Kamil Perry
Vegan cheese is a plant-based alternative to dairy cheese, but its melting behaviour is different due to the absence of casein and dairy sugars in its composition. However, there are several ways to achieve the perfect melt. Firstly, it is important to select the right type of vegan cheese, as some brands are known for their superior melting qualities. Finely shredding the cheese can also improve its melting properties. Secondly, the cooking technique is key; stovetop stirring, oven baking with foil, steaming, and cautious microwaving are all effective methods. Lastly, adding a small amount of liquid such as plant milk, water, or oil can help to achieve a smooth, creamy texture.
How to Melt Vegan Cheese
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Cheese type | Applewood Smoky Cheese Alternative, Follow Your Heart Smoked Gouda, Violife, Sheese Cheddar Style with Jalapeno and Chilli Vegan Cheese, MozzaRisella, Daiya, Field Roast Vegan Chao slices |
| Ingredients | Tapioca flour, nutritional yeast, cashews, vegetable broth, vegan butter, oil, plant milk, water |
| Technique | Stovetop stirring, oven baking with foil, microwaving, steaming, pre-melting, shredding finely, covering with foil, adding to a sauce |
| Temperature | High temperatures, e.g. 430°F/220°C for pizza |
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What You'll Learn
Oven-baking with foil
Step 1: Prepare the Dish
Start by selecting a suitable dish for oven-baking. For layered dishes like lasagna, assemble the layers, ensuring there is an even distribution of vegan cheese throughout. If you're making a pizza, grate or shred the cheese and sprinkle it evenly over the toppings. For casseroles, it's best to add the cheese later in the baking process, as we'll discuss in the next steps.
Step 2: Cover with Foil
Once your dish is assembled, cover it with aluminium foil. This step is crucial, as the foil will trap steam and create a moist environment that aids in melting the vegan cheese. Make sure the foil is securely covering the dish to prevent steam from escaping.
Step 3: Bake at the Right Temperature
Preheat your oven to the appropriate temperature. For pizzas, a temperature of around 430°F/220°C is ideal for melting vegan cheese. If you're baking a casserole, a temperature of 350°F/175°C is recommended. However, keep in mind that casseroles typically require a longer baking time, so you may need to adjust the temperature accordingly.
Step 4: Monitor the Baking Process
Place the covered dish in the preheated oven and let it bake for a portion of the total baking time. For casseroles, it's best to bake them without the cheese for about 90% of the total bake time. Then, remove the casserole from the oven, add the cheese, and return it to the oven for the final 5 to 10 minutes. This ensures the cheese melts without drying out. For dishes like lasagna and pizza, monitor the baking process to ensure the cheese is melting properly.
Step 5: Uncover and Brown (Optional)
Depending on your preference, you can remove the foil towards the end of the baking process to allow the cheese to brown and crisp up slightly. This step is optional but can add a nice texture and colour to your dish. Keep a close eye on the dish at this stage, as the cheese can go from melted to burnt quite quickly.
Step 6: Enjoy Your Cheesy Creation
Once your dish is baked to perfection, remove it from the oven and let it cool slightly. Serve it while the cheese is still gooey and stretchy, and enjoy the fruits of your labour! Remember, oven-baking with foil is a versatile technique that can be adapted to various vegan recipes, so feel free to experiment and find the method that works best for your favourite dishes.
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Stovetop stirring
Firstly, choose a suitable saucepan or non-stick pan for stovetop melting. A non-stick pan will prevent the cheese from sticking to the surface and make cleaning easier. Place the pan on the stovetop and turn on the heat to a medium setting. You can also add a splash of non-dairy milk or water to further prevent sticking and improve the consistency of the melted cheese.
Next, add your chosen vegan cheese shreds to the pan. There are many types of vegan cheese available, such as Violife, Aldi, Daiya, or even homemade varieties. Each type of cheese may have slightly different melting properties, so it is worth experimenting to find your favourite. It is recommended to avoid using excessive amounts of cheese, as a little goes a long way, especially when melting.
Now, begin stirring the cheese continuously. Stirring is an important step as it ensures that the cheese melts evenly and helps to create a smooth, creamy consistency. Keep stirring as the cheese melts, which should take around 3 to 5 minutes. You may also add a small amount of vegetable broth and nutritional yeast flakes to enhance the flavour and texture.
Finally, once the cheese has reached your desired level of meltiness, remove it from the heat. You can then drizzle the melted cheese over your favourite dishes, such as nachos, pizzas, casseroles, or grilled cheese sandwiches.
With these simple steps, you can easily melt vegan cheese on a stovetop and enjoy it as a delicious addition to your plant-based meals.
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Using steam
Choosing the Right Cheese
Not all vegan cheeses are created equal when it comes to meltability. Look for brands that are known for their meltability, such as MozzaRisella, Violife, and Field Roast Vegan Chao slices. These cheeses have a superior ability to melt smoothly and stretch, enhancing the flavour and texture of your dishes.
Grate or Shred Your Cheese
Vegan cheese melts better when it's grated or shredded. If you're using a block of vegan cheese, take the time to shred it yourself. Pre-shredded cheeses often contain starches to prevent the shreds from sticking together, which can hinder melting. Finely shredding the cheese yourself ensures that it will melt more easily and evenly.
