What Is Nutritional Yeast and How Do You Use It?

By Mary Margaret Chappell,

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Think of nutritional yeast—or nooch, as fans like to call it—as the Parmesan of the plant-based food world. Made from yeast cultures that have been deactivated and dried into tiny granules or flakes, melt-in-your-mouth nutritional yeast has a rich, fermented, cheesy flavor that’s perfect on everything from popcorn to pasta.

Once billed as a protein and vitamin supplement (hence the name), the savory sprinkle has gone mainstream, with well-known natural food companies such as Bob’s Red Mill and Bragg marketing their own brands alongside the old standard, Red Star

IS NUTRITIONAL YEAST GOOD FOR YOU?

Nutritional yeast is a wholesome ingredient, made by fermenting live Saccharomyces cerevisiae yeast in a glucose-rich nutrient medium such as beet sugar or sugar cane; then it's heated to deactivate the live cultures, dried, and fortified with folic acid and B vitamins, including vitamin B12. Keep in mind that while nutritional yeast is a good source of vitamin B12, you shouldn’t rely on it to meet your needs of this vital nutrient.

WHAT'S THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN BAKER'S YEAST BREWER'S YEAST, AND NUTRITIONAL YEAST?

Baker's yeast, brewer's yeast, and nutritional yeast all come from the same species of yeast, Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Baker's yeast and brewer's yeast, however, are sold with the live cultures intact and used to leaven bread or brew beer and other alcoholic beverages. By comparison, the live cultures in nutritional yeast get killed during the pasteurization process, which also enhances its savory flavor. Nutritional yeast is primarily a flavor enhancer that's been fortified with B vitamins.

HOW TO USE NUTRITIONAL YEAST

In addition to substituting nutritional yeast anywhere you’d use grated cheese, you can use 1 to 2 tablespoons (or more) to:

  • Season stews and casseroles
  • Toss with popcorn (better than butter!)
  • Turn blended cashews or beans into “cheese” spread
  • Flavor homemade kale chips
  • Add a creamy element to salad dressings
  • Give savory baked goods a buttery flavor

HEALTHY RECIPES USING NUTRITIONAL YEAST

Once you've got your hands on some nooch, check out some of our favorite nutritional yeast recipes, which harness the power of this cheesy powder to delicious effect.

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About the Author

Headshot of Mary Margaret Chappell

About the Author

Mary Margaret Chappell

When Mary Margaret Chappell first started out in the plant-based food world as a writer, editor, and recipe developer, she was a bacon-loving former pastry chef who didn’t think she could ever cook without butter. Fourteen years, four cookbooks, dozens of cooking classes, and hundreds of recipes later, her favorite thing in the world is sharing the tips, techniques, and recipes that show just how easy and delicious whole-food, plant-based cooking can be. The former food editor of Vegetarian Times magazine has done away with her dependency on butter and is honing her skills at baking with natural sweeteners. Chappell lives in France, where plant-based eating can often be a challenge, but the fruits, vegetables, grains, and legumes available are simply amazing. Find her on Instagram and Facebook.
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