I Tried All the Vegan Cheese Products at Trader Joe’s So You Don’t Have To

I get it, cheese is difficult to give up even when you are severely lactose intolerant like me. The good news is that vegan cheese products have advanced and are more popular than ever. Whether you have an allergy or want to decrease your dairy intake or carbon footprint, a dairy-free cheese alternative can satisfy a cheesy meal craving. 

Alternative cheeses are often pricey or difficult to find, but worry not. Trader Joe’s, the reliable and affordable grocery store, has a varied selection of vegan cheeses that won’t break the bank. The real question is: do they actually compete with the ever-growing selection of vegan cheeses on the market? I decided to find out.

I purchased a selection of six dairy-free cheese alternatives at Trader Joe’s consisting of two hard cheeses, two soft cheeses, and two cheese spreads. I tried them all so I can tell which ones are best and which ones to skip. Spoiler alert: my all time favorite graces this list!

Trader Joe's Vegan Feta

Taste Test: Similar to cow’s milk feta, this vegan feta is a block sitting in brine. It’s made of coconut oil, potato starch, and potato protein. The smell of fermentation was strong as soon as I opened the package. I could also detect the smell of plastic coming from the cheese that continued to linger in my mouth. 

Recipe Test: 

• Uncooked: I used the vegan cheese on a Greek salad, crumbled on top of cucumbers, tomatoes, radishes, romaine lettuce and vinaigrette. 
• Cooked: I baked this feta alternative with tomatoes, onions, and plenty of olive oil, then blended it into a sauce I used over pasta. The rich savory flavor of the feta came through, elevating the pasta dish. 

Trader Joe's Cheddar Style Slices

Taste Test: This cheese smells and tastes sweet. Uncooked, it does not taste like cheese and has a very grainy texture. The sweetness comes from its two main ingredients, cashews and coconut oil. Though this cheese also uses potato starch and nutritional yeast, neither comes through to balance the flavor

Recipe Test:

• Uncooked: taste test from above
• Cooked: I made two recipes: a grilled cheese and a burger. I put two slices of the cheese between two pieces of vegan buttered sourdough bread. I griddled it until brown and the cheese melted. I added one slice of cheese to a beef burger while still in the pan to melt then added it to a toasted bun with tomatoes, lettuce, and caramelized onions. The grilled cheese was decent, at best. Though there was no cheese pull, the texture was much better once melted and the vegan butter added needed saltiness. On the burger, the cheese melted quickly but it did not add any cheese flavor to the burger.
  

Trader Joe's Vegan Cream Cheese

Taste test: The texture of this product is smooth, reminiscent of milk cream cheese, though with none of the signature cream cheese tang. The taste of coconut overwhelms the other ingredients of potato starch, chickpea protein, yeast extract, and citric acid.

Recipe Test: 

• Uncooked: I spread this on a whole wheat everything bagel, toasted.
• Cooked: I followed a traditional spinach artichoke dip recipe, using vegan dairy alternative ingredients with the exception of sour cream.
  
  

Trader Joe's Dairy Free Shredded Parmesan Cheese

Taste test: These thin Parmesan shreds made of potato starch, coconut oil, and yeast extract had a pleasant texture out of the package. Its cheesy taste comes through with a mildly nutty and yeasty flavor. 

Recipe Test:

• Uncooked: I added this cheese to a hearty lunch salad with lettuce, arugula, cherry tomatoes, cucumbers, grilled chicken, avocado, and a garlic aioli. The flavors are surprisingly reminiscent of cow’s milk Parmesan and the thin slices pair well with the other vegetables.
• Cooked: I made a simple garlic spaghetti and finished it with lots of vegan Parmesan cheese, allowing some to melt into the pasta and others sit on top. 

Trader Joe's Dairy Free Mozzarella Style Shreds

Taste test: The mozzarella shreds are thick and slightly chalky. They have a nutty flavor with a hint of sweetness. This product is primarily made of cashews and coconut oil, as well as yeast extract and cultures. 

Recipe Test:

• Uncooked: taste test from above. 
• Cooked: I used the mozzarella alternative for a quesadilla with flour tortilla, chicken, salsa, and guac on the side. I also made a homemade pizza, which I topped with this cheese, as well as tomato sauce, Beyond meat crumbles, basil, and arugula. Lastly, I tried this cheese in a pasta with red sauce.
  

Boursin Dairy-Free Cheese Spread

Taste test: The texture of this cheese spread is light and airy. Like milk cream cheese, this alternative has a slightly tangy taste. The garlic powder and spices add a rich savoriness to the base ingredients of water, coconut oil, and modified starch. 

Recipe Test: 

• Uncooked: I used this cheese as a dip with pita chips. I also spread it on toast and on a whole wheat everything bagel with lox.
• Cooked: I added this to a pot of peeled and boiled potatoes with vegan butter, roasted garlic, and seasoning.
  

Vegan Cream Cheese Frosting