A review of some of the vegan cheese substitutes available, which looks at taste, potential for melting, and price.
Cheese is probably one of the most difficult animals products to recreate, and there are many different companies with vegan cheese substitutes available. The question is, though, what tastes good, how it can be used, and how much of a dent it will make in your budget. Here's a quick look at some of the vegan cheese substitutes that are out there.
Block Cheese
- Vegan Rella - coming in at around $6-7 CDN per 227g block, Vegan Rella is much tastier in its melted form than it is cold. Eaten straight from the fridge and onto your crackers, it has a somewhat plasticky flavour, and a strange, almost grainy texture. Do not let this discourage you, though, from trying it on pizzas and in grilled cheese sandwiches. When melted, it takes on a whole new flavour, and makes for delicious "cheesy" dishes! (Comes in Mozarella and Cheddar flavours.)
- Sheese - a bit more expensive, Sheese costs between $9-10 per 227g, but it's worth the extra cost. Sheese has a more genuine cheese flavour (it's quite a strong cheesy flavour, at that) and works very well in sandwiches and on crackers. If you're a fan of strong cheeses, you can even eat it by itself! Sheese does not melt as well as Vegan Rella, but can be coaxed to do so, especially if it's shredded. An added benefit of Sheese is that it is available in a range of flavours: Mozarella, Medium Cheddar, Strong Cheddar, Gouda, Blue, Edam, Hickory Smoked Cheddar, and Cheddar and Chives!
- Vegan Gourmet Cheese by Follow Your Heart - cheaper than its competitors, at $5-6 per 284g, this Vegan Gourmet Cheese also has the best flavour. It has the consistency of a softer cheese, and its flavour is light and almost buttery. The mozarella is better than the cheddar, which does not taste as genuine. Follow Your Heart's cheese also melts brilliantly (and quickly, so be careful with your microwave!)
- Teese Vegan Cheese - running at around $5-6 per 280g, Teese is very similar to Follow You Heart's vegan cheese, but has a saltier, slightly more processed flavour. The cheddar has been likened to Velveeta cheese. The consistency is soft, and Teese melts very well on pizzas and in lasagnes. (Available in Mozarella and Cheddar flavours.)
Cream Cheese
- Toffuti Better Than Cream Cheese - approximately $5 per 227g container, Tofutti is one of the most popular vegan cream cheese spreads available. It has a very similar flavour to real cheese, and it maintains the versatility of regular cream cheese - Tofutti works beautifully in baking!
- Sheese Cream Sheese - coming in at around $6-7 per 227g container, Sheese has an incredibley genuine flavour and spreads well. As with Sheese's block cheese, however, the cream version has a very strong, cheesy flavour, and does not work well in baking. It can be melted down into cheese sauces, though, and blends well with other ingredients when heated.
Cheese Slices
- Toffuti Vegan Cheese Slices - approximately $4-5 per 12-slice package. Toffuti is once again one of the more popular brands of vegan cheese when it comes to slices. The cheddar (American) flavour slices are better than the mozarella, which have a bland flavour. These melt well to create grilled cheese and are delicious when used cold in sandwiches, too - very much like Kraft cheese! (One word of warning: these are quite high in saturated fat.)
- Vegan Rice Cheese Slices by Galaxy Nutritional Foods - a bit more expensive than Toffuti at $4-5 per 8-slice package, these are still an excellent option, as they are lower in saturated fat and are free of soy and gluten (for those with intolerances). They melt well and have a great flavour! (Available in Cheddar, American, and Pepper Jack flavours.)
- Vegan Singles Cheese Slices by Galaxy Nutrional Foods - costing the same as the rice version above, but lacking the same great flavour, these Vegan Singles are crumbly to the touch and do not melt well. The flavour is plasticky compared to the other options, and with the higher cost, these are much less worthwhile.
Finally, if you're looking for a great vegan macaroni and cheese alternative, try Road's End Organics - they are inexpensive, delicious, and as quick to make as Kraft Dinner!
The copyright of the article Vegan Cheese Substitutes in Vegan/Raw Food is owned by Andrea Beca. Permission to republish Vegan Cheese Substitutes in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.
 |
Comments
Mar 20, 2009 2:43 PM
Guest :
1 Comment: