The Evolution of Dairy-Free Cheese
For a long time, vegan cheeses had a lackluster reputation, often described as plasticky, chalky, or waxy with a subpar melt. However, the landscape has drastically changed. With more players in the market, competition has driven innovation, leading to a new generation of dairy-free cheeses that are creamier, tangier, and more authentically cheesy than ever before. Different plant bases, such as cashews, almonds, and coconut oil, now mimic the properties of dairy cheese with impressive results. Artisanal brands using traditional culturing and aging techniques are also elevating the options available.
Top Dairy-Free Cheeses by Application
Best for Melting: Pizza, Pasta & Grilled Cheese
For applications requiring that signature gooey, melty texture, the right product is crucial. Ingredients like coconut oil and starches are key to achieving superior meltability.
- Pizza: Miyoko's Creamery offers a unique Liquid Vegan Pizza Mozzarella that bubbles and browns perfectly, with a mild, unobtrusive flavor that complements other toppings. Alternatively, the Daiya Cutting Board Blend shreds are widely used in restaurants and melt well with a good flavor.
- Grilled Cheese & Sandwiches: Field Roast's Chao Creamy Original Slices consistently receive high praise for their creamy mouthfeel and excellent melt on grilled cheese and quesadillas. Violife's Just Like Mature Cheddar Slices also melt quickly and reliably for a mild, melty sandwich.
- Pasta & Casseroles: Miyoko's Double Cream Garlic Herb Cashew Milk Cheese can be diluted with pasta water to create a creamy alfredo sauce. For ricotta-based dishes like lasagna or stuffed shells, Tofutti's Better Than Cheese Ricotta melts and integrates well when baked.
Best for Charcuterie Boards & Snacking
When serving cheese raw, flavor complexity and texture are paramount. Nut-based and cultured cheeses are typically the best choices for boards, crackers, and straight-up snacking.
- Artisanal Wheels: Miyoko's Creamery produces cultured cashew milk cheese wheels in gourmet flavors like Double Cream Classic Chive, Smoked Gouda, and Aged Herbes de Provence, offering rich and complex flavors. Rebel Cheese is another artisanal brand known for its aged and complex options.
- Feta & Crumbles: Violife's Just Like Feta Block is salty and briny with a crumbly texture, making it excellent for salads or marinading. Trader Joe's offers a very similar and well-regarded Vegan Feta Alternative in brine.
- Snackable Portions: The Plant-Based Babybel, wrapped in green wax, provides a mild, creamy, and salty flavor, making it a perfect, portable snack option.
Best Cream Cheese & Spreads
For bagels, toast, or dips, a smooth, spreadable consistency with a pleasant tang is key.
- Almond-Based: Kite Hill's Original Almond Milk Cream Cheese Spread is known for its smooth texture and satisfying tartness, making it a great bagel schmear or base for frosting.
- Cashew-Based: Treeline's French-Style Cheeses offer rich, tangy, and satisfying spreads, with the herbed garlic flavor being a popular choice.
- For Authentic Taste: Tofutti's Better Than Cream Cheese is a fan-favorite for its uncanny resemblance to dairy cream cheese, ideal for cheesecakes.
Best Parmesan Alternatives
Sprinkling Parmesan adds a salty, nutty, and savory boost to pasta and salads.
- Block Parmesan: Violife's Just Like Parmesan Block is a solid choice that grates beautifully over dishes and adds authentic parmesan flavor.
- Shaker Topping: For a quick sprinkle, NOOCH IT! Cashew Grated Cheeze blends cashews, nutritional yeast, and seasonings for a funky, savory bite.
- DIY Nut-Based: Nutritional yeast, often called 'nooch,' is a budget-friendly and versatile option for replicating cheesy flavor in sauces or as a simple garnish.
Dairy-Free Cheese Comparison Table
| Brand | Product | Best For | Base | Meltability | Key Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Miyoko's | Liquid Pizza Mozzarella | Pizza | Cashew Milk | Excellent (browns) | Coagulates into cheese-like layer, mild flavor. |
| Field Roast Chao | Original Slices | Grilled Cheese, Sandwiches | Coconut Oil & Tofu | Excellent (melty, creamy) | Subtle, savory flavor; melts into a smooth texture. |
| Violife | Just Like Feta Block | Salads, Charcuterie | Coconut Oil | Not Applicable | Salty, crumbly texture mimics dairy feta. |
| Kite Hill | Original Cream Cheese | Bagels, Spreads | Almond Milk | Not Applicable | Smooth, tart, and spreadable with a simple ingredient list. |
| Daiya | Cutting Board Blend Shreds | Pizza, Casseroles | Oat Cream | Good (melty) | Improved formula over previous versions, good flavor. |
| Rebel Cheese | Artisanal Wheels | Charcuterie Boards | Cashew | Varies | Aged for complex flavor profiles, gourmet feel. |
| Violife | Just Like Parmesan Block | Pasta, Soups | Coconut Oil | Good (grates, melts into sauce) | Excellent for grating, adds a sharp, salty flavor. |
| Follow Your Heart | Smoked Gouda Slices | Sandwiches | Palm Oil | Good (stretchy) | Smokey flavor, holds up well in hot dishes. |
Tips for Cooking with Dairy-Free Cheese
Dairy-free cheeses react differently to heat than their dairy counterparts. Here are a few tricks for achieving the best results:
- Introduce Steam: For shreds on pizzas or burgers, adding a few drops of water to the pan and covering it with a lid can create steam that helps the cheese melt more evenly.
- Grate Your Own: For better melting, consider buying a block and grating it yourself, as pre-shredded options sometimes contain anti-caking agents that hinder melting.
- Lower Temperature, Longer Time: Avoid high, direct heat. A lower and slower approach will often prevent a greasy, oily finish and encourage a creamier texture. For example, melting in a covered pan rather than an open one.
- Room Temperature: Allowing cheese to come to room temperature before adding it to a hot dish can help it melt more consistently.
How to Pick the Right Dairy-Free Cheese
With so many options, choosing the right dairy-free cheese comes down to how you plan to use it and your personal taste preferences. Don't give up if the first one you try isn't a winner—the industry is evolving quickly, and there's a world of different flavors and textures to explore. For a melty pizza, opt for Miyoko's liquid mozzarella or Violife shreds. For a gourmet cheeseboard, artisanal, nut-based options from Miyoko's or Rebel Cheese are your best bet. If you're looking for a simple, reliable slice for a sandwich, Field Roast Chao or Daiya's newer slices are excellent choices. Ultimately, the "best" option is the one that satisfies your craving perfectly.
Conclusion: Finding Your Best Dairy Free Cheese
The journey to finding the best dairy free cheese is now more rewarding than ever, with many brands offering products that rival their dairy counterparts in both taste and texture. By considering the specific application—be it melting, spreading, or snacking—you can select a product with the ideal base and flavor profile. Exploring brands like Miyoko's, Violife, and Field Roast, along with artisanal producers, opens up a world of possibilities for delicious, plant-based enjoyment.
