EV’s Take: Daiya’s Dreamy Plant-Based Swiss Cheese Alternative
Looking for a vegan Swiss cheese alternative? Read our review to learn all about Daiya’s Swiss slices. You can upgrade all your Swiss burgers or try your hand at a plant-based Reuben sandwich!
I don’t like most plant-based cheese. There, I said it. I have tasted several and haven’t even bothered reviewing them because I felt like I would be way too negatively biased. This is probably a me thing, and maybe as I continue my vegan journey, I’ll begin to find plant-based cheese more palatable. I should clarify that when I say plant-based cheese, I’m not talking about cream cheese, Parmesan, or ricotta cheese. To me, those cheeses are ingredients and not cheeses I eat on their own. I’m talking about sandwich cheese or snacking cheese. I feel like every vegan mozzarella and vegan cheddar has let me down. Whether it’s a funky aftertaste, chemical undertones, or too much salt, I just wish I’d skipped the cheese altogether when I eat many vegan cheese products.
To say I was pleasantly surprised by Daiya’s Swiss cheese slices would be an understatement. While I still don’t think this would be a cheese I’d eat cold, it’s absolutely fantastic as a melting cheese for sandwiches, burgers, or wraps. It is exceptionally cheesy and creamy and has an amazing gooey texture.
The flavor is a little sharp and funky when cold but mellows nicely as it melts, bringing a nutty, savory, round flavor to your favorite Swiss burger night.
Daiya Swiss cheese slices ingredients
Daiya harnesses the power of oats–specifically its trademarked Daiya Oat Cream™ blend–to deliver its creamiest cheese yet. The Daiya Oat Cream™ is fairly new, and this reformulated recipe hit shelves in late 2023 as an evolution to Daiya’s line of shreds and slices. This updated recipe comes off the heels of Daiya’s multi-million dollar investment in fermentation technology. By leveraging ancient fermentation techniques and a proprietary blend of ingredients, Daiya promises an incredible dairy-free cheese experience that rivals traditional cheese. After melting Daiya’s Swiss cheese on my black bean burger, I can confidently say they succeeded.
They use coconut oil and a variety of starches, including potato and corn starch, as an emulsifier and binder for the cheese. In general, I don’t find the ingredient list to be too problematic.
Here’s the full ingredient list:
Daiya Oat Cream™ blend (water, oat flour, pea protein, cultures, enzymes), Coconut oil, Modified potato starch, Corn starch, Less than 2 percent of: Konjac Flour, Fruit juice (for color), Yeast extract, Salt, Tricalcium Phosphate, Xanthan gum, Lactic acid, Natural flavors.
Daiya’s Swiss Cheese Slices nutrition
| Serving Size | 1 Slice |
| Calories | 70 |
| Total Fat | 5g |
| Saturated Fat | 5g |
| Trans Fat | 0g |
| Cholesterol | 0mg |
| Sodium | 190mg |
| Total Carbohydrates | 5g |
| Dietary Fiber | 0g |
| Total Sugars | 0g |
| Protein | 1g |
What stood out to me here is the amount of saturated fat per slice of cheese. It seemed high, but 4 to 5 grams of saturated fat is on par compared to dairy-based cheese and other vegan cheese products.
How did EV eat Daiya’s Swiss cheese slices?
As mentioned, I used them for burger night with Actual Veggies black bean burgers. While I did try eating them cold, I was immediately not a fan. Melting the slices was my preferred route!
After pan-frying the burgers, I placed a slice on each burger. They began to melt in the skillet, but to speed up the process, I transferred it to the broiler for about 2 minutes, and they melted beautifully. Alternatively, you could cover the skillet, and they would melt as nicely.
Where to buy Daiya Swiss cheese slices?
You can buy Daiya’s Swiss cheese slices from Wegmans or Whole Foods, online through Kroger, Walmart, or Target, or use their store locator to find a retailer near you.
What do you think?
Have you tried Daiya’s Swiss cheese slices? Love them or hate them? Tell us in the comments!
