You can find some delicious vegan cheese options at Whole Foods, Target, and Kroger. Whole Foods also offers a line of vegan cheeses called 365 brands. If Whole Foods isn’t an option, you can also order it from Target’s online store. Safeway also carries a few vegan cheese options, and Kroger also carries Daiya and Simple Truth products. Listed below are some of the best places to buy vegan cheese in your area.
What is Vegan Cheese?
Vegan cheese is simply cheese prepared from plant-based milk rather than animal milk. Ordinary dairy cheese is manufactured by acidifying animal milk (typically cow, sheep, or goat) with a bacterial culture, then coagulating the milk proteins with enzymes to form solid curds, shaped and squeezed to make cheese.
What are the Ingredients in Vegan Cheese?
If you’re wondering what goes into the amazing combination of vegan cheese, the answer is… pretty much anything! As long as it’s not derived from animals.
Vegan cheese is prepared from plant proteins rather than dairy. Soy and nut kinds of milk, as well as vegetable oils like coconut oil, are examples. Vegan cheese can be made using starchy flours like tapioca and arrowroot and root vegetables like potatoes and carrots (and even cauliflower).
Plant-based cheese, like dairy-based cheese, can be found in various forms, including blocks, shreds, slices, grated, and as a dip. But, which brands are the greatest to buy?
10 Vegan Cheese Companies to Try
You can take your dairy-free cheese game to the next level with these vegan cheese brands. They’re deserving of a place on your charcuterie board, we promise.
Miyoko’s Creamery
Miyoko’s cheese is the stuff of sweet dreams. Since 2014, the vegan company has produced gourmet cheeses such as mozzarella, cream cheese, pepper jack, and kid-friendly cheddar sticks. The brand makes its non-dairy cheese from plant milk using traditional cheesemaking procedures. Did we mention that they have cheese wheels on hand?
Daiya Foods is a vegan food company.
This brand provides tasty cheddar shreds and a variety of vegan cheese-based dishes like macaroni and cheese and pizza. But let’s get back to the cheese. Daiya now sells slices in smoked gouda, mozzarella, and Swiss tastes in addition to cheddar. Parmesan, Mexican four cheese, mozzarella, cheddar, and hot Monterey jack are among the shredded cheeses available. They also sell vegan string cheese, which brings back memories.
Roasted in the Field
Field Roast is well-known for its vegan meats (sausages, burgers, roasts, deli slices, and so on), but it also makes a variety of dairy-free cheeses. Fermented tofu is used to season the company’s creamy coconut-based Chao cheese slices, blocks, and shreds. Garden herb, tomato cayenne, and creamy original are among the flavors available. Who’s going to make the grilled cheese?
Violife
Aside from dairy, the vegan cheese brand from Greece is free of common allergies such as nuts, soy, and gluten. Coconut oil is used in the company’s blocks, shreds, slices, and wedges. Pizza with mozzarella? Check. Salad with feta? Check. Pasta with parmesan? Check. Cheddar shreds that you can eat right out of the bag? Check.
Always go with your gut.
This plant-based company began as a country-style market in California’s San Fernando Valley. Now, the company offers a wide range of vegan products, including spreads, sauces, cream cheese, yogurts, and, of course, cheese. Do you want some handmade pizza? On a Tuesday, tacos? For that, the company makes vegan cheese.
Treeline
Treeline’s cashew-based cheeses should be on your shopping list right now. You won’t want to put this cheese down with flavors like dairy-free chipotle-serrano pepper and herb garlic. We gave it our all.
So Delicious
This brand’s moniker isn’t a lie—absolutely, it’s wonderful. Coffee creamers, yogurt, and a plethora of frozen treats are available from the dairy-free brand. (Salted caramel bars dipped in chocolate?! Peanut butter brownie ice cream in pints?!?! Swoon.) There are mozzarella, cheddar, and Mexican-style shreds available from this company. American and cheddar-style slices are available (sandwiches, anyone?). Cream cheese spreads in varieties such as creamy original and chive and onion.
Dairy-Free Koko
This company, founded in 2010, is well-known for its dairy-free milk. In fact, it was the first brand in the UK to make coconut milk. Since then, Koko Dairy Free has expanded its dairy-free product line to include yogurt, spreads, and cheese. Waitrose, Ocado, Dunnes Stores, Planet Organic, and other retailers carry them.
Vitalite
Vitalite is the brand you go to for a piece of cheddar cheese to melt on a vegetarian burger or to stack between salty crackers. Coconut oil-based vegan cheeses with added calcium and vitamin B12 are available at UK supermarkets such as Asda, Sainsbury’s, and Tesco.
Cheese
This award-winning dairy-free company was created in 1988 and is based in Scotland. It also comes in various flavors for any vegan palate. The list goes on and on: Greek, cheddar, smoked German, mature cheddar, mild cheddar, etc. The company also sells dairy-free cheese spreads, grated cheese, cheese slices, and. Sheesh is available at big retailers such as Sainsbury’s. Just trust us when we say this vegan cheese is gouda.
How does Vegan Cheese Develop?
If you haven’t had vegan cheese in a long time, you owe yourself to sample the newest options. The early non-dairy cheese brands gained a negative reputation because most brands didn’t even melt properly, and they were frequently manufactured from highly processed components.
That’s all changed now that businesses have upped their game. Many vegan cheese companies are now considered gourmet. The majority contain high-quality ingredients such as nut kinds of milk, which have rich and delicious flavors. They’ve also developed new production processes that mimic the texture and flavor of real cheese. With so many excellent dairy-free cheese options, inferior options don’t last long.
