I Tried ALL Of The Vegan Cheddar Cheese 

OKAY this one had lots of twists and turns... would you have ranked these the same? Also, more importantly, hit me with your best cheese puns please!!!

I know, I KNOW we don’t want to keep putting 365 up at the top of the rankings. But the cheddar slices DESERVE to be S-tier here. I eat them all the time, both raw and melted, and I’m obsessed. They have fully converted me to vegan cheese. This is the strongest opinion I’ve had going into any of your ranking videos, and I was so glad to see you agreed 🙌🏼

I'd love to see a cream cheese/spreadable cheese ranking! I personally love Boursin dairy free, but I haven't tried many others and I'd like to see what's out there.

I think a vegan yogurt ranking is a great option!

Miyoko's has two different aged cheddar cheese wheels (one regular and one smoked) that are both exceptional. The same artisanal style as like the mozzarella you love.

Question. What do you do with all the leftovers from these rating videos, especially all the foods you give a D-F? I think it would be interesting to see to see you salvage them, and use them in a dish, kind of like a make it "tasty" challenge. And not just for entertainment purposes either. I've purchased my fair share of regrettable vegan products, and after tasting them have found myself wondering, "Well, wtf am I gonna do with this?"

I wanted let you know that the reason for the flavor difference in Violife is that your slices are Mature Cheddar as apposed to regular cheddar. They make regular cheddar slices which taste the same as the shreds imo

When I wasn't vegan I never liked cheese or any dairy products because of the nasty aftertaste I would get so I didn't even bother looking into vegan cheeses when I became vegan. When I eventually did try vegan cheese I was surprised! They are not bad and they don't give me that nasty aftertaste. That being said some are definitely better then others 😅 Violife is my favorite 🤌🏽

I bought the Miyoko’s a few months ago despite the bad reviews. And um yeah, just not good. I hope she will reformulate. She’s so incredible with her other products! I Also think the 365 brand is great! It’s so nice to have the amount of choices we have out there.

I’m a Violife fan. The mature slices and Colby Jack shreds are my favorites. Thank you for doing these taste tests. It’s a big help. Take care.

The synthetic part of the shredded cheeses versus the slices is more than likely the anti-caking agents used in order to keep the shreds from clumping together

I remember when I first cut out dairy (6+ years ago) vegan cheese used to be HORRIBLE. Just disgusting. It has come suuuuuuuch a long way, they’re soo good now for the most part.

Ummm OKAY MEEERRLLLE. Your sultry, mysterious, spooky season look today is giving me LIFE. 😍🔥

Merle you have to get a hold of the block of Violife epic mature cheddar! It tastes way better than the slices, even!

You know a cheese is really bad when Merle drops and F bomb. Also, living for the Merle pigtails.

Follow Your Heart was my fave when I first went vegan but then again the only other choice back then was Daiya lol but honestly FYH ain't that bad once its on a pizza or a grilled cheese. Also, not sure if you're willing to venture out to the valley for this but FYH has a cafe and vegan shop with lots of great options from so many brands in Canoga Park that's been around since like the 70's or 80's. Side note: FYH dressings are bomb btw. I love their Cesar and honey mustard. Violife if my current fave for most things along with Caio. I have gotten my mom hooked on Violife too :D

You haveeee to try the unique cheese flavors!! Like Chao!! Also you should order some Herbivorous Butcher cheese!

It seriously blows my mind that there are so many vegan options for things out there! I live in an island town where we only have 2 grocery stores. We don't have a vegan store, we don't even have a vegan aisle @ the 2 stores, they both just have a vegan section that takes up about 1/8th of an aisle :S it's usually a small array of vegan options but it's usually all one or 2 same brands

I love the violife slices melted on an ozery apple breakfast round thing... it gives me modern Parisian vibes

love this vampy loook :D

Loveee this series! The best vegan cheese ive tried out of them all is Parmela sharp cheddar slices!!! Made a grilled cheese using the miyokos butter and it was a spaceship right to my childhood.

I think the reason the shreds taste different than slices is that the shreds are designed to melt so they prob use different ratios of the ingredients and like you said they have stuff to prevent caking which is probably an artificial chemical (I’m not sure so don’t quote me lol) and normally you wouldn’t notice is but since you are paying particular attention that’s why lol, I love this video you are so funny and honest. I like that you do genuine reviews and it’s not a bunch of sponsored shit I can trust lol❤ Edit: also your so right about daiya being the OG it was the first one I had when I went vegan like 6-7 years ago and I HATED it as well as their cream cheese, haven’t really had it since so don’t know if they’ve improved but not my fav, I think I used to like chao the best even tho it wasn’t 100% like cheese it had a good flavor on its own and didn’t taste artificial and tofutti for cream cheese. Now I make all my own stuff and am mostly plant based but not vegan anymore as I eat Greek yogurt and locally sourced eggs sometimes (sorry guys!) but vegan foods have come a long way since I went vegan that was for sure

Would love to see Forager on one of these cheese reviews. Can you do cheese crumble reviews next? And vegan dressing?

