MichelleMunches

I am not vegan, but I do try to limit my dairy and meat consumption when and where I can. I’ve been doing this since I was in college and here’s my list of definitely recommends, just okay, and definitely do not get. These are my own opinions, so please take them with a grain of salt as I know everyones palates are different! Try it, you make like it yourself! Also, I will try to list where I’ve bought these items or where I know you can get them, although they may be carried at other stores as well. I have also linked the products as well if you click on the brand names! I hope you find this helpful and possibly try some of these products!

Sliced Cheeses

Definitely Get

• Violife (Vegan, lactose free, gluten free) – I’ve only tried the provolone slices, but these are my absolute favorite cheeses on the market yet. It literally tastes like provolone cheese, you truly would not know the difference. It also melts just like cheese!
  • Where to buy: Whole Foods
• Field Roast Chao Cheese in Creamy Original (Vegan, dairy free, gluten free) – Along with Violife, these are on my top 2 best cheeses I’ve ever had in my life. I really love the creamy original flavor and religiously buy it. This product is a little easier to find in stores. I highly recommend this and it does melt as well!
  • Where to buy: Whole Foods, Giant, Target, Safeway, Walmart, Wegmans
• Follow Your Heart (Vegan, lactose free, gluten free, soy free) – I actually really enjoy this brand as well, I have only tried the smoked gouda. It melted really well in a grilled cheese. Tasted pretty much like smoke gouda as well.
  • Where to buy: Sprouts, Whole Foods

Just Okay 

• Field Roast Chao Cheese in Tomato Cayenne (Vegan, dairy free, gluten free) – I was sure this would be delicious as I love the creamy original, but I just couldn’t get into it.  I just didn’t love it as much. I think I should give it another chance as I’ve heard good reviews from friends recently. I’m thinking it would tasty really good in a grilled cheese or a panini.
  • Where to buy: Whole Foods, Giant, Target, Safeway, Walmart, Wegmans

Absolutely Not

Thankfully, nothing yet!

Shredded Cheeses

Definitely Get

• ​Follow Your Heart Mozzarella Shreds (Vegan, dairy free, gluten free, soy free) – I was a little skeptical at first to try these. However, after my first bag, I actually really liked it and have since gone back for two more! I like to use this in quesadillas, over nachos, etc. It also melts and is pretty similar to regular mozzarella!
  • Where to buy: Sprouts, Whole Foods, Harris Teeter
• Trader Joe’s Dairy Free Mozzarella Shreds Cashew Cheese Alternative (Vegan) – I was very skeptical about this one as the first Trader Joe’s vegan shred cheese I bought was so horrible (see below) that I was so weary this would be the same. I’m definitely a huge sucker for good packaging and this looked promising. It actually is incredibly tasty and tastes very similar to mozzarella. I’ve also used this in quesadillas and nachos, melted really well.
  • Where to buy: Trader Joe’s

Just Okay

• Follow Your Heart Parmesan Shreds (Vegan, dairy free, gluten free, soy free) – I have only bought this once for a recipe I tried recently. I think they’re okay, I definitely thought it really looked like parmesan cheese and melted like it. I thought the taste was fine. I only put it in just okay because I think I would need to try it again on it’s own to really solidify my decision.
  • Where to buy: Sprouts, Harris Teeter
• Daiya Mozzarella Style Shreds (Vegan, dairy free, gluten free, soy free) – I think these are pretty standard, most build your own pizza places carry Daiya cheese as their dairy free option. It’s definitely not my favorite, but it’s tolerable. I think over time they changed their recipe? It definitely is not as bad as I remember from my first few experiences. It’s actually kind of tasty to me now, I would still opt for the options in the definitely get section, but if this was the only option then I think it would be doable.
  • Where to buy: Wegmans, Safeway, Whole Foods

Absolutely Not

• Trader Joes Vegan Mozarella Style Shreds (Vegan) – These were one of the first dairy free cheese I had tried and absolutely regretted it. It definitely made me weary that all vegan cheese was going to taste this way. Thankfully, I did not give up and kept trying! The main reasons I didn’t like this cheese is because it OVERmelted meaning it was just a gooey mess and would run all over the place. Also, it had a very odd taste.
  • Where to buy: Trader Joes
• Earth Grown Vegan Mozzarella Style Shreds (Vegan, gluten free) – These are horrible. I can’t even try to make these sound slight okay. Same problem as the Trader Joe ones above, they melt very liquidy and taste terrible.
  • Where to buy: Aldi

Snacking Cheeses

Definitely Get

I have yet to find a really good snacking cheese. 

Just Okay

• Treeline Cheese Salt & Pepper (Vegan, dairy free, gluten free, soy free) – I’ve only bought this once and I wouldn’t say I hated it. but I definitely don’t think I will be getting them again. The texture was pretty spot on to snacking cheese for a charcuterie board and I did eat it with crackers, but I just didn’t love it. But of the few options I have tried, this was the better one.
  • Where to buy: Whole Foods
• Daiya Medium Cheddar Style Block (Vegan, dairy free, gluten free, soy free) – If I were to buy a snacking cheese, I would opt for the Treeline instead of this one. Cost wise, this one is probably a better option though. The texture was not as good as Treeline, it did hold its shape and was easy to cut, but it was a little on the softer side for me. There was also an after taste that made you aware it wasn’t real cheese. Still an okay option, but I most likely would not buy again either.
  • Where to buy: Sprouts, Giant

Absolutely Not

Thankfully, nothing yet!