What's the BEST VEGAN CHEESE for MAC n' CHEESE? Vegan Cheese TASTE TEST!

[@TheeBurgerDude]

Hi everyone, let me know if you liked this taste test and if so, what other things you'd like to see me test out! Thanks!!

[@garya3056]

Could you test the roller coaster in Coney Island next please?

[@strider_hiryu850]

make your own (cheddar style vegan cheese sauce) from scratch? flavour how you like. see how it compares.

[@DeniseNicole3]

“Cheese” for pizza which brand melts the best !!!

[@Michael-cv5wk]

I'd love a test of chik'n products and deli style slices!

[@princess3193]

@@garya3056 😂 Yay, I love roller coasters! The Superman at Six Flags New England has always been my favorite. 🎢

[@biosfearmag]

Very informative. I wish these companies would do more taste testing with non-vegans and adjust to their feedback. It's surprising that some of the vegan substitutes can even make it to the market tasting the way they do.

[@giaparmer]

I have ALWAYS said this 😩😩. I’m not vegan, however I am lactose intolerant, and kind of freaked out by processed meat and milk so I eat probably 50-75% vegan products. Comparison is essential because I don’t have any moral standing to lean back on if the products are gross. Oatmilk and impossible burger are absolute game changers.

[@vshank7795]

Agreed! Some are just terrible 😝

[@vshank7795]

@@giaparmer oatmilk ice-cream bars are amazing! Also try the So delicious cashew chocolate cookies and cream cream ice cream. 😉

[@KC-ro9ro]

as a vegan, i totally agree. I see too many vegans just saying this and this is good when it tastes awful. I dont know if its to promote the cause, or more openness but i feel its deceiving. Some of the vegan brands just put products that taste beyond awful, which is sad because some are actually good and you dont know which are actually good. I have never tried a vegan "melty" cheese that taste good. Never. and this is despite watching so many vegan cheese reviews from other vegans.

[@andreaanonymous5474]

I couldn't agree more. There is nothing worse for veganism than a non-vegan trying a terrible vegan product and then assuming they are all that bad.

[@tamtastic2.066]

* In butters defense… butter is good ! Thank you for explaining how you liked each one with taste n texture ! Anything you make is always worth watching 🙂

[@chaundamitchell7124]

I DEFINITELY agree that there's an "undertaste" or "aftertaste" (whatever ya wanna call it) with Daiya and Miyoko's. It's almost a baking soda-y, powdery taste like they're trying a little too hard to be cheese. I can't really explain it. Haven't tried the Chao because of the soy, but my mom loves that one.

[@Grande-Dame]

Chao is DEFINITELY my favourite, followed by violife Parmesan

[@MoarteMorrison]

Thank you, finally someone that got their taste buds working, I can't stand daiya but yeah, chao is alright. Not bad..

[@terredee]

⁠@@MoarteMorrison Daiya makes great cheesecakes, if you can find them (frozen aisle, different flavors). Otherwise I don’t like Daiya, and unfortunately a lot of pizza joints use it. Follow Your Heart makes good sliced cheese for sandwiches. Violife is my favorite for hard Parmesan. I make my own shaker Parmesan with cashews, nutch, and garlic and onion powder, pulsed in a nutribullet. Thanks for the reviews! Now I’m back to looking for your powdered mac and cheese recipe.

[@helion6884]

Timestamps for the curious 1:27 Follow Your Heart 2:45 Miyokos 3:39 Field Roast Chao 4:49 Daiya 6:05 Violife 6:47 Conclusions

[@misspeaches1144]

I’m intrigued by the chao tasting like butter when melted into a sauce… I bet it would be incredible mixed with another cheese like follow your heart or violife

[@TheeBurgerDude]

I think you're right!

[@lucieclemons5463]

Exactly what I was thinking...Chao and Violife sounds good.

[@danabrown6341]

Maybe a vegan parm?

