Andy Montoya
With the rise of veganism, consumers now have access to a wide range of vegan products. However, replicating the texture, taste, and melting characteristics of cheese is challenging. While there are recipes for making vegan cheese at home, it is difficult to replicate the compounds found in pre-packaged vegan cheese. Some popular brands of vegan cheese include Violife, which offers a variety of cheese products, including mozzarella, cheddar, and Mexican-style shreds, and Nurishh, which offers dairy-free cheese slices, shreds, snack cubes, and cream cheeses. Miyoko's Creamery is another fan favorite, especially for its pizza cheese. For those who prefer nut-based cheeses, Misha's cheese, made from cashews, almonds, and shallots, offers a smooth and spreadable option. Additionally, Follow Your Heart has a range of vegan cheese options, including smoked gouda slices and shredded mozzarella. Finally, for those looking for a simple, no-frills option, the Field Roast Chao Slices are a good choice, as they are tasty enough to snack on raw and melt well.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Taste | The taste of vegan cheese is heavily dependent on its usage. For grilled cheese sandwiches, the best vegan cheese is likely to be a freshly made cashew cheese. Miyoko's liquid pizza cheese is also a good option for pizza. |
| Violife's mature cheddar shreds have a strong flavor and pair well with a vegan burger. | |
| Follow Your Heart's smoked gouda slices taste similar to dairy-based Swiss cheese. | |
| Trader Joe's vegan parmesan shreds have a funky tang. | |
| Texture | Vegan cheeses tend to be heavily based on starches to replicate the stretchy texture of dairy cheese. However, this can be heavy on the stomach. Nut-based options are generally easier to digest. |
| Field Roast Chao Creamery Slices, made from coconut and fermented tofu, have a creamy texture and melt quite well. | |
| Daiya slices have a texture that feels closest to dairy cheese. | |
| Melting | Miyoko's liquid pizza cheese melts well. |
| Violife's mature cheddar shreds melt well. | |
| Field Roast Chao Creamery Slices melt well. | |
| Follow Your Heart's smoked gouda slices melt and stretch well. | |
| Trader Joe's vegan parmesan shreds melt well. | |
| Tofutti's dairy-free American cheese slices do not melt well. |
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What You'll Learn
Best vegan cheeses for grilled cheese
There are several options for vegan cheese that can be used to make grilled cheese sandwiches. Some of the more popular options include:
Daiya
Daiya is a Canada-based vegan cheese brand that offers cheese slices and shreds. It is considered to have the best flavour and texture among vegan cheeses, melting nicely without sticking to teeth. It is also praised for its strong cheesy flavour, making it a good option for grilled cheese sandwiches.
Field Roast Chao
Field Roast Chao is a vegan cheese brand that offers slices and spreads. Its slices are known to melt into creamy, gooey deliciousness, making them ideal for grilled cheese sandwiches. The brand also offers a variety of flavours, including creamy original, creamy cheddar, and American. While it may not taste exactly like dairy cheese, it still delivers on a "cheese vibe".
Violife
Violife is a vegan cheese brand that offers slices and shreds. Its slices come in a reclosable package and have a strong cheddar flavour, tasting the most like real cheddar cheese according to some taste testers. While it may not have much stretch, its texture feels the closest to dairy cheese.
Follow Your Heart
Follow Your Heart is a vegan cheese brand that offers slices and spreads. Its products have a milder flavour compared to other options, so they may be better suited for those who prefer a less intense cheesy taste. The brand also offers a vegan mayonnaise product that can be used in grilled cheese sandwiches.
Homemade Vegan Cheese
Some people prefer to make their own vegan cheese at home. Recipes vary, but some common ingredients include raw cashews, tapioca flour, almond milk, veggie broth, and nutritional yeast. Homemade vegan cheese can be a good option for those who want to avoid processed ingredients or who are looking for a specific flavour or texture.