Steam Trapping Techniques
To effectively use steam to melt your vegan cheese, you can employ a few different techniques:
- Stovetop method: Add a splash of non-dairy milk or water to a non-stick pan to prevent sticking. Then, add your shredded vegan cheese and stir continuously over medium heat until it reaches a smooth and creamy consistency.
- Baking with foil: Sprinkle the shredded vegan cheese over your dish and cover it with foil. The foil traps the steam, aiding in melting the cheese. Bake at temperatures between 350°F to 450°F until the cheese becomes bubbly and properly melted.
- Steaming within layered dishes: When making a vegan grilled cheese sandwich, the cheese is steamed as it's between other ingredients, helping it to melt. You can also capture steam by adding a small amount of water to the pan and covering it with a tight lid for a minute or two.
- Microwaving: Place shredded vegan cheese in a microwave-safe bowl and add a small amount of liquid such as vegetable broth or water. Heat in short intervals, stirring after each interval, until the cheese is melted. Be cautious not to overheat, as vegan cheese can quickly dry out and become weirdly textured.
Enhancing Meltability
To further enhance the meltability of your vegan cheese, you can try mixing it with a small amount of oil, such as canola oil. Additionally, look for ingredients like "kappa carrageenan" in your vegan cheese, as this is a thickening agent made from red seaweed that improves meltability at high temperatures.
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Choosing meltable brands
When choosing meltable vegan cheese brands, it's important to consider factors like texture, taste, and ingredients. The melting behaviour of vegan cheese differs from that of dairy cheese due to the absence of casein and dairy sugars. However, innovative methods like precision fermentation are being developed to enhance the melting properties of vegan cheese.
Some recommended brands known for their meltability include Applewood, which offers a Smoky Cheese Alternative with a 9.8 out of 10 rating for its melting capabilities. This variety is perfect for pizzas, grilled cheese sandwiches, and cheese on toast. Follow Your Heart's Smoked Gouda is another excellent choice, with a bold flavour and remarkable meltability. It's a popular option for homemade pizzas and grilled cheese sandwiches.
For those who enjoy a spicy kick, Sheese's Cheddar Style with Jalapeno and Chilli Vegan Cheese is a fantastic option. It melts beautifully and adds a spicy twist to vegan pizzas. MozzaRisella is also well-known for its mozzarella-like meltability and is used in many UK high street restaurants. Violife, a well-known vegan cheese brand, offers a range of shredded cheeses that melt smoothly and deliver a solid cheesy flavour. Their Epic Mature Cheddar Flavour Vegan Cheese is a standout for pizzas, while their Just Like Parmesan Block is another great option for grating.
When selecting a meltable vegan cheese, it's advisable to choose blocks of cheese that you can grate yourself, as pre-shredded varieties may contain starches that hinder melting. Finely shredding or slicing the cheese can significantly improve its melting properties. Additionally, ingredients like coconut oil increase the chances of vegan cheese melting smoothly, so look for brands that include it in their formulation. Miyoko's Fresh Vegan Mozzarella, for example, is known for its meltability and may be attributed to the presence of coconut oil.
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Adding oil
When melting vegan cheese, it is important to note that the type of cheese and the melting technique are critical factors. Finely shredding the cheese beforehand can significantly improve its melting properties, resulting in a texture closer to that of melted dairy cheese. Pre-shredded cheeses may contain starches that hinder melting, so shredding your own block of cheese is recommended.
The absence of casein, a milk protein, in vegan cheese contributes to its different melting dynamics compared to dairy cheese. Casein is responsible for the melting, stretching, and bubbling properties unique to dairy cheese. However, innovative methods like precision fermentation are being developed to enhance the melting properties of vegan cheese.
Additionally, the temperature and cooking technique play a crucial role in achieving the perfect melt. Baking at high temperatures, such as 430°F/220°C for pizza, can help vegan cheese melt nicely. Using a stovetop approach with a non-stick pan and a splash of non-dairy milk or water can also facilitate melting.
For sandwiches, steaming the vegan cheese between other ingredients can effectively melt it. Creating a cheese sauce by heating the cheese with plant milk or vegetable broth in a saucepan over medium-low heat is another option, which can then be poured over dishes like enchiladas and baked.
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Frequently asked questions
There are several ways to melt vegan cheese. You can melt it by baking it at high temperatures, steaming it between other ingredients, or covering it with foil to capture the steam. You can also melt it by adding a splash of non-dairy milk or water to a non-stick pan. Additionally, some brands melt better than others, and shredding it finely can help.
Some good melting vegan cheeses include Follow Your Heart Smoked Gouda, Violife Epic Mature Cheddar Flavour, and Sheese Cheddar Style with Jalapeno and Chilli. MozzaRisella is also known for its mozzarella-like meltability.
You can make your own melting vegan cheese using cashews, tapioca flour, and nutritional yeast. Soak the cashews in boiling water for 15 minutes, then rinse and drain them. Combine all the ingredients in a blender and blitz until smooth. Transfer the mixture to a saucepan and bring to a simmer over low-medium heat for about 5 minutes.
