A melty vegan cheese can be a top priority when picking a non-dairy cheese. But it’s impossible to tell which type of cheese will melt, and who wants to waste $5-6 to find out!? In this post, all the vegan mozzarella cheeses I could find were tested to see which was the best cheese for melting.
If your favorite vegan mozzarella cheese was missed, let me know in the comments. The method for testing the meltability of these cheeses was done in the oven. Vegan cheeses melt differently in the oven than in the microwave.
Do Vegans Eat Cheese?
It depends on what kind of cheese. Suppose the cheese is made from dairy or animal milk, no. Vegans don’t eat dairy products; however, if vegan cheese is made from plant-based items like cashews, yes.
Want a more comprehensive list of all FAQs of what vegans eat? Check out the Can Vegan Eat… post up next!
What is Vegan Cheese?
Vegan cheeses are becoming much more popular and can be found in the refrigerator section in most grocery stores. These aren’t only good for vegans but also for people with dairy allergies.
Keep in mind most of the nondairy options are nut-based, so if you have a nut allergy or are cooking for someone with an allergy, read and re-read the labels to ensure safety.
Best Vegan Cheese For Melting Test
Eight types of vegan mozzarella cheese were tested for this test. Each cheese was put through the same method. Making a mini pizza with the same amount of cheese for the same amount of time.
The melt rating was judged based on a 5-point melt scale.
1 melt – did not melt at all
2 melt – melted slightly but still held the shape of the shreds.
3 melt – mediocre, not the worst, but not the best.
4 melt– almost melts completely, but others melt better.
5 melt – melts very well.
Based on this test, the cheeses are ranked from worst melt to best melt below, let's take a look!
8. Chao Creamy Original
Chao cheese is a plant-based cheese made primarily from coconut milk and tofu, often flavored with a blend of spices that give it a unique, savory taste. It's been around since 2015, thanks to the innovative folks at Field Roast; however, its melting abilities remain in question, with an overall melt score of 1.
7. Miyoko’s Cashew Milk Mozzarella Wheel
We already know that Miyoko's liquid mozzarella “melts” because it’s already liquid, which wouldn’t be a fair comparison in this trial. They do have another mozzarella-style cheese.
The Miyoko's Cashew Milk Mozzarella Wheel made its debut in 2014. It’s crafted from creamy organic cashews and fermented to provide more of an authentic taste/texture. This may be the case when eaten unmelted, but when melted in the oven, it scores a melt score of 1.
6. Daiya Mozzarella Style Shreds
Daiya mozzarella cheese is a popular dairy-free alternative that's been around since 2009, made from a blend of tapioca, potato starch, and coconut oil. The OG vegans know Daiya has a bit of a reputation for not melting…That said, its melting capabilities are still somewhat disappointing, scoring a melt score of 2.
5. Simple Truth Non-Dairy Mozzarella Style Shreds
These shreds have been around since 2015 and encompass a tapioca and potato starch blend. This one is easier to find and more accessible, being the Kroger store brand, but regarding meltability, Simple Truth hits a solid middle ground with a melt score of 3.
4. Vevan Mozza-Shred
A real food science creation using tapioca and coconut oil to mimic the gooey texture of traditional mozzarella. Vevan cheese has become a crowd favorite among vegan cheese lovers, and for a good reason.
The taste is good, but it has a mediocre melt. This cheese scores a melt score of 3.
3. Violife Just Like Mozzarella Shreds
Violife Just Like Mozzarella Shreds is another dairy-free alternative crafted from coconut oil and starch. It's not a nutrition favorite, but it can work well for making plant-based cheese. Violife cheese just about hits the mark on meltability, scoring a melt score of 3.
2. Babybel Plant-Based Original
Newer to the vegan world, Babybel hopped on the plant-based cheese train, creating a Babybel snacking cheese. Though this cheese is made for snacking, it has a surprisingly good flavor when melted and has a 4.5 melt score.
This was my favorite, but the number 1 melted slightly better and had a closer taste to dairy mozzarella. Babybel doesn't look super melted in the photo, but it is very soft and melted to the touch when you bite into it!
1. Follow Your Heart Mozzarella
Follow Your Heart cheese is another tasty dairy-free alternative at the top of the list. This cheese is made from a base of coconut oil and starches. Unlike other cheeses made from similar ingredients, the Follow Your Heart Mozzarella melts much better and has a melt score of 5.
True vegan cheese lovers also report that this is the one that tastes most closely to mozzarella cheese, which I can't speak to, but I would love to know your thoughts!
Best Vegan Cheeses For Melting Ranked
There are clear winners, and many of these vegan cheeses fall right in the middle. Here is the final ranking for the best vegan cheeses for melting.
8. Chao
7. Mikokos
6. Daiya
5. Simple Truth
4. Vevan
3. Violife
2. Baybel
1. Follow Your Heart
Why Doesn’t Vegan Cheese Melt?
Vegan cheeses often don't melt the same way regular dairy cheeses do, and the reason for this dwindles down to two things: casein and fat.
Casein is a protein found in dairy that makes cheese melt, stretch, and bubble when heated. Since vegan cheeses don’t contain casein because, well, no milk, they generally don’t melt well. On top of that, dairy cheese contains a lot more saturated fat, which helps it melt.
Vegan cheese is usually lower in saturated fat than dairy cheese, which is great for your heart health but not for the overall meltability of the cheese.
Is Vegan Cheese Healthy?
Speaking of the lower amount of saturated fats in vegan cheeses, it may get the wheels turning about if vegan cheese is really healthy.
The answer, in short, is no; vegan cheese isn’t meant to be eaten every day. Many of these products don’t have the best nutrition facts panel, and while some are lower in saturated fats than dairy milk, most still have a good amount of them. Especially when made using coconut oil.
The Meltaway
The best vegan cheese for melting is Follow Your Heart Mozzarella or the plant-based Babybel snack wheels. Of course, everyone’s preference is different. Still, based on the ability to melt in the oven for baking dishes like pasta bake or pizza, some clear winners and options are probably best used in other ways.
