What Is Rice Cheese?
Rice cheese is a cheese substitute made from rice products. Lactose-free and soy-free, rice cheese is popular among consumers who are allergic to or choose not to consume dairy products. It's different from other cheese substitutes which typically are made from soy beans, making it a better choice for those with both a dairy and a soy allergy, or those who do not eat dairy but do not favor soy cheeses.
The ingredients in rice cheese include rice, oils, cheese-flavored seasonings, and, in some cases, casein. Casein is a milk protein, but is used in such small amounts that typically doesn't bother those with dairy allergies. Casein is a protein much like gluten, which is found in wheat products, and is used as a binding agent to hold the rice and oils together. The amount of casein included is so small that rice cheese is usually billed as lactose-free. People who choose not to use any animal products may want to check carefully to make sure that the cheese they choose does not contain this protein, however.
Rice cheese is typically found in gourmet grocery stores, health shops, or vegan-/vegetarian-focused food stores. It is often served in the refrigerated dairy section of these markets and comes in a variety of conventional flavors, including cheddar and mozzarella. Rice cheese is often sold in brick form for immediate cutting and consuming, but it can also be sold grated or pre-sliced.
Consumers are able to enjoy the taste of rice cheese just like regular cheeses. It can be melted, shredded, baked, and eaten straight just like any other type of cheese. For recipes that call for cheese, rice cheese can be substituted. This makes it even more ideal for those who at one point in their lives enjoyed the taste of cheese, but no longer consume dairy.
Rice cheese is distinctive for its smooth texture, which is much like the texture of soy products like silken tofu, although rice cheese doesn't contain soy. It is different than other cheeses, including other cheese substitutes, because it has an added flavor of rice which many people enjoy.
Written by Elizabeth Holli Wood