[@misspeaches1144]

@@danabrown6341 probably make a really good Alfredo/white sauce

[@Lexiistarr1]

Honestly, i just found your KZbin & this is the cutest video I’ve seen in a while. I’ve never thought to make my own cheese sauce! We have very similar feelings about the different cheeses. I’m in Southern California as well and have tried all different kinds of vegan cheese. Thanks for sharing!!

[@TheeBurgerDude]

thanks!! glad you found the channel!

[@krisa6580]

I loosely follow Tabitha brown’s Mac and cheese recipe but I use violife instead. I also add violife cream cheese and feta to mine. My husband and I were shocked at the yumminess!

[@BlueDandyLyon]

Tabitha Brown's mac and cheese is KING. I also use violife and tofutti sour cream. I also add a bit of soy sauce and a touch of ketchup for the vinegar-y taste. Delicious!

[@denine5232]

This had to be a really fun taste test. I honestly love all those cheeses and have made mac n cheese with some of them and I liked them. But the follow your heart cheese has been my go to for mac n cheese lately. Before I ever saw the other cheeses in stores i always used the follow your heart cheese blocks for mac n cheese as well, a mix of the mozzarella and chedder.

[@TheeBurgerDude]

Yeah I like grating my own blocks usually, and yeah it was a fun taste test haha!

[@tonyvindett87]

One thing I like to do, whether it be mac-n-cheese or pizza or lasagna, etc. is mix daiya and follow your heart together. FYH almost always has the flavor but its texture is often too soft. Daiya is generally too gloopy, but when mixed together you get the flavor and a better texture than either present on their own.

[@raeraesma]

I love seeing taste tests, so know what brands to try, or to stay away from. I'm a big fan of Violife. I love their cheddar, and their parmesan. I haven't tried Follow Your Heart in a few years, so I will definitely try it again, if my store is out of Violife. Thank you for sharing. ☺

[@garya3056]

Good review, TBD. I’ve often wondered why Violife specifically says “do not freeze” on the package. 😎

[@internettroll222]

It’s mostly oil it’ll probably separate

[@sadiesparrow5484]

I've never noticed that! I've frozen and thawed it and it was fine so...¯\_(ツ)_/¯

[@garya3056]

@@sadiesparrow5484 good to know!

[@garya3056]

@@internettroll222 probably so… the #2 ingredient is listed as coconut oil. Filtered Water, Coconut Oil, Food Starch-Modified (Potato & Corn), Potato Starch, Salt (Sea Salt), Cheddar Flavor (vegan sources), Olive Extract, Paprika extract & Beta Carotene (Color), Vitamin B12.

[@RoxyAngelSurf]

Great video! Thanks for you honest opinions about the different vegan cheeses! Honestly my favorite recipe for vegan Mac n cheese is from The Farm cookbook and it's where you make a roux with flour and vegan butter or oil and then you add a whole bunch of nutritional yeast, tamari, and spices....then you bake the whole thing and it really comes together. I just like that you can make it with stuff you probably already have and it comes out super creamy!

[@TheeBurgerDude]

That sounds delicious!

[@dreamsyns]

I really love captions and I appreciate the captions on your vids!!

[@TheeBurgerDude]

Awesome, yeah I get them done by a service, the automatic ones aren't the best, glad you like them!

[@Mark_Wheeler]

I've used all of these for mac 'n cheeze, and I came up with the same rankings that you did. I like the Violife mature cheddar best, I think, but the Follow Your Heart is great too.

[@jacklynland3109]

My favorites are the Follow Your Heart and the Daiya cheeses. Follow Your Heart makes me think of Kraft, Daiya makes me think of Velveeta.

[@chocotengoku]

Definitely knew the Daiya would not be great, I’ve never liked the taste, has like a cardboard taste if that makes sense. Follow your heart is always a winner for me. But I’m so disappointed you didn’t combine all of them together to see the outcome. Well next video perhaps 😊 thanks for the content.

[@chocotengoku]

@@lomahill1 lol out of all those products you gonna sit there with a straight face and tell me that Daiya taste fine. Also I’ve never eaten ass before but I could tell you what it would taste like if I came across something that tasted ass😆

[@chocotengoku]

@Bröther May I Have Some Lööps 🤣 cardboard gang lol

[@lomahill1]

@Bröther May I Have Some Lööps Are you talking seriously?? Cuz Im serious Daiya cheese does not taste like cardboard.

