Missing out on dairy is one of the most difficult things that many new vegans face. Dairy is in everything! It can be really hard to skip out on some of the favorites – milk, cream, cheeses, and yogurts just to name a few. One thing that new vegans often ask is – are there really good alternatives that taste the same?
Depending on your personal tastes this can vary from person to person, but you should know that there are alternatives out there! A good substitute for butter is something known as Vegan Block.
But what is a vegan block? If you’ve been wondering about this then you’ve come to the right place! In this article we’re going to take you through everything there is to know about vegan block.
We’ll explain what it’s made out of, what it goes well with, and the best brands on the market out there! We’ve also included a short FAQ that will help answer any questions you may have left over.
Vegan Block Overview
To answer our question right off, let’s take a look at the vegan block. This is a substitute for butter that is 100% vegan.
It usually has the same consistency as butter and some of the same flavors and can be used to substitute butter whether it’s on bread or within a recipe.
The first thing to point out here is that vegan block is a name that describes lots of different types of vegan butter substitutes, rather than a specific brand.
There are a few different kinds of vegan blocks out there that all use slightly different types of ingredients. To illustrate these we’re going to list a few popular brands below.
Naturli Vegan Block
This is one of the most popular types of vegan block, and it’s one of the brands that has done to most to ensure that their product is not only vegan but also low on carbon emissions.
Naturli has a long history of making animal-product alternatives. It was founded in 1998 and has since then been one of the frontrunners for impressive vegetarian and vegan alternatives.
They have patented the name ‘vegan block’ but there are other brands that offer similar products. The first thing to know about their vegan block is that it is palm oil free.
Because of the harmful effects, palm oil has both on the body and the environment, many vegans are insistent on cutting it out of the products that they buy. Naturli’s vegan block is 100% plant-based and consists of shea butter, coconut, rapeseed, and almond.
All of this is packed together to create a versatile butter that you can use in a variety of different culinary scenarios. For example, you can bake with it as you would with regular butter, or spread it over toast.
Flora Plant Butter
This is another product that is extremely similar to a vegan block and is a great choice if you’re looking for something different.
Flora is a company that has dominated the butter market for a long time, and with the sudden surge in vegans worldwide they have made sure to create an alternative.
Flora plant butter comes in both salted and unsalted versions and it is free from many different additives including GMOs, Dairy, Gluten, Soy, Artificial flavors & Preservatives.
It’s made from palm kernel and palm oil, water, sunflower oil, salt, sunflower lecithin, lactic acid, natural flavors, and pea protein. It’s a much less healthy alternative compared to vegan block, but some customers believe it tastes better.
Alternatives To Vegan Block/Plant Butter
One of the main alternatives to vegan block or plant butter is cashew butter. This is a tried and tested vegan product that offers you additional protein as well as the general spreadable texture of butter. It is created through either baked or roasted cashews and gives you can be used to substitute butter.
It’s worth noting that whilst cashew butter has the same texture as a vegan block, it’s inferior if you’re looking for something that really resembles the butter you know and love. That said, it’s a good alternative that you can use if you want.
Conclusion
So there you have it! Vegan Block is a product by Naturli made from plant sources that are very similar to butter. It is one of the most popular butter substitutes for vegans, mostly because of its authentic texture and versatility in cooking/baking.
Vegan Block is sometimes used synonymously with other kinds of butter substitutes like Flora Plant Butter. If you’re looking for a good alternative to butter then Vegan Block is a great starting point.
We hope that this article has explained a little about the world of vegan butter substitutes and that you’re now a lot more confident in what it is and whether or not it’s the right choice for you. If you still have some questions, check out our short FAQ section below.
Frequently Asked Questions
Shea is something you will most commonly find in vegan products and certain kinds of skin creams. It is a kind of semisolid fat that is created from the seeds of the shea tree.
It is a very healthy thing to consume as it has certain vitamins like A and E, and can be a great substitute for cocoa butter.
Palm oil is a controversial ingredient that you’ll find in a lot of products. In the modern age, many people are beginning to stray away from it and cut it out of their deity.
Palm oil is oil made from palm trees. It’s in a lot of different products, and you’ll find it in all kinds of processed foods.
One of the main reasons why palm oil is considered bad is because it is a main cause of deforestation worldwide.
This means that there are fewer trees and that many habitats (some that should be protected) are completely wiped out. This is why many people are abstaining from buying or consuming products that contain palm oil.
