Dairy
Vegan alternative to cheese: the best substitutes
Everything you need to replace cheese with a plant-based substitute — which one to use, the exact ratio, and the mistakes that ruin the result.
Short answer
Key takeaways
- Best all-round swap: Cashew-based cultured cheese (cheese boards, spreading).
- Ratio: 1:1 by weight, but melt-style cheeses need slightly more heat and time.
- Pro tip: Add a spoon of white miso or sauerkraut brine to homemade cashew cheese — the savoury tang is what most swaps are missing.
- 4 tested vegan alternatives to cheese in total.
Why cheese isn't vegan
Made from animal milk and often set with animal rennet from calf stomachs.
Best vegan substitutes
| Substitute | Best for |
|---|---|
| Cashew-based cultured cheese | Cheese boards, spreading |
| Vegan mozzarella shreds | Pizza and toasties |
| Nutritional yeast | Parmesan-style flavour on pasta |
| Silken tofu + miso + lemon | Ricotta-style filling |
How to substitute cheese, step by step
- 1
Pick the right substitute for the job
For most recipes use Cashew-based cultured cheese — cheese boards, spreading. If you need a different texture, Vegan mozzarella shreds works for pizza and toasties.
- 2
Measure using the correct ratio
1:1 by weight, but melt-style cheeses need slightly more heat and time. Weigh rather than eyeball it — small errors show up much faster when replacing cheese.
- 3
Adjust the method
Add a spoon of white miso or sauerkraut brine to homemade cashew cheese — the savoury tang is what most swaps are missing.
- 4
Taste and correct
Plant swaps are usually a little less salty and less rich than cheese. Season at the end and add acid (lemon, vinegar) or umami (miso, nutritional yeast) if the dish tastes flat.
Mistakes to avoid
- Swapping by volume when the recipe measures cheese by weight — check the ratio above first.
- Using a sweetened or flavoured version in a savoury recipe.
- Ignoring the method change: Add a spoon of white miso or sauerkraut brine to homemade cashew cheese — the savoury tang is what most swaps are missing.
- Assuming every packaged product labelled "plant-based" is vegan — some still contain milk powder, honey or egg. Scan the barcode to be sure.
Conversion ratio
1:1 by weight, but melt-style cheeses need slightly more heat and time.
Pro tip
Add a spoon of white miso or sauerkraut brine to homemade cashew cheese — the savoury tang is what most swaps are missing.
Frequently asked questions
- What is the best vegan alternative to cheese?
- Cashew-based cultured cheese is the closest all-round swap — cheese boards, spreading. 1:1 by weight, but melt-style cheeses need slightly more heat and time.
- Why isn't cheese vegan?
- Made from animal milk and often set with animal rennet from calf stomachs.
- How much do I use instead of cheese?
- 1:1 by weight, but melt-style cheeses need slightly more heat and time.
- Any tips for getting it right?
- Add a spoon of white miso or sauerkraut brine to homemade cashew cheese — the savoury tang is what most swaps are missing.
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