Can I Freeze Cashew Cheese
Absolutely! I love the fact that cashew cheese can be frozen. It makes it easy for me to double the recipe below, enjoy one batch now, and freeze another batch for later on.
Having cashew cheese thats ready-to-defrost means that I can whip up creamy vegan pastas, savory toasts, enchiladas, quesadillas, and cheese-studded salads at a moments notice.
I use cashew cheese as a meal hack in lots of different ways. My latest favorite is to warm up marinara sauce for pasta and stir in a few tablespoons of cashew cheese. Its a quick, simple makeshift pasta a la vodka.
Which Ones Should You Choose
Ultimately, the vegan cheese you buy should be based on your own taste preferences and the type of dish for which you intend to use it.
Nutritionally speaking, your best bet is to make your own or choose a pre-made option with the most whole-food ingredients.
Always keep in mind that a well-planned, healthy diet should include a variety of different vegetables, fruits, whole grains, healthy fats and lean protein .
If your newfound love of vegan cheese ends up replacing any one of these major food groups, you may be throwing your diet out of balance and risking nutritional deficiencies.
As with any food, moderation and balance are key.
Summary
The vegan cheese you choose should be based on your own tastes and preferences. Just make sure youre eating it as part of a healthy, well-balanced diet.
What Is Vegan Cheese Made From
- Sarah Von Alt
Over the past few years, the number of vegan products on store shelves has skyrocketed, including the number of delicious plant-based cheeses at major grocers. Vegan cheese comes in many varieties, like shreds, slices, and fancy roundsand it is made from an assortment of plant-based ingredients.
Here is a quick rundown of the most popular vegan cheese ingredients:
Cashews
While several different nuts are often used for vegan cheesemaking, cashews are by far the most versatile. They have an incredibly creamy texture and can easily be transformed into a wide variety of vegan cheeses. Popular store-bought brands include Miyokos Kitchen and Treeline.
Tapioca
Starches create an excellent base for vegan cheeses, and some of the oldest offerings focus on tapioca, which allows cheese to melt and stretch. Popular brands include Daiya, a plant-based brand known for its breakthrough vegan cheese products, like shreds, slices, and even cheesecakes.
Coconut
Coconut oil gives many vegan cheese varieties the familiar fattiness people associate with their dairy-laden counterparts. Often mixed with a blend of tofu or potato starch, coconut is great for making indulgent plant-based cheesesso its great when you want that ooey, gooey fix. Look out for vegan cheese slices and blocks from Follow Your Heart and Violife,
Tofu
Almond
Nutritional Yeast
Want more? for 12 vegan cheese recipes that will change your life.
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Winner: Sheese Creamy 100% Dairy Free Original
Our stand-out product of the entire taste test, this impressed us with its near-perfect imitation of regular cream cheese. It has the same thick, creamy and smooth texture, as well as the slightly sour flavour.
Not only would it be great on toast, oatcakes or in sandwiches, it also doesnt split when cooking so could be stirred through risottos and pastas or used in sauces.
Ingredients: Water, Coconut Oil , Soya Protein Concentrate , Salt, Acidity Regulator: Lactic Acid , Sugar, Thickener , Natural Flavourings.
Sheese Melty Smoked Cheddar Style Winner In Our Best All
This melty version of the classic smoked block is what crowns Melty Smoked Cheddar Style as the best all-rounder cheese it tastes great on its own, in a sandwich or melted on pizza, pasta and nachos. Ranking third in our taste test, its a definite favourite among our staff. If youre not a fan of smoked cheeses, you should try Sheese Melty Strong Cheddar Style instead.
Where to buy: Sheese is stocked online and in health food stores across the UK, as well as in Sainsburys and Tesco for a mere £2.25. Note that Tesco packages Sheese Melty Smoked Cheddar Style as Tesco Free From Soya Smoked. We urge you to try their newer feta alternative which may even be better than smoked, found in Sainsburys as ‘FreeFrom Greek-style‘, as well as their vegan Wensleydale with cranberries and caramelised onion. Sheese also has suppliers all over the world.
