Vegan cheese is getting tastier all the time, but it’s still more expensive than dairy cheese. One money-saving solution for vegan cheese addicts is to invest in a vegan cheese making kit.
Not only will making your own vegan cheese at home save you money, but it’s also a fun activity to enjoy in your kitchen. If you’ve never made vegan cheese before, the easiest way to start is with a vegan cheese making kit that has step-by-step instructions.
Just like vegan hampers, vegan cheese making kits can make excellent gifts for Christmas or birthdays.
The best vegan cheese kits provide almost everything you need to craft homemade vegan cheeses, with all of the ingredients, equipment and recipes in a single box. However, you will still need to add some ingredients of your own such as nuts, plant milk and herbs.
You’ll also need a blender, like the Nutribullet, which is the best-rated blender around right now.
The Best Vegan Cheese Making Kits
I’ve written some detailed vegan cheese making kit reviews below, but if you’re short on time, this table lists the top picks for you to consider. Later in this post, I’ve answered the most frequently asked questions about making vegan cheese at home.
Brand | Types of cheese | Price |
---|---|---|
Big Cheese | Mozzarella, Ricotta, Marscapone, Halloumi, Feta, Parmesan | Check Price |
Mad Millie | Feta, Halloumi, Ricotta, Mozzarella, Mascarpone, Cream Cheese | Check Price |
Urban Cheesecraft | Cheddar, Mozarella, Brie | Check Price |
The best vegan cheese making kit is the Big Vegan Cheese Making Kit because it’s made in the UK, has the most included in the box and offers the best value for money.
The Best Vegan Cheese Making Kits
Here are my in-depth reviews of the best vegan cheese making kits to buy in the UK right now…
1. The Big Vegan Cheese Making Kit
The Big Vegan Cheese Making kit is the most popular vegan cheese kit in the UK with a host of glowing reviews about how easy it is to make cheese with this kit as well as how it tastes so much better than supermarket-bought vegan cheese.
This kit makes 20 batches of vegan cheese with six types to try, including Mozarella, Ricotta, Mascarpone, Cypriot Halloumi, Greek Feta and Parmesan.
This kit contains:
- Ingredients – Organic sea salt, citric acid, agar powder, tapioca, nutritional yeast, herbs
- Equipment – Thermometer, muslin
- Instructions & Recipe Book
Pros
- Makes 6 different cheeses
- Includes herbs
- Includes recipe book
- UK company
Cons
- dd own nuts and vegan milk
2. Mad Millie Vegan Cheese Kit
Mad Millie vegan cheese kit is easy to use and requires no experience. You’ll need to add your choice of plant, milk, whether that be soy, almond, oat or whatever you like, as well as your own nuts and spices, depending on which recipe you’re making.
This kit makes 18 batches of vegan cheese with a choice of seven different types of cheese including Marinated Feta, Halloumi, Firm or Soft Mozzarella, Ricotta, Cream Cheese and Mascarpone.
This video shows how to make vegan Halloumi with the kit…
This kit contains:
- Ingredients – Citric acid, agar, tapioca flour, yeast flakes, cheese salt
- Equipment – Thermometer, cheesecloth
- Instructions
Pros
- Makes 7 different cheeses
- Gluten-free
- No artificial flavours
- No preservativesy
Cons
- Made in New Zealand
- Need to add own nuts, vegan milk and herbs
3. Urban Cheesecraft Dairy-Free Wheels
The Urban Cheesecraft dairy free cheese kit makes three large wheels of vegan – Mozarella, Cheddar and Brie. You can make the cheese melty or solid according to your preference.
This video shows you how to make dairy-free Mozarella with the kit…
This kit contains:
- Ingredients – Prganic smoked paprika, agar powder, tapioca flour, nutritional yeast fortified, herbs, porcini mushrooms, mustard, vegan lactic acid, white pepper, garlic, onion, sea salt
- Equipment – Cheesecloth
- Instructions
Pros
- Gluten-free & paleo
- Unlimited email support
- No milk needed
Cons
- Made in the US
- No thermometer included
Why make your own vegan cheese at home?
There are several reasons why you might want to make your own vegan cheese. These are:
- Cost – Homemade vegan cheese costs less than shop-bought
- Health – There are no preservatives or artificial ingredients in vegan cheese
- Fun – Cheesemaking is a fun hobby to do alone or with your kids
Is it worth making your own vegan cheese?
Many people swear by how good their homemade vegan cheese recipes taste. If you’re yet to find a vegan cheese brand that you love as much as you liked dairy cheese, then perhaps you should give cheesemaking a go.
Making cheese from scratch can be tricky, but with a cheese-making kit you’ll have all the right ingredients and step-by-step instructions to guide you through.
Why is vegan cheese so expensive?
Vegan cheese costs more than dairy cheese because it’s a niche product so it’s produced on a smaller scale. The ingredients used in vegan cheese are not expensive. Making your own vegan cheese can work out cheaper than buying it ready-made.
Is making your own vegan cheese cost-effective?
Homemade vegan cheese is less expensive than supermarket-bought cheese because you don’t have to pay for manufacturing, packaging, transport and marketing.
Once you know how to make vegan cheese and have the equipment like a blender, cheesecloth and food thermometer, then you can continue to make vegan cheese very cheaply, particularly if you buy the ingredients in bulk.
Is homemade vegan cheese healthier?
Homemade vegan cheese is healthier than shop-bought vegan cheese because it isn’t processed and doesn’t contain artificial flavours, colours and preservatives.
When you make your own vegan cheese at home, you know exactly what goes into it. You’re free to add extra ingredients like white beans and vegetables and can leave out anything that your body doesn’t agree with, like nuts.
How to make vegan cheese at home
Here are some tips to help you when it comes to making vegan cheese…
What is vegan cheese made out of?
Store-bought vegan cheese is commonly made out of coconut oil. However, homemade vegan cheese is often made with cashews or macadamias instead. You can also make nut-free vegan cheese using white beans. Other key ingredients in vegan cheese include tapioca, agar, salt, citric acid and nutritional yeast.
How do you make vegan cheese from scratch?
To make vegan cheese from scratch, you first soak cashew nuts in water for at least four hours. Then, blend the cashews in a food processor with plant milk, tapioca, agar, salt, citric acid and nutritional yeast. Heat the ingredients in pan, form into a block and leave to set in the refrigerator.
What equipment do I need to make vegan cheese?
To make vegan cheese you need the following equipment:
If you buy a vegan cheese making kit then you’ll get the cheesecloth included and most cheese making kits also include a food thermometer.
How do you make vegan cheese taste better?
Homemade vegan cheese tastes better than shop-bought cheese because it doesn’t have any preservatives and is made with fresh, quality ingredients. Adding onion and garlic can improve the flavour when making homemade cheese. If you’ve already made cheese and aren’t keen on the taste, try adding lots of chutney, grapes and slices of apple to add a variety of flavours that will complement the cheese.
Can you melt homemade vegan cheese?
Some types of homemade vegan cheese, like Mozarella, will melt, but others will not. Adding tapioca flour to your vegan cheese recipe will make it more stretchy and melty.
Vegan cheese may need higher temperatures than dairy cheese to melt. You may find that warming it in the microwave before grilling results in a better texture.