Off the Shelf Dairy-Free AKA Vegan Cheeses
I have heard that there are amazing gourmet and designer non-dairy cheeses out there, but that’s not what I’m talking about in this article. I’m just talking about the grocery store and health food store brands that most of us actually have access to on a regular basis.
I’ve been dairy free for most of my adult life and also keto for many years, and I have tried many cheese alternatives. Here’s what I’ve found-
The Starch Problem: Why First Ingredients Matter
A lot of these non-dairy cheeses have starch as the first ingredient – cornstarch, potato starch, tapioca starch, you name it. I don’t know about you, but I’m not into eating handfuls of starch.
So I recommend staying away from any of the dairy-free cheeses that list starch as the first ingredient. For me, it makes the back of my throat feel clogged up and makes me constantly want hawk and spit. (I know, gross). This isn’t a taste thing – it’s an actual physical reaction to the starch content. I’ve noticed this happens particularly with cheaper brands that rely heavily on starches as fillers and binding agents. (Looking at you Daiya).
Why Starch?
Here’s the thing about starches in vegan cheese: they’re used to create that stretchy, melty texture we associate with real cheese. But when starch is the primary ingredient, you’re essentially eating a starch product with cheese flavoring, not a cheese alternative made from nutritious ingredients like nuts or seeds.
My Top Picks for Everyday Dairy-Free Cheese
After years of trial and error , including some inedible selections, I’ve found two favorite options that actually work for day-to-day use:
**Unbrielievable (Cashew-Based Brie)**: This one is really great and available in my market. It costs about $8 for a wedge, which honestly isn’t cheap, but the quality justifies the price. The cashew base gives it a creamy, rich texture that actually resembles real brie. It spreads well on crackers and has that mild, slightly tangy flavor you want from a brie-style cheese. The ingredient list is clean too – cashews are the first ingredient, not starch.
**Violife Feta**: This one is pretty mild and bland on its own, but that’s actually not necessarily a bad thing. Real feta can be quite assertive, so having a milder version gives you more flexibility. It works really well with tangy crackers, over pasta, even on pizza, though it won’t melt and spread much. At around $5-6 perpackage, it’s also more budget-friendly than many alternatives.
What to Look for in Quality Dairy-Free Cheese
**First ingredient should be a whole food**: Cashews, almonds, coconut, nutritional yeast – these should be leading the ingredient list, not starches or oils.
**Minimal processing aids**: The best dairy-free cheeses use natural thickeners like agar or carrageenan in small amounts, rather than relying heavily on multiple starches.
**Fermentation**: Some of the better brands actually ferment their nut bases, which creates more complex flavors and better digestibility. Look for mentions of “cultured” on the label.
The Vegan Cheese Texture Challenge
Let’s be real – most dairy-free cheeses don’t melt like dairy cheese. The ones that do often achieve this through heavy starch content, which brings us back to that throat-coating problem I mentioned. I’ve learned to embrace dairy-free cheeses for what they are rather than expecting them to be identical to dairy versions. I’ve even tried a pour on cashew based liquid cheese for pizza. Remarkably, it does replicate mozzarella to some degree upon baking.
For melting applications that aren’t pour on, I’ve found that adding a splash of unsweetened plant milk or a tiny bit of olive oil can help some of the better nut-based cheeses become more pliable when heated.
The Bottom Line
The dairy-free cheese market has come a long way, but we’re still not at the point where every option is a winner. Stick with brands that prioritize whole food ingredients over starches and fillers. Yes, you’ll pay more, but you’ll actually enjoy eating them instead of choking them down.
Side note: I love Flackers flaxseed crackers to go with either of the two cheeses I recommended. They are dairy free, gluten free, and keto, with minimal ingredients and lots of nutrients.
*What dairy-free/ vegan cheeses have worked for you? Drop your recommendations in the comments – I’m always looking to expand my options!