Love these videos!! Not even vegan, but I like knowing what options are out there. Thank you!!

365 was originally owned by a local Colorado company called Wild Oats. Whole Foods took over Wild Oats and 365 became their brands. I miss Wild Oats, I used to go there during my lunch in High School. Also I really wish there was a dairy free string cheese, I have always loved string cheese. None of the cheese sticks seem appetizing

Ok for sure violife is top tier, but you gotta try daiya's jalapeño haverti, to me (someone who is deathly allergic to dairy, so I've never had real cheese) it slaps

I'm not sure it this brand exists everywhere but if you have a Kroger store, I highly recommend the " Simple Truth" dairy free cheeses! Unlike other dairy free cheese brands that are a plastic like texture and don't melt well, their cheese shreds actually have the texture of cheese and are SUPER GOOEY when melted! They stay melted for awhile too, so no constant reheating 😊

OMG that miyokos stick is SO BAD!!!! I also tried them once, NEVER AGAIN. I distinctly remember the sourdough bread, yeasty taste but extra sour and rotten!!!!! It’s an F for sure!!!!!!!

omg ive never been this early, love you merle!!

I'm not vegan. I'm not even vegetarian. Not even pescatarian. Yet still, every time one of Merle's videos come up, I'm so interested! I will probably never need vegan cheese but I still love these videos lol

this hairstyle is GORGEOUS on you

Thank you for doing these! Vegan cheese is super expensive where I live in Canada, so trying EVERY kind can get pretty costly. I've just been using the Daiya cheddar block cheese which I don't mind (it also melts really well when you shred it yourself as opposed to the pre shreds) but I'll for sure be checking out the brands you recommend!

I’m commenting before I watch so I can see if my listing equates: Daiya has been the only consistently good brand I’ve bought. It actually melts and has a pretty consistent if somewhat odd taste. The shreds make a mean grilled cheez. The best I’ve had was a “smoked applewood” from a local brand that I don’t expect to see on this list. Every other brand I’ve tried either doesn’t melt right or has a totally off texture or flavour. Can’t wait to see what you think!

Oh yay our vegan queen is baaack!! Loves to see it!! You are so lucky though... We only have like one maybe two different brands of vegan cheese here in Australia (that I have been able to find so far) and I don't mind them flavour wise, but they are sooo darn expensive 😟💔 I just cannot justify buying and spending that much, it's like $8 for a pack of 10 slices versus $10 for a whole block of non vegan cheese! It's actually insane. It is honestly the only reason why I'm still vegetarian and not vegan! Also I followed you on Instagram, thanks for sharing the link, not sure if you always do and I just missed it but ye, looking forward to more Merle content! 💖💖💖😁

The Miyoko's cheddar block (which i'm assuming is the same as the sticks) is horrible but if you can find the pepperjack block, that one is amazing. It was so good it gave me false hope for the cheddar 😭

Merle, here's what I THINK happened with that Miyoko's cheddar cheese: It's coconut-based (& oat-based & chickpea-based, based on the first few ingredients), rather than nut-based. Miyoko's makes a lot of nut-based cheese, and apparently (at least according to YOUR taste buds) they're better with that than with coconut (which is surprising, as literally every other cheese brand featured here figured out how to use that coconut oil better). Once again though, I can't with all that coconut oil in every cheese, so I've never had any of these and never will. I also didn't really LOVE vegan cheddar cheese when I COULD buy it. I'd prefer more vegan WHITE cheddar store-bought options.

I've never had the miyokos cheddar sticks, but I really enjoy their slices, so I wonder if they are different?

i'm not even vegan but your videos give me lifeeeee

these ranking videos are officially a comfort watch for me

Are you eating these at room temperature? Or directly out of the fridge? Cheese is supposed to be eaten at room temp because it releases different flavors

Daiya shreds on Mac and cheese is my fav it broils really well

Can you do a vegan yogurt ranking next?

I’ve never tried the follow your heart shredded cheddar. But the follow your heart smoked Gouda slices are so good. I’m president of the vegan club at my college and follow your heart gave us a bunch of free cheese to try.

I actually think the daiya cheddar block tastes the most realistic to me

The Whole Foods 365 Cheddar SHREDS are also top tier!!! They are admittedly my absolute favorite vegan cheddar cheese *sigh*. Also- re the mozzarella cheeses, you HAVE to try the Trader Joe's vegan mozzarella shreds, if you can!!!! They are soooo good.

I would like to see versions of classic french cheeses, served at the correct temperature in vegan versions. Pont leveque, Brie de maux, and others ?

