Vegan Cheddar

One of the hardest things about going vegan is giving up cheese, right? Especially mature cheddar, the great staple table cheese of the world. Sandwiches, melts, grills, burgers, shredded, sliced, on crackers; the endless versatility of mature cheddar cheese would be sorely missed. Except it doesn’t have to be!

The best vegan cheddar cheeses are indistinguishable from their inspiration! Dairy-free cheddar has been perfected over decades of careful crafting by many different companies and people. The vegan community has innovated new ways to make plant-based cheddar cheeses that are as bright, flavorful, and versatile as dairy cheddar - even the ripest mature cheddar cheeses!

Everything About Vegan Cheddar Cheese

Vegan cheddar cheese is made with vegetable protein from all kinds of different animal-free and cruelty-free sources. Soy, tapioca, cashew and other nuts, agar, coconut and other oils, peas; just a few examples of the bases used in the production of plant-based cheddar cheese.

At the next step in the production of delicious non-dairy cheddar cheese, the plant proteins are separated by the action of bacteria. Often, carrageenan and xanthan gum starches are added at this stage as animal-free binders and thickeners. The processes used to make dairy-free cheddar cheese are very similar to the fermentation of traditional cheddar cheese! Finally, the best vegan cheddar cheeses are aged over time, just like dairy cheese. The end result: a vegan cheddar cheese that melts, shreds, and tastes just like the real mature cheddar.

Like extra mature cheddar cheese, vegan cheddar cheese is firm, reasonably hard, off-white to orange in hue. Non-dairy cheddar cheese flavours range from tart and bold mature to soft, mellow, and gentle.

Often, extra ingredients will be added to the best vegan cheddar cheeses, to spice things up, just like in the traditional dairy cheese market. There is variety, versatility, bespoke and curated flavour profiles, textural diversity… everything a vegan cheddar cheese lover could dream of!

Why You’ll Love Non-Dairy Cheddar Cheese

Whether it’s in vegan cheddar cheese sandwiches, melted on gluten-free toast, grilled in a cheese melt, shredded over a vegan pasta dish, paired with a grape or pineapple cube on a cocktail stick, or enjoyed by itself on a simple cracker, there’s nothing dairy cheddar cheese can do that dairy-free cheddar cheese cannot! 

The flavours of vegan cheddar cheese are varied, of course, depending on the particular preferences of the makers in question. What is universally true, however, is the faithfulness to the tradition of cheddar cheese experience. Whether tangy or tart, bold or mild, mature or fresh, firm or supple, the fall gamut of cheddar is on display in this collection of the best vegan cheddar cheese.

The Benefits of Dairy-Free Cheddar Cheese

Vegan cheddar cheese is animal-free. That means cruelty-free and free from unhealthy animal fats. Being dairy-free means that plant-based cheddar cheese is suitable for the lactose intolerant as well as delicious.

The best vegan cheddar cheeses are packed with nutrients; vitamins, minerals, plant-derived lipids, good cholesterol, healthy carbohydrates, and protein, protein, protein!

Discover the Best Vegan Cheddar Cheese

The variety of plant-based cheddar cheese on display at PlantX represents the cream of the crop for vegan cheddar cheese alternatives - the very best non-dairy cheddar flavour. Covering an array of textures, from sliced to shredded to delightfully firm block, and a plethora of flavour profiles, from sharp and acidic to mellow and buttery.

Dairy-free cheddar cheese is available in all kinds of different textures and flavours, including helpfully pre-shredded bags such as Violife - Epic Mature Cheddar Flavour Grated, or in classic blocks such as Violife - Epic Mature Cheddar Flavour Block and Bute Island - Cheddar Style Sheese Blocks. Conveniently packaged for whatever your need is!

Discover the best vegan cheddar cheese among PlantX extensive product list, with many of the brands appearing on PlantX also appearing in the top ten lists of many respected and renowned cheese and vegan cheese critics, reviewers, and trend-setters.