[@chocotengoku]

@Nick Kakid exactly, I first tried Daiya back in 2011 and since it was all the options we had, it just wasn’t a great tasting product for many. I have not eaten it since 2014 and the last time it tasted very “plain” since some people can’t get over the fact something can taste like the smell of cardboard.

[@jlsmith1987]

@@chocotengoku The formula is nothing like the version you tried back in 2014. The "cutting board collection" shreds should be considered a completely different product from original daiya. Original daiya was awful. Cutting board daiya is top 3 for me.

[@brewalls2301]

Very informative and helpful! I’m slowly transitioning from dairy and looking into cheeses in particular to test out so I will be referencing this on the next grocery run! Thank You!

[@elletag2797]

I use Daiya cheddar slices. I add vegan mayo and oat milk with a drop of smoke liquid and onion powder. Microwave and done.

[@Greenchrysopsaro]

I wanna try this Could you give rough amounts?

[@keepingitreal9469]

I love cheese! Thanks for the review I'm with you with the choices

[@alexisb5024]

Thanks for this! I never been a fan of daiya, except the frozen cheesecakes. My favorites are so delicious and violife. I like chao a lot,but for grilled cheese. I never knew they sold shreds; they must not be local to me

[@elizabethlytle3662]

Nice to put a face to the voice on IG! Thank you for testing! I usually have FYH and Violife on hand

[@AnimangaluVa16]

i loved the taste test! thanks for doing that i always enjoy watching ppl compare different vegan cheeses as a former dairy cheese connoisseur and now a vegan cheese connoisseur :) i rly like your channel and saw this was one of your videos and had to watch right away. ive only ever done this method with the miyokos farmhouse cheddar so i know what you mean about the grainy texture! ive never seen chaos shreds over here (just the slices for sandwiches) but the butter taste has me intrigued, if i ever get the chance i feel like i would love to try adding some chao cheese to a primary vegan cheddar for this formula and see how the buttery and cheddary flavors mix, it might be insane but i'd love to try it out for fun and see how it comes out >:)

[@Rhea1381]

This is a great video! I've been a huge fan of Chao for a while but I haven't tried it in mac and cheese. I've used it to make pizza and it was so convincing! I also love the Chao slices. I've been very happy with the Vialife but Chao still wins for me. They just started making a Mexican blend so I hope Chao will try a cheddar cheese so we can try that too.

[@Aninram1985]

Great video, informative, good quality and to the point. You deserve way more subs!

[@angstyely7505]

"it's not bad. not my favorite,,,," the cutest, most respectful way to say you don't like it 😭

[@Francisays]

I appreciate this. Buying vegan cheese can be costly if you end up not liking them or having to experiment with them. Thanks for this informative video. I can also stand by Follow Your Heart and Violife brands ❤️

[@JacKAsterisK]

This is the question the world needed to know. Thank you for your service. Also, when you use sodium citrate you use water it seems. Is there a reason to do that over plant milk?

[@TheeBurgerDude]

Nope you can use plant milk too!

[@Emmers1983]

I prefer to shred the Daiya cheddar block instead of using the packaged shreds. Tastes better and behaves better. I've never been a fan of the taste of Chao. I also tried that Miyoko's cheese early this year when it was pretty new and I didn't like it, either. I heard that they are working on reformulating it, though.

[@ljhx7804]

Love this!! I had no idea you could just mix the cheeses and milk for a cheese sauce, thanks for reaching me 😊 I would have loved for each to get a rating out of 10 or something!

