From meltable shreds and sandwich slices to cream cheese, there are many options when it comes to buying vegan cheese. To help you make your way through the aisle with ease, learn what to look for when shopping for a plant-based cheese. Plus, get our picks for the best vegan cheeses.
What to Look for When Buying Vegan Cheese
Screen for Saturated Fat
While dairy-based cheese typically has at least 3 grams of saturated fat per serving, vegan cheese is often made with coconut oil and can have as much as 7 grams. Look for 6 grams or less per serving—ones made from nuts and seeds will primarily contain heart-healthy unsaturated fats—to help keep your saturated fat intake from exceeding 10% of your total daily calories.
Watch for Sodium
Cheese is inherently salty. Hard varieties, like Parmesan, are on the higher side, while cream cheese is on the lower. Aim for 260 milligrams or less of sodium per serving to help stay under 2,300mg a day.
Consider Calcium and Protein
Something to keep in mind: vegan cheese is usually low in protein and calcium compared to the dairy-based kind—so don't rely on it to fulfill those goals. Nut- and seed-based cheeses have the most protein while those made with starches and coconut oil have the least. As for calcium, some plant-based cheeses are fortified, but they often still have less than dairy versions.
5 Vegan Cheeses to Try
Best Vegan Cream Cheese
So Delicious Creamy Original Cream Cheese Style Spread
70 cal, 6g sat fat, 0g protein, 115mg sodium, 0mg calcium
Coconut oil makes this super-creamy spread look and feel just like the real thing (minus a little of the tang).
Best Soft Cheese
Treeline French Style Cheese Herb Garlic
90 cal, 1g sat fat, 3g protein, 90mg sodium, 10mg calcium
This spreadable cheese has herbaceous flavor reminiscent of Boursin. It's great on a cheese board or as a snack with crackers.
Best Vegan Mozzarella
Vevan Mozza-Shred
80 cal, 5g sat fat, 190mg sodium, 0g protein, 0mg calcium
Don't be fooled by the drier-looking melt of this mozz— it's plenty gooey. Cheese pull, anyone?
Best Vegan Cheddar Cheese
Daiya Cheddar-Style Slices
60 cal, 4g sat fat, 0g protein, 170mg sodium, 140mg calcium
A salty Cheddar, reminiscent of mild dairy versions, it's the best melter of all the ones we tried— perfect for a grilled cheese or topping a plant-based burger.
Best Pepper Jack
Field Roast Spicy Original Vegan Chao Slices
60 cal, 4g sat fat, 0g protein, 180mg sodium, 0mg calcium
Dotted with spicy pepper flecks, these creamy slices are good both cold and melted.
FAQs
Real Vegan Cheese (RVC) is a grassroots, non-profit research project working to produce real cheese using cellular agriculture. We add the genes for cheese proteins to yeast and other microflora, and turn them into little protein factories, then make real cheese by adding plant-based fats and sugars.
What cheese is vegan but real? ›
Real Vegan Cheese (RVC) is a grassroots, non-profit research project working to produce real cheese using cellular agriculture. We add the genes for cheese proteins to yeast and other microflora, and turn them into little protein factories, then make real cheese by adding plant-based fats and sugars.
What are the best vegan cheese slices for 2024? ›
Best Cheese Slices: Chao Creamery & Violife [tie!]
And with Chao's creamy, fermented tofu-infused slices, you get that unmistakable cheesy funk and a supreme, creamy meltability that's hard to beat. So for your next grilled cheese, don't overthink—use both.
Is vegan cheese healthier than normal cheese? ›
Vegan cheese has many naturally occurring vitamins and minerals but it is often much lower in cholesterol, saturated fats, and calories. Vegan cheese is often made from healthy fats such as coconut oil which makes it more suitable for people with these issues.
Does any vegan cheese taste like cheese? ›
It's important to understand that vegan cheese, being made with different ingredients, typically does not taste exactly like traditional dairy cheese. However, it does replicate some of the flavors and textures that you might remember from dairy cheese and tastes great in its own right.
