How to Use Nutritional Yeast in Your Plant Based Diet!

Hey earth muffins! I’ve been a vegetarian for over a year now. With this diet shift, I had to learn about some new things to add to my grocery list. One of these things is nutritional yeast. This yellow powdery substance is an ingredient in a bunch of plant based recipes. Plus, it tastes super delicious! For those who have never heard of it or don’t use nutritional yeast often, I thought I would share a post today about it; let’s jump into this essential “how to use nutritional yeast” guide! 👩‍🍳

What is Nutritional Yeast?

Well, it is (obviously) a form of yeast. It is yellow and powdery and has a cheesy/nutty flavor when added into recipes. It is popular in plant based diets because it is rich with nutrients that might be lacking in vegetarian and vegan dishes. But, even if you aren’t on a fully plant based diet, using nutritional yeast can still benefit your diet!

According to WebMD, nutritional yeast is full of:
-Thiamine (B1)
-Riboflavin (B2)
-Pyridoxine (B6)
-Potassium
-Zinc
-All nine amino acids, making it a complete protein like those in animal products

Because nutritional yeast is also gluten and dairy free, it is great for people who have food sensitivities or allergies!

Where Can I Buy It?

At any grocery store! Bragg (known for their apple cider vinegar) sells it in containers that remind me of those green parmesan cheese ones… But other brands sell it as well. I personally buy it from the bulk bins at my local health food store. Shopping in bulk is a great way to reduce your waste at the grocery store, especially if you bring your own bags with you. The price per ounce (or pound or whatever measurement your store uses) might seem a bit high, but remember – it is super light so it is not expensive at all. I filled up a bag for $4 and it has lasted me a super long time! 😊

How to Use Nutritional Yeast

There are so many ways you can use nutritional yeast in the kitchen. Obviously, you can use it in recipes that call for the ingredient. I have found that coating tofu in a mixture of nutritional yeast and corn starch before putting it in the air fryer is a great way to get the tofu extra crispy! I also recently made a delicous tofu scramble, where I used tofu, nutritional yeast, and turmeric to make “fake” scrambled eggs – so tasty! A lot of vegetarian or vegan reipes on Pinterest use this ingredient as a substitute for other things, so it is definitely a great staple to have on hand in your pantry. If you are interested in a post fully devoted to my favorite nutritional yeast recipes, let me know!

I also like to just sprinkled it in dishes, even if the recipe doesn’t call for it. This is perfect for things like mac n’ cheese, soup, or a sauce because you don’t even notice a change in taste! If I am having a rice bowl or roasted vegetables, I will add a sprinkle on top with my other spices just to get some extra nutrients in my meal. Because it has a cheesy flavor, you can think of using it like sprinkled cheese! 😍

How to Store Your Nutritional Yeast

If you buy it in a container, then just pop that into your pantry. When I buy it in bulk, I very carefully pour it from the reusable bag into a mason jar and then pop that into my pantry as well. I have heard of some people who store it in the fridge, but that isn’t necessary. When in the pantry, it should last for about two years! If you notice that it has started to turn a darker color or taste sour, then you should toss in the compost and buy more.

Overall, nutritional yeast is an awesome ingredient that I wish I knew more about before becoming a vegetarian. It has so many great nutrients in it AND the flavor is delicous. I definitely love cooking with it! Have you ever tried nutritional yeast?

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