The greatest vegan cheese brands in North America and worldwide are featured in the following lists. These cheeses are available in a wide range of formats, including artisan hard cheese blocks, spreadable soft cheese in tubs, and pre-shredded variants ideal for pizza and casseroles. Vegan grated Parmesan-style cheese, the perfect dairy-free spaghetti topping, is also available.
What is the Process of Making Vegan Cheese?
When vegan cheesemakers initially started making vegan cheese, the main goal was to make it appear like traditional cheese. But, as time went on, they knew it wouldn’t be enough. They needed to develop techniques to make the animal-free cheese taste and behave more like the real thing, such as melting on toast.
Vegan cheese is made similarly to traditional cheesemaking, except for the use of animal milk.
Bacteria are used to separate plant proteins. Then, to help achieve the ideal cheeselike consistency, substances like oils and thickeners are added.
Time is the next significant element needed for a slice of great vegan cheese, just like regular cheeses. The bacteria and vegetable protein sit and break down even more. Unlike animal proteins in dairy cheeses, Vegan cheese proteins do not naturally link to one another. As a result, the flavors are less complex and distinctive.
Does Vegan Cheese have a Cheese Flavor?
The most noticeable difference you’ll notice with your dairy-free cheese is that it doesn’t melt as well. When you top your pizza with vegan cheese, don’t anticipate the same ooey-gooey feeling. Remember that all brands are different, so don’t quite up on the others if you don’t like one. Vegan cheesemakers always invent innovative procedures to make these vegan cheeses taste even more like the real thing.
Is Vegan Cheese Good for you?
You might not need to avoid normal cheese because of the saturated fat. According to new research, cheese may benefit your health and lessen your diabetes and heart disease chances. Vegan cheeses are usually lower in fat, protein, and calcium than traditional cheese, and they’re also gluten-free. Because vegan cheese is a processed item, it has greater salt content, so read the labels carefully. Vegans cannot rely on vegan cheese as a source of protein in the same way that vegetarians may rely on normal cheese. Vegans can enjoy pizza, grilled cheese, and queso dip once more, even though it isn’t a wonderful vegan health food like kale and lentils.
What are the Different Styles in Which Cheese are Available?
Vegan cheese is available in nearly every form of traditional dairy-based cheese. This is very useful for making a smooth transition to vegan and dairy-free cooking.
Although individual selections vary, most of these vegan cheeses are accessible at major supermarket stores.
The following are some of the most common designs:
Shredded: Shredded vegan cheese is now available from several big manufacturers. The most popular cheeses are mozzarella and cheddar, and this kind is ideal for topping pizza, tacos, potatoes, and casseroles.
Vegan cream cheeses are fantastic for spreading on bagels and toast and utilizing creamy sauces. They come in a variety of flavors, just like traditional cream cheese.
Vegan block and sliced cheese come in a wide range of flavors, including cheddar, smoked gouda, provolone, and American. The ideal way to eat them is on crackers or in sandwiches.
Vegan ricotta, brie, and camembert are examples of soft cheeses.
Parmesan-style: Vegan grated parmesan-style cheese is a delicious plant-based topping for pasta, pizza, or popcorn.
Nacho cheese dips: If you miss cheese dips and sauces, vegan nacho cheese is now available, and a range of simple recipes online.
Which of the Cheese you Should Pick?
Finally, the vegan cheese you choose should reflect your personal preferences and the type of cuisine for which it will be used.
Making your own or choosing a pre-made one with the most whole-food ingredients is the healthiest option.
Remember that a well-balanced, healthy diet should consist of a wide range of vegetables, fruits, whole grains, healthy fats, and lean protein.
If your newfound love of vegan cheese replaces any of these key food categories, your diet may become unbalanced, putting you at risk for nutritional deficiencies.
Moderation and balance, like with any cuisine, are essential.
What’s Wrong with Regular Dairy Cheese?
There are three main areas of the worry associated with dairy cheese, and each one is used as a reason to eat less or avoid it entirely.
Physical well-being
Dairy cheese is harmful to your health, and it is high in saturated fat, cholesterol, and sodium, which can put your heart at risk. It could also be addictive—yes, addictive. According to research, casein, a protein found in dairy, is thought to release opiates when it breaks down in your stomach.
Your brain interprets them as comfort cues, causing you to seek more. This is a system in cow’s milk that ensures that newborn cows get enough to eat. However, the casomorphins in cheese become much more concentrated, triggering those signals even more. So, does this make cheese a drug for humans?
Concern for animal welfare
A dairy cow’s life is not one you’d wish on your worst enemy. Many people are still unaware that a cow must be pregnant or have given birth to a calf to produce milk for cheese. This is cruel, painful, and anguish-inducing. After one or two days, the calf will be separated from his mother to avoid wasting the milk supply. Cows are forcibly impregnated regularly, resulting in a cycle of anguish, sadness, and misery. Male calves are frequently slain at just a few months old, often for veal, while female calves are forced into the dairy sector.
Conclusion
Vegan cheese options are now more plentiful than ever before, making it easy to stick to a vegan or other dairy-free diet. Vegan cheeses are created from various plant foods such as nuts, soy, seeds, and root vegetables and are available in almost as many types and flavors as dairy cheese. Vegan cheese, like conventional cheese, can be part of a healthy diet when consumed in moderation; however, excessively processed options should be avoided.
On the other hand, vegan cheeses are not all made equal, and some are heavily processed and have lower nutritional value than others. Your best bet is to choose variations created from natural foods. To ensure a high-quality, nutritional decision, read the nutrition labels. Better yet, make your own.