Slices of Sheese Medium Cheddar as a snack
Open package of soy cream cheese
Soy Cheese is a dairy cheese analogue made from soy, available in many of the same varieties as its dairy counterpart. This product is usually consumed due to certain dietary restrictions, like veganism, religious restrictions (soy cheese is in general kosher pareve, after approval of a Rabbi), lactose intolerance or milk allergy, or a severe disease affecting the intestinal tract, which destroys the entire production of the lactase enzyme, necessary to digest the milk sugar / lactose found in dairy products.
Different brands of soy cheese may or may not be entirely free of dairy ingredients, since many of them contain casein[1]. The following most widely known soy cheese brands contain no casein: Cheezly[2], FYH Vegan Gourmet Cheese[3], Sheese[4], Teese[5], and Tofutti. Other casein-free vegan cheeses which are not soy products include: Chreese and Veganrella[6](all are certified vegan and therefore 100% casein free).
Soy cheese is especially available in these types:
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- Garlic/Herb flavor [12]
- Gouda [13]
- Mozzarella [14]
- Monterey Jack flavor [15]
- Parmesan
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A variety of soy cream cheeses[16][17] can be also purchased in most health food stores and the health food sections of larger supermarkets.
Nutrition
Soy cheese usually has a lower fat content than its dairy counterparts[18][19]. Besides its low-fat content, soy cheese is also cholesterol-free and is a source of soy protein and isoflavones.
Soy Cheese Nutrition Facts, per 100 grams (3.5 oz.)
| Constituents |
unit |
FYH Cheddar |
Sheese Cheddar Spread |
| Protein |
g |
3.5 |
6.2 |
| Fat |
g |
25 |
23.6 |
| Carbohydrate |
g |
3.5 |
6.5 |
| Energy |
kcal |
250 |
263 |
|
kJ |
1046.5 |
1089 |
| Sugars (Lactose) |
g |
0 |
0 |
| Saturated fat |
g |
1.8 |
11 |
| Fibre |
g |
2 |
1.2 |
| Sodium |
g |
0.39 |
0.5 |
Sources: Followyourheart.com - Nutrition facts [1], Sheese - Nutritional Information [2]
Comparison to dairy cheese
Some soy cheese brands melt similar to dairy cheese when heated[20], while others stay mostly firm, or melt only when grated into tiny slices.
As for the taste, soy cheese has been reported to taste from similar, to slightly different, to completely different from dairy cheese. It is thus an important step to find a soy cheese brand which can provide a proper replacement for its dairy counterpart, both in taste and cooking, seasoning or melting abilities. Some soy cheeses have been named to have a very unpleasant or very uncommon taste for those being used to consumption of dairy cheese.
Additionally, soy cheese may lack the typical cheese aroma, or develop it only when melted / baked.
References
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