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Does Vegan Cheese Taste Like Real Cheese
The big difference between real cheese and vegan cheese is the consolidated protein otherwise known as the curd. Real cheese goes through stages where the proteins physically bond to each other, which is why you can get so many different unique flavors and textures by aging the cheese.
Since vegan cheese doesnt experience any modification in proteins the way real cheese does, it may not deliver the same complex flavors that come from coagulated, acidified, pasteurized, and aged milk. But through the bacterial and aging process many vegan cheesemakers are now employing, there are some well-loved vegan cheeses that many say rival the taste and texture of dairy cheeses.
Who Should Eat Vegan Cheese
The people who tend to gravitate toward vegan cheese may do so for a variety of personal and environmental reasons. Typically, folks choose vegan cheese because theyre avoiding animal ingredients because of personal ethics. But a growing number of consumers are choosing vegan cheese because they believe it to be healthier than dairy-based cheese, and for its lesser environmental impact, says Taylor Wolfram, RDN, who specializes in vegan nutrition in Chicago. You may also choose to switch from dairy to vegan cheese because of an intolerance, like lactose intolerance, if you don’t feel good after eating regular cheese, but you still miss that cheesy taste and texture.
Environmental and ethical concerns are some of the biggest reasons to consider vegan cheese, says Wolfram. She notes that at some farms, female cows are forcibly impregnated repeatedly so they will lactate, and they are also separated from their babies, causing distress, and are confined to tiny pens, something that the New York Times reported in a story about dairy farming in late 2020.
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What Are Common Vegan Cheeses
The good news is that you can find many popular cheeses on the market today that are manufactured in vegan forms and becoming commonly consumed in grocery stores, restaurants, bakeries, and at home. Whether you choose the store bought versions from your local grocery store or prefer to make your own vegan cheeses from scratch–both are a great place to start! Here are some of our personal favorites:
Vegan Cheddar
For a delicious twist on your favorite cheddar cheese that is truly divine and mimics the same rich flavor that sharp cheddar is known for, use cashews to make the base of this cheese. Youll also need agar, agar powder, apple cider vinegar, nutritional yeast, coconut oil, and lemon to make this at home. For an extra kick, you can also add paprika, red pepper flakes, and turmeric to your desire.
Vegan Gouda
If you enjoy the bitter, aromatic, and nutty flavors of gouda, then youll love transforming it into the vegan version! Its quick and simple to make and free from dairy, soy, gluten, and nuts. All you need is cashews, refined coconut oil, tapioca flour, nutritional yeast flakes, lemon juice, liquid smoke, and garlic powder. For a smoky flavor, you can add hickory smoke flavor or other spices of your choice.
Vegan Parmesan
Vegan Mozzarella
Vegan Cream Cheese
Vegan Camembert and Brie
Vegan Blue Cheese
*Disclaimer- The ingredients provided for each type of vegan cheese listed may need to be adapted based on the recipe and diet you follow.
Best Budget Choice: Daiya Cheese Sauce Variety Pack
Ingredients
Cheddar and Alfredo flavor: Tapioca starch, filtered water, vegan lactic acid, yeast extract, Xanthan gum, Annotto food color, onion, canola oil, safflower oil, coconut oil, sea salt, natural vegan flavors, pea protein isolate, cane sugar, and titanium dioxide.
Cheddar zesty flavor: Cheddar flavor ingredients and blended jalapenos and bell peppers.
The Daiya Cheese sauce variety pack comes with three packs of three types of cheese, including cheddar, Alfredo, and Zesty cheddar. All the vegan cheese packs are dairy-free, non-GMO, gluten-free, and soy-free.
The sauces have a rich cheesy flavor and texture. They are ideal for people who are allergic to lactose, soy, and gluten. While the sauces are rich in calcium, they are high in saturated fats and low in protein.
They can be used together or separately on various recipes, including pasta, veggies, soups, noodles, baked potatoes, nachos, dips, etc. or it can be warmed or served as is.