This was so fun to watch and helpful!

The miyoko shredded cheese is similarly gross. Their cheese wheels are amazing though, I don’t understand why they don’t distribute more of their wheel flavors nationwide. They have an aged smoked cheddar wheel that’s pretty good for a cheese plate

Cheese has been the main reason I an a vegetarian and not vegan. I have found some vegan cheeses that are not bad, but they do not taste like cheese.

You live in the US, right? If you're ever in Eastern Canada -- get Gusta! It's a local, Montréalais brand that makes delicious and ooey, gooey vegan cheeses. They are on the softer/liquidier side immediately after melted, but they bubble up so nice, and settle down a bit firmer once cooled a bit. They are available in Québec for sure, and I think Ontario as well.

The Follow Your Heart slices are okay in a faux bologna and cheeze sandwich. I like it better than a lot of the brands for that. But you are right that it doesn't taste like cheddar.

You are so wonderful! Thank you for everything you do

The Good Planet solid round of Smoked Cheddar is great! I have also had the shreds and slices, and I agree that they are not hitting the mark... although the slices do make a pretty decent grilled cheese.

Agree 100000% with the Miyoko, that is exactly what I said. How can she make such amazing butters and spreads,and come out with those nasty sticks???

Funky smells are big no 4 me🙈 I love alpro soya milk ~ desperate need a good cheese so great video ✌️

I bought Violife once out of curiosity despite the fact I don't normally eat vegan. And like HOLY SHIT FOR REAL it's like so close. It would fool me tbh. Like the texture is similar to real cheddar - not gouda or sodt cheeses but proper aged cheddar yeah!

The shreds all have the anti caking powder whoch gives it the synthetic taste probably. All dairy shreds also have the same powder on it.

We have so many great vegan cheeses in the UK!! come try them :)

i know we Hate follow your heart but i recently tried their vegan feta and honestly..... it is So good especially in a greek salad

Girl you have to try Parmesan cheese oh my God I straight up eat Parmesan cheese like a fridge gremlin

You have to try rebel cheese. I just ordered a box of there cheese myself.

So delicious is the number 1 for me 😊 Even my kids (very picky) love it! 🌱❤️

UK viewer here. koko cheese block was the best for me but it's hard to find now. coming from someone who is very picky and who gets a weird taste from most coconut based cheeses

If you can find it, Violife Epic Mature is by far the best for sandwiches (and probably potatoes). For some reason most of the vegan cheeses are incredibly mild, and it's hard to find anything with any bite. Miyoko's Roadhouse Cheddar is not bad either, but it has a slightly weird overtone of something.

Are you in the UK or US? just wonder to know if these are available local to me

I tried the VioLife shreds because everyone raves about it. Everyone in my family hated it. It made me nauseous, my son tried one bite on pasta and wouldn't eat another. Had to give it away. I feel like I'm never going to get to eat cheesar cheese again. 😭 Maybe the slices won't be disgusting. Your Jeff Bezos rant spoke to my soul. This is how I talk to my husband whenever we need something we can't find off of Amazon.

Back in the day, non dairy "cheeses" were made with soya and thus had a lot of protein. Now plant based cheeses have 0% protein and are roughly 30% eack of starch and coconut oil. I'm not keen to eat a block of hardened oil... Yuck.

Merle looks incredible!

so interesting point is that ive tried mykonos cheddar sticks about 1 year or so ago and i really loved it, and then tried it again and it was absolutely atrocious. They definitely changed the recipe and its the worst

Not me getting an as for a literal dairy company (cravendale!) Before this about how their cows are free range 🙈 Edit: 2nd ad was for Lidl, advertising a brie and honey doughball recipe 🤦🏻‍♀️

You need to try Miyoko’s aged English farmhouse cashew milk cheese (smoked version too). It tastes the most like cheese

Moocho fiesta blend has been the best shreds i have found and tasted. Got it when visiting a friend and they don't sell in my state. So upsetting

I end up eating a lot of cooked daiya cheese but it’s mostly because it’s the most available in my area and on sale a lot. I’m just starting to see the violife cheese around and I got the slices and they were pretty tasty.

I'm trying to find out which vegan cheeses have good hdl cholesterol and less ldl ... Though i know many are made with starch instead

your makeup looks great here!!!!!

Aldi’s cheese slices are seasonal so I just stocked up cuz they’ll be gone soon BUT the ones u got from Aldi is a great brand (Good planet) just not the brand I was talking about before. Hope u get it one day. Furthermore vegan cheese is notorious for being bad raw lol any that don’t blatantly suck raw get points in my book. TJs slices suck so hard raw 🤢😂 glad u didn’t get that.

