% |
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5% | Vitamin K | 5% |
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5% | protein | 5% |
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5% | biotin (Vit B7) | 5% |
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5% | choline | 5% |
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5% | chlorine | 5% |
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5% | chromium | 5% |
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5% | copper | 5% |
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5% | fluoride | 5% |
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5% | iodine | 5% |
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5% | manganese | 5% |
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5% | molybdenum | 5% |
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5% | phosphorus | 5% |
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5% | selenium | 5% |
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5% | zinc | 5% |
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MG % | |
| G | 5% | Water | 5% | G | |||
| G | 5% | Starch | 5% | G | |||
| G | 5% | Alcohol | 5% | G | |||
FAQ
Does mozzarella cheese or ricotta cheese contain more calories in 100 grams?Both mozzarella cheese and ricotta cheese are high in calories. Mozzarella cheese has 110% more calories than ricotta cheese - mozzarella cheese has 318 calories in 100g and ricotta cheese has 150 calories.
Does mozzarella cheese or ricotta cheese contain more calcium?
Both mozzarella cheese and ricotta cheese are high in calcium. Mozzarella cheese has 180% more calcium than ricotta cheese - mozzarella cheese has 575mg of calcium in 100 grams and ricotta cheese has 206mg of calcium.