Allergens: None
Pros
- Has a rich, creamy cheese flavor
- Free from the most common allergens, including gluten, lactose, soy, selfish, peanuts, eggs, shellfish, and animal products
- Non-GMO and cholesterol-free
- Can be used in a wide range of recipes
Cons
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How To Give Vegan Cheese A Chance
Grob suggests vegan cheese newbies start shopping by first thinking about what they like about cheese. “If you like creamy and rich, look for some creamy and rich ones,” she said. While there are plenty of vegan cheeses that come already sliced and work on sandwiches, many also work well as the start on cheese boards with fruits and crackers. And don’t be afraid to try cooking with them. “One thing to remember is that some vegan cheese, especially the pre-cut and shredded ones, may have a higher melting point,” Grob said. “If you’re making a grilled cheese sandwich, for example, give it a little more time and a little lower temperature to start with so the cheese can melt before the bread gets too crispy.”
Wilmersburger Pizza Shreds Winner In Our Best Melter Category
While we tested our pizza shreds on nachos to great success, I can also confirm that they are similarly superb for pizza. Yes, getting home and making pizza was a sacrifice I was willing to make in order to perfect this review Im just that dedicated. The textured stretch that is often missing from vegan cheese is there, reminiscent of Daiya or Violife for Pizza. But the great, cheesy taste seen across Wilmersburgers range is not lost, while the pre-shredded cheese is a god-send. Its no wonder that these shreds scored the highest mark overall. Its fairly affordable on the continent too, at 3-3.50 for a 250g bag in Germany, or £3.80 in the UK.
Where to buy: In the UK, you can order Wilmersburger from Vx, or pick it up from their store in London. You can find online suppliers throughout the rest of Europe here, and well as suppliers in many stores here.
Wilmersburger are also interested in finding suppliers in the US to import Wilmersburger contact them if you could be that supplier.
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Winner: Sainsburys Deliciously Free From Greek Style Alternative To Cheese
This was the only entry in this category which managed to achieve both the crumbly texture and salty hit of feta cheese. At first taste, the flavour is cheesy and salty, but some did find that this was followed by a slightly synthetic aftertaste.
Our panel felt confident that they would to serve this in place of feta in a vegan Greek salad or crumbled over roasted veg.
Ingredients: Water, Coconut Oil , Modified Potato Starch, Maize Starch, Salt, Flavourings, Gluten Free Oat Fibre, Thickeners: Carrageenan, Guar Gum Modified Maize Starch, Acidity Regulators: Lactic Acid, Sodium lactate Colour: Mixed Carotenes.
What Exactly Is Vegan Cheese
Learn how vegan cheese is made, if it’s healthy and how it tastes. Plus find out our favorite vegan cheese brands.
Featured Recipe:Vegan Queso
If you’re following a vegan or plant-based diet but hankering for some cheese, you may not need to skip it. While real cheese traditionally comes from the milk of cows, goats or sheep, alternatives made with nuts, nutritional yeast and vegetable oils are popping up. Thank food technology, human ingenuity and the popularity of vegan diets for bringing cheese into the dairy-free world. But what exactly is vegan cheese and what do you need to know before you try it?
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We Tried 19 Vegan Cheeseshere Are The Ones Worth Buying
We found some pretty tasty products and lived to tell the tale.
Vegan cheese has a reputation for being notoriously bad. In the earlier days of the plant-based movement, dairy-free cheeses often looked suspiciously similar to orange plastic. They also took intense heat to cook, but would cool down to a chalky texture just before you managed to take a bite.
Nowadays, there’s a world of vegan cheeses to choose from. Whether they’re made with tofu, nuts, tapioca starch, or other plant-based goodness, this market now has a variety that was unimaginable just a few years ago.
Bel Group Gets Into Vegan Cheese
Bel Group is acutely aware of the demand for vegan alternatives to cheese and the French giant is working to develop plant-based alternatives to its classic cheese products. The launch of vegan Babybel cheeses follows Bel Groups release of its first vegan cheese product: Boursin Dairy-Free Cheese Spread Alternative. The vegan Boursin spread was developed in partnership with iconic vegan brand Follow Your Heart and is made from organic coconut oil and organic expeller-pressed canola oil. The vegan Boursin hit shelves at retailers such as Trader Joes last year.