Good Planet came out with a Smoked Cheddar block and it's amazing! My husband says it tastes like real food

Still watching, but super sad to not see Violife’s EPIC Mature Cheddar. Best cheese ever! The slices aspire to be as great as that block.

I actually love the Daiya block! Especially to eat with crackers!

I was peacefully watching this vegan cheese video and Nestlé, savagely Nestlé, put a NOT vegan cheese advertising in the middle of the taste test LMAO

Great review! Please do a vegan cream cheese! Thanks

How about Chao? Your videos are so entertaining!! Thank you!!

I too felt betrayed by how bad the Miyokos cheese sticks were. I like everything else I've tried by them, but those were AWFUL. They tasted like apple cider vinegar to me?

I feel like the nut cheeses are so good (I don’t think the Boursin is nut but it’s so good ) nut cheeses I think don’t really have to pretend to be cheese because nutty dairy cheese is good to begin with . In Canada there’s “nuts for cheese “ which has such a good cheddar

It’s interesting that the Miyoko’s sticks suck so bad, because the Miyoko’s cheddar blocks are honestly my favorite vegan cheese. Eat it all the time, and it makes a great quesadilla.

Thank you for this love😘

Day- ya , they make it clear on the website please respect the name like Rachel does , love you! I'm drunk

Lol “SPONSOR” … whoopsy

I eat the violife slices on their own too, while I’m in the middle of making lunch 😂

I really hoped that you would have tried the violife Epic mature cheddar

I use daiya shreds on nacho chips but only in the microwave for some reason. it almost dries it out a touch.

Ty! I detest Daiya! Violife is ok. Haven't tried 365. Thanks for all you do!

Also Violife do a replacement Halloumi. Haven't tried it yet, but since they are a Greek company, am I foolishly optimistic?

Genetics?? Hahaha i love Merle

I once accidentally bought the Mikayos cheddar sticks by mistake (not vegan, vegetarian, but they were on clearance and I’m cheap af) so…. Yeah, those things are horrific! Texture is like those weird canned sausages your grandma used to feed you when you’d go spend a week every summer because she forgot you were coming, and the flavor is, as you eloquently and succinctly put it, rather like vomit. But when it comes through your nose after you’ve mixed wine and fireball all night.

Ma'am, can I eat any of those at 4am while crying in the shower? It's a really crucial datapoint that I'm missing from most videos.

@Merle O'Neal, one you missed, that I recommend you never try, is Kroger Simple Truth Organic shreds. It's like eating candle wax. It will melt for a mac -n- cheeze, but... It has that gluey thing you mentioned. It sticks to your teeth and roof of your mouth. Oh, and two things you've never mentioned: protein and browning. None of the Vegan cheezes will brown, and most have ZERO protein, which is weird, because as a lacto-ovo, I used to use cheese as a protein backstop in my diet. It is like how most fake meats don't bother to add B12 (Impossible does). They have the opportunity to recreate cheese, with protein, and they could use the actual molds and bacteria that make cheeses what they are, but instead, they do... whatever all this crap is. I want the funky smells of an extra sharp Cheddar, and of all the bleu cheeses. I have done some of the nut based cheezes of other YT content providers (Connie's Rawsome Kitchen"), and inoculated them with the actual molds, and made home-made cheeze that was amazing, but it is time consuming, and I get impatient. My best bleu was with 3/4 raw cashews, 1/4 raw pecans, inoculated with JUST the actual bleu cheese mold from some dairy cheese I bought for my Omni husband. It was great, but I ended up contaminating it with my mouth bacteria, so it ended up going truly rotten. Anyway, thanks for your content. I have only done a few reviews, on my not yet monetised YT channel, with a 5x5 point ranking system: Taste, Usefulness as an intended replacement, Nutrition, Cost, and Allergens. The max rating is 25. I usually only do comparable products, but sometimes it will be two entirely unrelated things, like a PB milk and a faux meat.

I think it depends on what you are missing when you go after vegan cheddar. I grew up in England where cheddar is a creamy pale yellow color. Never orange, and the texture is crumbly, not plastic. And it doesn't melt like plastic. So my cheddar replacements need to be like that. I'm surprised Miyokos was sooo bad, because her farmhouse cheddar and black ash are excellent cheeses. Could easily compete with award winning 10 year aged raw cheddars etc. Also, the Very Good Butcher took over a Vancouver Island nut cheese maker and they do excellent cheddars. But it's flavor oriented and more like a spread. I think when you get good quality vegan cheeses, they are based on fermented nuts, usually cashews , and the dependence on coconut oil goes, which is a good thing imo. But if you want to go for slices that mimic American orange shit "cheddar ", then I agree, Violife is the best. But actually the smoked provolone slices are closer to a good cheddar than the cheddar slices.

Are we sure that The Myokos isn't spoiled?

but did you melt them?