[@TheeBurgerDude]

Thanks! At first I was rating them out of 5 stars, but I lost track of what I was rating things, but next time I do something like this I'll try to keep track and be a bit more precise :)

[@vshank7795]

The Follow Your Heart Line of cheeses are amazing. Try their smoked gouda slices, vegan sour cream and vegan feta! I'm not a vegan myself but my husband can't have dairy. I have to have gluten free items myself so sometimes it's hard to find vegan and gluten free items. I would say these reviews are lacking a bit more detailed review, but appreciate someone putting forth the effort to give a side by side comparison. I find I do not like the products that reply heavily on a soy base. The cashew or coconut based items tend to be the creamiest and most like dairy products. The chickpea based ones can be very grainy.

[@lindapb6529]

Good review. I'm never quite sure about taste tests of vegan macaroni and cheeses because I'm not sure what flavor is being tested. For example, are they comparing to real, homemade mac and cheese, that's rich, creamy and somewhat "soupy -ish"; or are they comparing it to the childhood classic blue-box favorite?! I like that you showed the textures because, my personal preference for macaroni and cheese (both homemade and a copycat of the Kraft box) is the dry kind. I don't like it too-too saucy/liquidy; but I want a strong cheese flavor. Waving hellow to a fellow Cali resident :^)

[@LivTii]

You should try the So Delicious vegan cheddar shreds!

[@nachofriend264]

Great review! I prefer the vegan cheeses made of chick peas or some type of plant versus a bunch of random unhealthy ingredients.

[@laranadesign4764]

Follow Your Heart is my personal favorite, but you just gave me the idea to blend in some Chao for richness...I agree, never could tell what it was supposed to be, but it is very "buttery" rich.

[@edgeofhell5966]

I love Mac and cheese just went vegan 2 months ago Perfect video

[@TheeBurgerDude]

Awesome, welcome aboard! And thank you!

[@ginsoakedgirl4]

Love the taste tests! You're so cute! I'm wondering how these cheeses all stack up against cashew cream mac n cheese (my current favorite) or whole-food cheese sauce?

[@TheeBurgerDude]

Thanks! That's a good question! I find that cashew based cheeses are a lot thicker (in the good way) and creamier. I prefer those but they take a bit more time and planning, so I will often just use the store bought stuff.

[@michaelnicola5210]

Agree on the Violife, actually all of their products have appealed and satisfied far more than other brands. You might also try Parmela which is also very good. For me it gets down to seasoning but I liked this approach very much. Typically I want a touch of vinegar with MAC, Tabasco or Frank’s, adds another level. Thank You again for this review!

[@lexikrieg2747]

I make my vegan mac with Annie's boxed deluxe vegan mac. I use the sauce packet it comes with then add some Chao cheese, tofutti cream cheese, nooch, and cashew milk. Turns out the best every time and my non vegan kids love it too

[@sha46327]

Thanks so much for this! I've been craving a good, gooey vegan mac, and cheeses can be spendy! lol. I tried the Miyoko's, but also wasn't a big fan. I can't put my finger on that odd flavor either, but it's definitely there and no amount of spices helped. Follow Your Heart will be next! Where do you get your sodium citrate? I'm not seeing it in your Amazon list, but I'm also on mobile and may be overlooking it. - And how deep was that carb como nap after this? XD hehehee. Thanks again. Best of wishes!

[@TheeBurgerDude]

You should be able to find it on amazon or modernist pantry! and thanks!!

[@MyFlipperLikesIce]

I usually use a mix of cheeses but the one constant is the daiya cheddar block. I almost always have some slices too so I add a few of them and then whatever other cheeses I have. Sometimes I add follow your heart smoked gouda, last time I added Chao shreds. I still find nutrional yeast to be a must too.

[@kaitlin6033]

Love taste tests. I love all your stuff!

[@mia1694]

I’d love to see you try some store brand’s vegan cheeses like Walmart’s, Trader Joe’s, Whole Foods, Aldi’s, etc

[@TheeBurgerDude]

Yeah, that's a good idea too! I definitely wanna do more of these kinds of videos so will probably do something like that in the future.

[@peachteatina]

Miyoko’s using that tapioca flavoring. I hate it 😂 Love Violife!

[@user-cs1xz]

ths was excellent so well done and informative thank you!!