For the past year, we have been accelerating the Groups transformation, with the conviction that a responsible and profitable growth is possible: an enlightened capitalism that is moving from a logic of balance of power to a logic of value sharing, beyond any major stakes, Bel Groups Executive Vice President Cécile Béliot told Food Dive last year. This is what guides all the Groups actions today.
In addition to developing vegan versions of its iconic cheeses, the Bel Group launched a wholly new vegan cheese line. In April, the French company launched Nurishh in the United States on Amazon Fresh and at select retailers. The new vegan cheese line features six flavors and two formats: mozzarella, provolone, and cheddar slices and mozzarella, cheddar, and mozzarella/cheddar blend shreds. Outside of the US, the Nurishh line also features a vegan camembert-style cheese wheel.
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Use Of A Processor Instead Of A Blender
As much as this is not associated with the ingredients to use, it basically is a step one is likely to undertake when preparing the vegan cream cheese. At times the blender might not be available for this type of work, or maybe it happened to have broken or spoilt. This should not bother you since you can make use of a food processor in most cases. The final product might not be that smooth as you want, but trust me, the outcome will be much smoother than you would have expected.
If you have a blender, then it would definitely be ideal for the whole process, but a preferred option is always recommended when intending to carry out the vegan cream cheese preparation activity. High powered blenders such as Blendtech and Vitamix, which I would largely advise you guys to use, are some of the best blender types that you can use in preparing a vegan cream cheese. The Vitamix would be great for use because it has a tamper attachment that will help with the recipe as you take time to push down from the top and helps out in the process.
What Is The Best Tasting Vegan Cheese
1. Field Roast Chao Cheese. Chao cheeses are some of the best readily vegan cheeses out there. They have a creamy texture, cheesy deliciousness flavor, and melt well . You can get Chao slices in original, Coconut Herb and Tomato Cayenne flavors, all of which are scrumptious on their own or in recipes.
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What Are The Best Brands Of Vegan Cheese
We reached out to vegan cookbook author Dreena Burton of Plant Powered Kitchen and The Colorful Kitchen blogger Ilene Godofsky Moreno to find out their recommendations for the best vegan cheeses on the market. Here’s what they said:
Vegan Parmesan Cheese: Parmesan substitutes vary from simple shakers made with blends of nutritional yeast and nuts by companies like Parma to more authentic-looking shreds and wedges from Violife, Burton says.
Vegan Mozzarella Cheese:“Miyoko’s Kitchen Fresh Italian-Style Vegan Mozz is the real deal,” Moreno says. “The texture is eerily similar to traditional mozzarella, and it’s delicious fresh in a caprese salad or melted on pizza.” Burton agrees that Miyoko’s Kitchen makes a terrific mozzarella substitute.
Vegan Cheddar Cheese: Moreno’s go-to Cheddar is Daiya Cheddar shreds: “It gets super melty when grilled in a sandwich or mixed into pasta.” Other good brands of melty vegan cheeses, according to Burton, include Follow Your Heart and So Delicious.
Vegan Ricotta Cheese:Kite Hill has nailed the unique texture of ricotta cheese, Moreno says. “My mom recently started swapping out the traditional ricotta in her famous lasagna for Kite Hill’s vegan version, and no one in my family could even tell the difference!”
Vegan Cream Cheese:Toffuti and Go Veggie are among the best companies offering soy-based cream cheeses, says Burton, who also recommends trying out artisanal nut-based cream cheeses.
What Is Vegan Cheese Or Cheeze
Vegan cheese is a non-dairy alternative to cheese, usually made from plant-based proteins and fats. Most vegan cheeses youll find on the market or on vegan recipe blogs are typically made from some combination of:
- Soy
- Starchy flours, like tapioca flour, potato, or arrowroot
- Root vegetables
With the dairy-free market exploding in the last decade, chances are there are many varieties to choose from at your local grocery store, from soft style cheeses to slices to grated variations.
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