In addition to these options, there are several other brands of vegan cheese that can be used for grilled cheese sandwiches, including Whole Foods, Simply-V, Wilmersburger, and So Delicious. When making grilled cheese sandwiches, it is also important to consider the type of bread and spread used, with options such as sourdough, whole wheat, rye, and vegan butter or mayonnaise.
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Best vegan cheeses for pizza
There are a variety of vegan cheeses available in the market that can be used for pizzas. Some of the best options are:
Miyoko's Creamery Vegan Mozzarella
Miyoko's Creamery is a Northern California-based plant-based dairy company that offers a range of vegan cheese options, including a cashew milk mozzarella and a pourable liquid mozzarella. The liquid mozzarella is designed to be poured onto a pizza before baking so it browns like dairy cheese. The cashew-based cheeses are unique in the vegan cheese market and have no hint of fake vegan cheese flavour. The liquid variety has a mild flavour and is best used with other toppings. The block mozzarella has a minimal stretch but melts and browns nicely, resembling Italian mozzarella.
Violife Just Like Mozzarella Shreds
Violife is a European brand that has gained popularity in the US market. Its mozzarella shreds are bright white and resemble shredded provolone more than mozzarella. The shreds are buttery and slightly sweet, with a flavour that mellows when cooked.
Trader Joe's Vegan Mozzarella
Trader Joe's offers an affordable vegan mozzarella with amazing meltability and a strong earthy cheese flavour. It has a smooth, creamy texture and is a good option for those who want a cheese that performs well when melted.
Whole Foods 365 Dairy-Free Mozzarella
Whole Foods offers a dairy-free mozzarella that can be purchased shredded or as a liquid. It is a good option for those who want a store-bought alternative to homemade vegan cheese.
Homemade Vegan Cheese
Some people prefer to make their own vegan cheese for pizzas, with recipes including cashew-based cheese, boiled sunflower seeds, and blended ingredients.
When choosing a vegan cheese for pizza, it is important to consider the desired flavour, texture, and meltability. Some cheeses may have a stronger flavour or a different texture than expected, so it is worth experimenting to find the best option for individual tastes.
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Best vegan cheeses for feta
Feta is a popular Greek cheese, traditionally made from sheep or goat milk, with a unique tangy, rich, and salty flavour. It is firm to the touch, but crumbly, with a creamy, slightly grainy texture. Vegan feta is typically made with tofu or nuts, such as cashews and almonds, and can be just as tangy, salty, and crumbly as its dairy-based counterpart.
One of the best vegan feta recipes combines cashews, almonds, and coconut oil. The raw cashews make the cheese smooth and creamy, while blanched almonds add a crumbly texture. These nuts are blended until smooth with refined coconut oil, which helps the cheese firm up and become sliceable. Lemon juice adds sharpness, white miso paste adds an aged umami taste, green olive brine adds salty tanginess, and oregano and salt season the cheese. This recipe creates a feta that tastes amazing, with a similar texture to dairy-based feta.
Another great vegan feta recipe uses extra-firm tofu that is cut into cubes and marinated. This tofu feta is lighter and wonderful in salads or crumbled over roasted vegetables. It can also be spread on bread. A similar recipe uses Pulmone firm tofu, which is cut and pressed before being marinated.
For those who are not fans of tofu, there is a cashew cream base recipe seasoned with olive brine, vinegar, lemon juice, and savory seasonings. The key ingredient, agar agar powder, helps this tangy feta hold its shape and texture.
Vegan feta is a versatile cheese that can be used in a variety of dishes, from Greek salads to pasta bakes and stuffed baked pears. It can also be enjoyed as part of a vegan cheese board, served with crackers, olives, fruit, and bread. With these delicious recipes and tips, you can easily enjoy the taste and texture of feta while following a vegan diet.
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Best vegan cheeses for parmesan
There are several options available for those looking for vegan parmesan cheese. Some prefer to make their own, while others opt for store-bought alternatives.
