How to Use Nutritional Yeast: Easy Ideas for Every Meal

Nutritional yeast is one of the most popular food supplements around. Available in several readily available forms, it’s a user-friendly cooking ingredient and go-to choice of seasoning for anyone looking to enjoy a vegan diet. A generous serving can provide you with almost all the Vitamin B12 your body needs, while plenty of fiber and protein provide you with a nutrient-rich product that can help stave off deficiencies and keep the body healthy.

First time using nutritional yeast? Maybe you’ve been using it as a sprinkle-only seasoning up until now. Understanding how to use nutritional yeast can be a challenge if you’re new to this ingredient. Read on for some easy ways to incorporate nutritional yeast into your everyday diet, along with some handy recipe ideas to get you fired up in the kitchen.

Why Nutritional Yeast Is a Popular Ingredient

Nutritional yeast is an easy-to-use and versatile food product, and an increasingly popular choice with people looking to do away with dairy and stick to a purely plant-based diet. A tasty substitute for dairy staples like cheese, nutritional yeast is well known for its distinctive umami flavour, which makes a welcome addition to a wide range of savoury dishes.

There’s also the health benefits of nutritional yeast to consider. Rich in essential vitamins like B12, not to mention fiber and a host of other minerals, it’s an ideal ingredient if you’ve recently adopted a health kick and want to make vegan-friendly choices.

Different Forms of Nutritional Yeast You Can Use

Nutritional yeast is available in a variety of forms, giving you free rein when it comes to adding it to recipes and incorporating it into your daily diet.

Flakes

Nutritional flakes are a staple ingredient for those looking to ditch dairy products. They make a delicious seasoning and can be sprinkled directly onto your favorite dishes, with many people using them like they would a grated Parmesan cheese. However, you can also stir them into sauces for a unique texture or add them to your morning smoothie.

Powder

You’ll also find nutritional yeast in powdered form. Powdered nutritional yeast is a particularly versatile cooking ingredient and can be reached for any time you want to add that signature nutty flavor to things like cheese sauces or casserole stocks. Because it’s easily dissolved in liquid, it’s also a go-to for fortifying things like smoothies and shakes with Vitamin B12 and essential minerals.

Granules

Another option is nutritional yeast granules. These can be used similarly to nutritional yeast powder as they’re readily dissolved in liquid and create a smooth consistency. However, granules tend to be the preferred choice if you’re looking for slightly thicker results.

Simple Ways to Add Nutritional Yeast to Your Meals

Wondering how to use nutritional yeast in your staple recipes. The good news is that this readily available ingredient is easily worked into all manner of meals, making it an obvious choice if you’re looking to load up your plate with plant-based goodness and increase your output of dairy-free dishes.

Sprinkle It Over Your Favorite Dishes

Many people prefer to use nutritional yeast as a seasoning. In flake form, it can be sprinkled over just about anything, adding a subtle nutty and cheesy flavour to your dishes. Think about adding a sprinkle over a roasting tin of root vegetables or to punch up your favorite pasta recipes.

Blend It Into Sauces, Dressings, and Dips

If you’re stuck with nutritional yeast powder or granules, it’s easy to stick it out with sauces. However, this health-enhancing ingredient can be used to enrich any liquid-based recipe. Considering adding some to your favorite salad dressings for that signature umami flavor, or add some savory undertones to your regular rotation of dips.

Stir It Into Soups, Stews, and Casseroles

Planning a one-pot family feast? Nutritional yeast can be rolled out once again to bolster the health credentials of your dish and bring some flavor. It’s a popular pick for soups, especially ones calling out for an undercurrent of cheesy goodness. Putting together a veggie-friendly stew or casserole? With a generous addition of nutritional yeast, it’s easy to add some savouriness to your plant-based dishes.

Use It to Enhance Breakfast Meals

Ever feel like you’re stuck in a rut come breakfast time? If you’re tired of the same old morning staples, break out the nutritional yeast to mix things up a little. Nutritional yeast flakes can be worked into scrambled eggs, while the powdered variety can be blitzed into your morning smoothie. You can even add it to pancake or waffle batter to up your vitamin and fiber intake.

Nutritional Yeast as a Plant-Based Alternative to Cheese

If you’ve recently adopted a vegan lifestyle, you might be finding it hard to say goodbye to cheese. Ditching dairy can certainly leave a gaping hole in your regular roundup of recipes, but you don’t have to say goodbye to that familiar cheesy flavor you’re pining for. Nutritional yeast has an understated cheesy flavor profile that makes it a go-to ingredient for vegans looking to avoid dairy and animal products.

How It Mimics the Savory, Cheesy Flavor

Both cheese and nutritional yeast are rich in amino acids, specifically glutamic acid. When this acid is heated and dried, it gives nutritional yeast its distinctive umami flavor that makes it such a good swap for cheese.

Popular Dairy-Free Swaps Using Nutritional Yeast

If you’re craving cheese but don’t want to veer off veganism, let nutritional yeast take the spotlight. In all its forms, nutritional yeast makes a versatile replacement for cheese and can be used to whip up all manner of recipes. Use powdered yeast for a deliciously smooth vegan cheese sauce, or reach for granules to create a vegan-friendly mac and cheese with plenty of texture.

If you’re no stranger to health food stores, stock up on other plant-based essentials like soy yogurt, potato starch, and olive oil, and use nutritional yeast to make your very own vegan cheese. Perfect if you’re tired of store-bought tofu and are looking for a tasty tradeoff.

Tips for Getting the Best Flavor and Benefits from Nutritional Yeast

Introducing nutritional yeast to your recipes is a great way of supercharging your daily diet with added vitamins and minerals. For maximum freshness, bigger flavours, and optimal health benefits, make sure you’re using and storing nutritional correctly.

How Much Nutritional Yeast to Use

Most people can consume several tablespoons of nutritional yeast daily, which equates to roughly 30 grams. If you’re using it for the first time, it’s best to start with smaller measurements to avoid any unwanted digestive issues.

Storing Nutritional Yeast for Freshness

Warmer temperatures can degrade the vitamin content and nutritional value of yeast products, so always ensure you’re storing yours in a sealed container in a refrigerator. If you’re not using it every day, it might be worth storing it in the freezer until you’re ready to add it to recipes.

Choosing Fortified vs. Unfortified Nutritional Yeast

Fortified and unfortified nutritional yeast are largely similar, but the former is enriched with added B vitamins, making it an altogether healthier choice.

FAQs About Using Nutritional Yeast

Can You Eat Nutritional Yeast Every Day?

Yes, it’s completely safe to consume nutritional yeast every day. However, people with digestive problems and intestinal discomfort are advised to limit their intake.

Can You Cook Nutritional Yeast?

Nutritional yeast is a versatile ingredient that can be incorporated in all its forms into all manner of recipes.

Does Nutritional Yeast Lose Nutrients When Heated?

The vitamin content of nutritional yeast can become depleted when it’s exposed to higher temperatures. Therefore, you’ll want to keep it refrigerated or frozen in between uses. When cooking with it, fortified yeast makes a better option if you’re looking to preserve vitamin content.