What to make? Try Our Cheese and Onion Toast Recipe for Plant-Based Cheddar Cheese

Vegan cheddar cheese can be melted on toast with fried onions for a satisfying and delicious classic. 

Finely chop 3 red onions. Fry in a frying pan with 2 tablespoons of vegan oil and a pinch of salt. Cover and cook on a low-medium heat for 30 minutes. Sprinkle 1 tablespoon of vegan sweetener such as agave or beet sugar and season to taste. Re-cover and caramelise the sugar by simmering for 5 more minutes. 

Next, mix 50ml of vegan stout with 1 tablespoon of vegan English mustard and one tablespoon of vegan oil. Add the grated or shredded plant-based cheddar cheese and stir until melted. Season to taste and add a splash of vegan Worcester sauce (such as this delicious example: Biona - Organic Worcester Sauce). Take off the heat and whisk in the equivalent of one small egg’s worth of vegan egg-replacer, such as Free & Easy - Gluten & Dairy Free Egg Replacer. 

Divide the onions between two slices of gluten-free toast (Biona - Organic Wholegrain Rice Bread) and pour the vegan cheddar cheese sauce equally over the onions. Grill for 2-3 minutes until browning. Serve and enjoy immediately. 

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the nutritional value of vegan cheddar cheese? Is vegan cheddar cheese good for weight loss?

Since non-dairy cheddar cheese is plant-based it is often even more nutritious than dairy cheese! Typically, vegan cheddar cheese brands will be high in protein and fibre and contain many useful B vitamins and minerals. 

Weight-for-weight, vegan cheddar cheese brands are lower in calories than mature cheddar cheese and contain significantly less saturated fat. This makes vegan cheddar cheese a great choice for weight loss when replacing mature cheddar cheese!

What is vegan cheddar cheese made from?

Primarily, non-dairy cheddar cheese is made from plant proteins derived from a number of different sources depending on the manufacturer. Nuts, especially cashews and macadamias, coconut oil, soy, and tapioca are all examples of the type of plant material that is processed with bacteria and aged, just like dairy cheese.The ingredients and production processes of all of the vegan cheddar cheese products offered on PlantX are vegan and free from animal cruelty. 

Non-dairy cheddar cheese varieties are numerous and the different flavour and texture profiles are just as numerous. Ingredients used to make vegan cheddar cheese include coconut oil, potato starches, seitan, and nuts, including cashews, almonds, and macadamias. Each vegan cheddar cheese product will have a slightly different recipe - check the packaging and product information to be sure!

How do you keep vegan cheddar cheese after opening? How long will vegan cheddar cheeses stay fresh?

Most vegan cheddar cheeses can be kept for 3 to 4 months unopened and refrigerated. Once opened the majority of plant-based cheddar cheeses have a shelf-life of 5 to 7 days when refrigerated. Do not freeze vegan cheddar cheese as this will cause separation of the lipids, ruining the texture.

Are PlantX plant-based cheddar cheeses vegetarian, vegan, and gluten-free?

The majority of plant-based cheddar cheeses, including those on PlantX, are gluten-free. Always check the packaging to be sure that you are choosing the best plant-based cheddar cheese for you!

All plant-based cheddar cheeses available on PlantX are vegan and vegetarian friendly.

Can I shred and melt plant-based cheddar cheese like the real thing?

Yes! The plant-based cheddar cheeses available on PlantX come from world-leading brands using processes that ensure that the vegan cheddar cheeses produced behave just like the dairy cheddar cheeses on which they were based. Whether under the knife, in the grate, or in the pan it’s important for vegan chefs to be able to reach the same heights as their non-vegan rivals!

Is plant-based cheddar cheese made with rennet?

Yes, but with plant-based rennet. Typically, plant-based rennet for cheese comes from cardoon thistle, artichokes, or nettles.

Is dairy-free cheddar cheese good for you?

Dairy cheddar cheese is laden with saturated fats that increase levels of bad cholesterol in the blood. Dairy-free cheddar cheese is made entirely from plant protein processed by bacterial action and aged to flavour. Vegan cheddar cheese is, therefore, free from these saturated animal fats.