Homemade Vegan Parmesan Cheese
Some people choose to make their own vegan parmesan cheese at home. This allows for customization and control over the ingredients used. A basic recipe for vegan parmesan cheese typically includes nutritional yeast, lemon juice or apple cider vinegar, white miso paste, and salt. These ingredients are blended together until smooth and creamy, then chilled to form a block that can be grated or sliced. Potato starch and refined coconut oil are also commonly used in homemade recipes to achieve the desired texture and flavour.
Store-Bought Vegan Parmesan Cheese
For those who don't want to make their own, there are several store-bought options available:
- Violife Just Like Parmesan Wedge - This vegan parmesan cheese is highly acclaimed for its similarity to traditional parmesan. It grates, slices, and tastes like the real thing, with a slightly salty, nutty, and fruity-sweet flavour profile.
- Follow Your Heart Grated Parmesan - PETA recommends sprinkling this grated vegan parmesan on pizzas.
- Trader Joe's Vegan Parmesan - This parmesan alternative has a nutty and yeasty flavour and is versatile enough to be used in both cooked and uncooked dishes.
Other Options
In addition to the above, there are various other options available for those seeking vegan parmesan cheese. Some people opt for nut-based alternatives, using cashews, almonds, or even sunflower seeds or hemp seeds to achieve a similar texture and flavour to traditional parmesan. Others experiment with different ingredients, such as tofu, to create vegan parmesan-style cheeses.
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Best vegan cheeses for cream cheese
There are numerous options for vegan cream cheese, with many people having their own personal preferences. Some of the most popular options include:
Kite Hill
Kite Hill's vegan cream cheese is widely considered one of the best options. It has a great texture that is similar to whipped cream cheese, and it spreads very easily without being watery or separating in the container. It is also said to taste very similar to dairy cream cheese. Kite Hill offers a variety of flavours, including Plain, Garden Veggie, Everything, Strawberry, and Chive.
Violife
Violife is another popular option, with a very creamy consistency and a mild flavour. It is versatile and can be paired with both sweet and savoury recipes. Violife also offers a range of flavours, including Strawberry, Chive, and Original, as well as a cream cheese block.
Miyoko's
Miyoko's is a cultured vegan cream cheese, giving it a more "cheesy" taste. It is much thicker than other options and may be too "cheesy" for some people's tastes. It pairs better with savoury recipes than sweet ones.
Trader Joe's
Trader Joe's offers a vegan cream cheese with a great neutral taste that is very versatile. It pairs well with both sweet and savoury recipes but seems to be better suited for sweet options. It has a good texture and is spreadable, not too hard, and super creamy.
Other Options
There are several other vegan cream cheese options available, such as Nurishh, which is made with sunflower seeds and bamboo fibre, Philadelphia, which offers a plant-based non-dairy spread in Original, Strawberry, and Chive & Onion flavours, and SimplyV, which is made from almonds and boasts a velvety smooth texture. Daiya, Treeline, and Boursin are also brands to consider, each offering their own unique takes on vegan cream cheese.
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Frequently asked questions
The best vegan cheeses for grilled cheese sandwiches are Violife mature cheddar slices, 365 slices, and Daiya slices. The Violife and 365 slices come in a convenient reclosable package. The Violife slices are soft and flavourful, while the 365 slices are thicker and bigger. The Daiya slices have the best flavour and texture of all the vegan cheeses and melt nicely without sticking to your teeth.
Miyokos liquid mozzarella is considered the best vegan cheese for pizza. It can be purchased online from the Montréal store Nature Santé or Vegan Supply. Miyokos pizza cheese is also a good option.
The best store-bought vegan cheeses are Follow Your Heart's smoked gouda slices, which melt and stretch well, and their dairy-free parmesan, which is the best store-bought option for pre-shredded parmesan. Field Roast Chao Creamery slices are also recommended, as they are tasty enough to snack on raw and melt quite well.