[@staria4722]

I love moving the original flavor Chao and the Dayia mozzarella shreds with some salt and pepper and to me it tastes just like the Cheez Doodles white cheddar puffs! I used to eat those all the time as a kid so it’s such a nostalgic flavor

[@andreawalker7138]

I've got to stop watching these videos before I go to bed; I'm craving Mac & Cheese so bad! The two shredded cheeses I have access to is the Daiya and Miyoko's. I'll just spice them up a bit and it'll be grand. 😁

[@shnepper]

Video production/editing is on point!

[@sarahhelton8088]

I LOVE daiya cheese. I live in a small town in the southern United states and there aren't many vegan options available where I live. (I'm not vegan, but due to a severe dairy allergy I cook a LOT of vegan food. Plus meat is expensive where I live but that's a different story.) Recently all the stores are getting more daiya products and it makes me so very happy. It melts, it tastes great and it doesn't have any weird off tastes like violife in my opinion. c:

[@pjcgaming9548]

Going in I am rooting for Violife. Thats my go-to for grilled cheese nowadays.

[@thisismercedes]

I love, love, love your videos!

[@jonnivegan4theanimals924]

Wow awesome video! I love cheese lol. You should do similar vids for like vegan meats and such!

[@TheeBurgerDude]

Thanks! I definitely think I will!

[@StephyM.C.]

Violife is my favorite as well

[@Michael-cv5wk]

I agree that Chao lacks in flavor but I actually prefer it for the texture! To make up for the flavor I add a little Dijon mustard and some jalapeno brine (a tip I found from some KZbin channel I can't remember the name of, bald guy with a beard, burger man or something?). I've tried making it with daiya and... Yeah. That sort of funky mock cheese flavor was way too pervasive for me. Still loved it but found myself taking a break from eating it before I was even full lol.

[@Vegnana]

Yes to the Dijon! (I even put dry mustard back in the "real" cheese days.) As for the brine, I use from my jar of Castelvetrano olives but will now try jalapeno. Thanks!

[@Michael-cv5wk]

@@Vegnana oh good idea with the olive brine though! I always use olive brine in place of fish sauce, anchovies, or anything I want to give a savory, umami pop to.

[@Agetroh]

I hope you mix them all together at the end 🙏🏼🙏🏼

[@dirkschulz7599]

High quality vid, thnx for the tips!

[@user-sw7js4jw7v]

FYH ranch is great! Violife cheese is some of the best stuff you can easily get your hands on, delicious!

[@barbells.and.broomsticks]

I think that aftertaste you can't pick out is from the anti-caking agent on shreds. I bet if you shredded the blocks it wouldn't be there

[@TheeBurgerDude]

I typically use blocks instead of pregrated, and you might be right. I wanted to try out the shreds since they are more widely available. It might be interesting to do a video comparing the blocks vs. the shreds.

[@sparkle99]

Have you tried the daiya block cheddar cheese? Much better than the shreds… my opinion Also the follow your heart feta…not for this but it is a great quick “parm” substitute.. Also the myioko’s mozzarella is great frozen and then grate it like “parm”

[@TheeBurgerDude]

Yeah I use that Daiya block a lot!

[@SIDFISHOUS]

Do you just use vegan milk and the vegan cheese for the sauce? They all look amazing and I usually use a roux but yours looks perfect haha

[@TheeBurgerDude]

Yeah, I used to do a roux, but it's honestly not needed in my opinion! These vegan cheeses already have starch in them. If you go back to my Taco Bell Potatoes video a couple weeks back I make it with sodium citrate and tapioca starch which makes it perfect if you ask me!

[@Michael-cv5wk]

That taste you were talking about with the miyokos, was it a funky flavor? Their products always have too much funk for me.

[@Aslan_Fulgore]

Damn how’d I miss the notification for this banger!

[@dbd4596]

Exactly what I thought lol

[@racheldprice7734]

Have you tried Ralph's "Simple Truth cheddar style shreds"? I got it on a whim because I was feeling cheap and lazy and I was pleasantly surprised at how easily it melted and tasted great too

[@TheeBurgerDude]

I tried it once and wasn't a huge fan, but I'll give it another go!

