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The Best Nutritional Yeast

Last updated on August 15, 2024
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Our Picks For The Top Nutritional Yeasts

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Product Overview
Key Takeaway
 Top Pick

Bragg Dairy-Free Vegan Nutritional Yeast, 2-Pack

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Bragg

Dairy-Free Vegan Nutritional Yeast, 2-Pack

This pack of two 4.5-ounce bottles of nutritional yeast is the perfect addition to your pantry. It has a delicious cheesy flavor without any dairy, making it a great option for vegans or those with a lactose intolerance.

Overall Take

Organic and TastyYou'll love this cheesy topping from trusted spice and condiment brand Bragg.

 Runner Up

Sari Foods Company Non-Fortified Whole Food Nutritional Yeast

Sari Foods Company

Non-Fortified Whole Food Nutritional Yeast

This self-proclaimed ancient Egyptian superfood packs a healthy punch. It is non-fortified, and it contains no gluten or dairy. This nutritional yeast has plenty of B vitamins, protein and fiber.

Overall Take

No MSG or GMOsBoost your favorite meals and snacks without cheese, but still enjoy that same delicious flavor.

 We Also Like

Hoosier Hill Farm Non-GMO Large Flakes Nutritional Yeast

Hoosier Hill Farm

Non-GMO Large Flakes Nutritional Yeast

This one-pound container of large nutritional yeast flakes will help you through many delicious meals. It's the perfect complement to popcorn, macaroni and cheese and more.

Overall Take

Boost Your MealsAdd fiber and protein, plus a yummy flavor, to your favorite recipes with nutritional yeast.

 Strong Contender

Medley Hills Farm Fortified Vegetarian Nutritional Yeast

Medley Hills Farm

Fortified Vegetarian Nutritional Yeast

You're going to enjoy your meals more than ever when you enhance them with this fortified vegetarian nutritional yeast. It has lots of niacin, plus fiber and plenty of vitamins, like B12.

Overall Take

Love Your FoodThis zip-top bag of nutritional yeast holds a full pound of your favorite topping, so you won't run out anytime soon.

Buying Guide

Nutritional yeast is a deactivated yeast that has been specially grown for its nutritional benefits. It has a nutty, cheesy and creamy flavor that adds a unique taste to dishes. Nutritional yeast is packed with B-vitamins as well as amino acids and minerals like zinc, magnesium, and selenium. It also contains powerful antioxidants, like glutathione and trehalose, which can help protect the body from oxidative damage.

Nutritional yeast is often used as a plant-based substitute for cheese in dishes such as vegan mac and cheese or sprinkled on top of popcorn. It also makes an excellent addition to sauces, dressings and gravies to add extra flavor and nutrition. It can also be used as a topping on soups, salads and casseroles for extra flavor.

When using nutritional yeast, it’s important to remember that it does not create the same texture as dairy-based cheese. Nutritional yeast is usually sold in powder or flake form. If you are looking for a creamier texture, you can try blending it with some vegan butter or yogurt to make a creamy sauce. It’s also important to note that nutritional yeast is not a good substitute for baking purposes as it won’t rise like regular yeast.

Overall, nutritional yeast is an excellent addition to any plant-based diet and adds flavor and nutrition to many dishes.

Be sure to store nutritional yeast in an airtight container in a cool, dark place for up to six months. For a cheesy flavor, try adding nutritional yeast to sauces and casseroles. When making vegan mac and cheese, add some nutritional yeast for extra flavor. You can also sprinkle nutritional yeast on top of popcorn for a delicious snack.

What to Look For

  • When using nutritional yeast, start slowly. Try adding just a teaspoon at first and gradually increase the amount as you get used to the taste.
  • You can mix nutritional yeast with other spices such as garlic powder, onion powder, paprika or chili powder to create unique flavor combinations.
  • Want even more ways to use nutritional yeast? Try adding it to salads and dressings for extra flavor, or include it in vegan cheese sauces and gravies.
  • Nutritional yeast is also great as a topping on soups, pizza or sandwiches.

More to Explore

9 Surprising Uses For Yeast That You Might Not Know About

1. Brew Beer

Yeast can be used in the process of brewing beer, to ferment the mixture and make it alcoholic. (Along with the additional flavors of hops, that can vary the tastes of different types of beer.)

2. Make Chocolate

Similar to the process of making beer, there is yeast in chocolate when the cocoa being fermented.

3. Treat Your Hair

Whether you’re dealing with hair loss, or just want an extra bit of shine, this recipe allows for a yeast-based treatment to apply directly to your hair.

4. Produce Wine

When fruit is fermented to make wine, it produces yeast that breaks down the sugar in the grapes and create the alcoholic ethanol in the beverage.

5. As A Skincare Treatment

Yeast can contain some of the minerals, amino acids and vitamins that your skin may be missing. Use it as a skin treatment by adding some baker’s yeast to your skin cream. (And no, it’s not like baking bread.)

6. Add Protein To Your Diet

Two tablespoons of yeast can offer the same amount of protein as a cup of milk or one ounce of beef. Easily add it to your diet by mixing it in with popcorn or using it as a topper for pasta.

7. As A Skin Moisturizer

Yeast can work beautifully together with collagen, a major protein in skin that is responsible for its firmness. The proteins in yeast can help fight skin laxity and wrinkles, as yeast is already in several types of skin moisturizers.

8. To Fortify Nails

Brewer’s yeast is rich in Vitamin B, which can help make chipped nails come back even stronger. Take Brewer’s yeast in the form of capsules and watch them grow again.

9. As A Parmesan Replacement

It’s becoming more common to see yeast on restaurant menus. But before you decline, it isn’t in the form of fungi. Yeast can be used as a topping or parmesan replacement in a form similar to grated cheese on foods like salad, pizza and pasta.

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