Is vegan cheese inflammatory? ›
Is vegan cheese inflammatory? The vegan cheeses produced on a large scale that we are most likely to find in grocery stores are processed foods. As is the case with all processed foods, they can cause some inflammation in some consumers.
What cheese can vegans not eat? ›
Vegans do not eat cheese or any other dairy products because they are derived from animals. Dairy products involve the exploitation of animals for their milk, and so cheese made from animal milk is not considered part of a vegan diet. this includes cheeses made from sheep and goat's milk.
What do vegans replace cheese with? ›
Silken tofu blended with garlic, lemon juice, nutritional yeast, and herbs makes a fantastic vegan alternative to ricotta cheese. It's perfect for lasagna, stuffed shells, or as a dip for breadsticks.
What kind of vegan cheese does Cheesecake Factory use? ›
Finding vegan options at The Cheesecake Factory is easier than ever—the chain has added Field Roast Chao cheese and Best Foods vegan mayo to its menu at locations nationwide. Now, you can enjoy an animal-free burger topped with dairy-free cheese and egg-free mayo at this popular restaurant.
Is vegan cheese highly processed? ›
Some vegan cheeses are highly processed and contain artificial additives, while others are made from whole foods and natural ingredients. Some vegan cheeses are low in fat, protein, and calcium, while others are rich in these nutrients. Some vegan cheeses are high in sodium, while others are heart healthy.
Key Takeaways. Vegan cheese has a different melting behavior compared to dairy cheese due to the lack of casein and dairy sugars, but innovative methods like precision fermentation are being developed to improve this.
Is vegan cheese good for gut health? ›
Better for gut health: Since there is no lactose or casein in vegan cheese, there is no intestinal permeability associated with eating vegan cheese. Bloating, diarrhea, gas, nausea, and abdomen pain are common for people who react poorly to lactose or gluten.
Is vegan cheese bad for cholesterol? ›
A vegan diet is a plant-based diet that is typically low in cholesterol. However, several vegan processed foods like faux meats and vegan cheeses are high in saturated fat from coconut or palm oil and sodium that can raise cholesterol levels.
Is all vegan cheese made with coconut oil? ›
The main ingredients in many vegan cheeses are starch and vegetable oils – usually coconut oil, or sometimes palm oil. Starch and oil may give vegan cheeses their texture, but they are of little nutritional value. For instance, when we eat starch, it is broken down in our gut into sugar.
What cheeses are naturally dairy free? ›
Hard cheeses such as cheddar, colby, Swiss, mozzarella and Monterey Jack “are virtually lactose-free,” Cifelli explains. Additionally aged cheeses such as Parmigiano Reggiano are virtually lactose free. At less than 1 mg lactose per 100 grams even the Italian Ministry of Health allows it to be labeled as such.
What is a good vegan substitute for cheese? ›
SAY CHEESE- 10 VEGAN SUBSTITUTES TO SATISFY YOUR CHEESE CRAVINGS”
- Cashew Cream Cheese: Creamy Dream Come True. ...
- Nutritional Yeast: The Cheesy Secret. ...
- Tofu Ricotta: ...
- Tahini – ...
- Roasted salted almonds – ...
- Hummus – ...
- Peanut Butter or Sunflower Butter. ...
- Avocado –
Is vegan cheese the same as Dairy Free cheese? ›
Yes, vegan cheese is completely plant-based and does not contain the lactase enzyme, making it suitable and a great alternative for any with lactose intolerance.
Does vegan cheese melt like regular cheese? ›
Does Vegan Cheese Melt. A resounding yes, it sure does, not all of it, but vegan cheese does melt and melt well. Just like non-vegan cheese, there will be some that aren't created to melt, nor do it well, it's just the same. Make sure to cook vegan cheeses on a lower heat than you would normally and keep an eye on them ...