[@Agetroh]

Chao cheese and miyokos cheese are A+++

[@AmorxSamm]

Yesssss. Violife is the best

[@adamdoyle6495]

For "out of the box" i like Upton's Mac and Cheese, very similar to kraft, with their cheese whiz

[@joeseward9466]

I'm intrigued by chao it might make a good Alfredo type sauce.

[@jessicarose586]

Violife is my favorite too.

[@EmmaBaird0504]

Here in the UK, Applewood Smoked is the stand-out best vegan cheese IMHO...

[@daniellepilon8775]

The Violife Colby Jack shreds more than their cheddar for me 👌

[@suicune2001]

My store doesn't sell any vegan cheese. :( but I honestly don't miss mac and cheese. If I make a whole food vegan cheese, I'm usually topping it on potatoes and broccoli.

[@SOSpammy]

Have you tried any of the store brands? Walmart and Aldi brand surprisingly weren't bad when I tried them.

[@TheeBurgerDude]

No I need to try those too!

[@shaggytheninja92]

Vio life is my favorite vegan cheese 🙌🏼

[@johnjustice3484]

If we use Follow Your Heart or Violife and milk (no sodium citrate) what would you recommend to use as far as seasoning to take it to that next level? Cheers!

[@TheeBurgerDude]

I love adding some onion and garlic powder, and mushroom seasoning!

[@barbara-holley]

Doing the Lord's work here man! Now all you need is a taste testing panel like ATK's to back you!

[@asthyselfie]

_the daiya cheese sauce is pretty good (not the best) but pretty good straight out of the packet!_

[@spicyjatropha2552]

I love you and your videos! Let's get you some more subscribers! 😊

[@danabrown6341]

Hmmmm, I can't help but wonder how the coa would be melted with some vegan parm?

[@Walkinfaith12]

Follow Your Heart

[@chikatoo]

Violife!! May try follow your heart.

[@angierodriguez7383]

THANK YOU!!!!

[@Kenken77733]

I’m also in southern Cali … what are some good stores to shop at ?

[@wayvislife]

Whole Foods and Sprouts

[@idab6555]

Mix the follow your heart with a bit of the ciao!!

[@richybran3690]

But what do you think would be the best vegan milk too use?

[@TheeBurgerDude]

I always use Ripple Unsweetened!

[@MsSophizzle]

I love violife and follow your heart!!!!!

[@nicolaskeating8962]

I know that Follow Your Heart and Earth Island (Canada) are the same company, but does anyone know are the recipes the same for the shredded cheese??

[@TheeBurgerDude]

Great question! I would assume so, but who knows?

[@bunkertons]

I LOVE violife cheese! To me, it's the best.

[@veganelduderino9392]

I like Daiya's mexican blend more the cheddar one..

[@NarwanAmini]

This looks bomb king

[@dewerdie]

honestly i think were allll violife bias and im just straight up a daiya hater tho i do love them for having been out the longest i am glad that there are better options now

[@KarlEFX]

Would block cheese be better in this application?

[@TheeBurgerDude]

Yeah I usually use a block, I might do a video testing out blocks vs. shreds.

[@ultra1000]

I have a joke about Mac n cheese, but i don't want to tell it because i think it's too cheesey.

[@restarthistory]

I just appreciate that you pronounce Daiya correctly. People usually say “dye-ah.” A rep once told me it’s like “have a nice day-uh!”

[@elisabethdelgado9252]

How much sodium citrate do you add to your cheese???

[@giaparmer]

I tried dayas bacon mac & cheese once. It was so terrible we immediately returned to the store and exchange it for Kraft deluxe

[@jbyank24]

I like good planet foods is definitely the closest to dairy cheese in flavor, texture and melt

[@elizabethlytle3662]

Ommmmmgggg 🤤

[@dbd4596]

🧀🤤

[@NicNameIsNicki]

I like Violife, Chao, and So Delicious cheese 😬

[@The_Vegan_Police]

Daiya pepper jack is the only tolerable flavor