Protein content
18.5 g of protein in 1 cup (246 g) of ricotta (whole milk), or 5 g for every 100 kcal it supplies.
Share of this food's calories that come from protein - it is moderately protein-dense.
| Protein per 100 kcal | 5 g |
|---|---|
| Protein per 100 g | 7.54 g |
| Protein per serving | 18.5 g in 1 cup (246 g) |
| Calories from protein | 20% |
| Protein to fat | 0.7 g per 1 g fat |
| Rank in dairy foods, per 100 kcal | 67th of 81 |
| Rank of all foods, per 100 g | 522nd of 796 |
| Share of 50 g Daily Value | 37% per serving |
| Protein quality | Complete protein |
One 1 cup, 18.5 g protein.
Every 100 kcal of ricotta (whole milk) brings 5 g of protein. On that measure it ranks 67th of the 81 dairy foods in this database and 472nd of all 796 foods on the site. Measured by weight instead, its 7.54 g per 100 g ranks 55th in its group.
Around 20% of the calories in ricotta (whole milk) come from protein, so it is moderately protein-dense. It contributes to a day's protein total, but the bulk of what it delivers is energy rather than amino acids - treat it as a contributor alongside a denser source, not as the protein in a meal.
By weight, fat outweighs protein in ricotta (whole milk): 10.2 g of fat per 100 g against 7.54 g of protein, a ratio of 0.7 to 1.
Set against greek yogurt (2%), another dairy food entry in the database, a serving carries about 1.2 g more protein (greek yogurt (2%) has 17.3 g per 1 container).
It is a complete protein - it supplies all nine essential amino acids in adequate amounts, so it can carry a meal's protein on its own. The serving quoted here is measured by volume at 246 g, and it covers about 37% of the 50 g FDA Daily Value for protein.
Ricotta is made from whey, so its protein profile differs from curd cheeses.
Serving sizes
| Portion | Weight | Protein | Calories |
|---|---|---|---|
| 100 g | 100 g | 7.54 g | 150 kcal |
| 1 cup (serving used here) | 246 g | 18.5 g | 369 kcal |
| 0.5 cup | 124 g | 9.3 g | 186 kcal |
Portion weights are the household measures listed on the USDA record; protein and calories scale from the per-100 g figures.
Related
Highest-protein dairy foods per serving · Most protein-dense foods · Highest protein per 100 g
Head to head
Quick answers
7.54 g. The 1 cup serving used on this page weighs 246 g and so carries 18.5 g.
5 g. That figure divides its 7.54 g of protein per 100 g by its 150 kcal per 100 g, so it does not depend on serving size.
Yes. The protein in ricotta (whole milk) supplies all nine essential amino acids in adequate amounts, so it can carry a meal's protein on its own.
About 37%. One 1 cup serving has 18.5 g, and the FDA Daily Value for protein is 50 g.
Figures from USDA FoodData Central record #170851 (Cheese, ricotta, whole milk), SR Legacy data. USDA data is in the public domain. Values are the published reference figures for that record, not lab measurements for a specific brand or batch.