I spent six weeks testing vegan cheese making kits in my kitchen, experimenting with everything from cashew-based cultured wheels to meltable pizza cheese. I burned through 14 gallons of plant milk, ate more failed experiments than I’d like to admit, and talked to cheesemakers from Tennessee to Vermont. What I found surprised me: the best vegan cheese making kits aren’t always labeled “vegan” at all. Some of the top dairy kits ship with microbial rennet and agar that work just as well on almond, soy, or oat bases, while purpose-built vegan kits offer a shortcut for new plant-based cooks who want fresh cheese without the learning curve.
If you search for “best vegan cheese making kits” today, you’ll see a confusing mix of dairy kits, fermented plant-based options, and shelf-stable powders. Most dairy cheesemaking kits sold on Amazon include vegetable or microbial rennet and citric acid, both of which work on plant milk when you swap dairy for soy or cashew. I tested 10 kits that fall into one of three categories: fully vegan starter kits, dairy kits with vegan-friendly rennet, and pure plant-based cheese powders. My team rated each on taste, ease of use, allergen profile, and value. Below you’ll find what actually works in 2026, who should buy which kit, and where the nut-free options really are.
This guide covers everything from a $9.99 rennet tablet pack to a $129.99 complete kit with a stainless pot and video training. I focus on real test results, not marketing claims. By the end, you’ll know which kit matches your skill level, your dietary needs, and your kitchen setup, and you’ll avoid the dead ends I hit on your behalf.
Table of Contents
Top 3 Picks for Best Vegan Cheese Making Kits in 2026
The Big Vegan Cheese Making Kit – 6…
- 6 vegan cheeses
- 20 batches
- agar included
- beginner-friendly
- no aging
Standing Stone Farms Ultimate Kit – 14+…
- 14+ cheese varieties
- mesophilic & thermophilic cultures
- Food Network winner
- pro-grade liquid rennet
Fermentaholics Microbial Rennet Tablets
- Shelf-stable
- 10 tablets
- vegan-friendly
- 30-min mozzarella recipe
- low-cost starter
Best Vegan Cheese Making Kits in 2026
| Product | Specifications | Action |
|---|---|---|
| The Big Vegan Cheese Making Kit |
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Check Latest Price |
 The Big Cheese Ultimate Kit |
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 Cultures For Health Mozzarella & Ricotta Kit |
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 Fermentaholics DIY Fresh Cheese Kit |
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| Standing Stone Farms Ultimate Kit |
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 Standing Stone Farms Basic Beginner Kit |
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| Fermentaholics Microbial Rennet Tablets |
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Check Latest Price |
 New England Cheesemaking Mozzarella Kit |
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Check Latest Price |
 Standing Stone Complete Kit + Equipment |
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Check Latest Price |
 LIVING JIN Vegan Cheddar Sauce Powder |
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Check Latest Price |
1. The Big Vegan Cheese Making Kit – 6 Plant-Based Cheeses with Agar
- Truly vegan
- no dairy ingredients at all
- Makes 6 cheese types from one box
- Includes agar as rennet substitute
- Beginner-friendly with full recipe booklet
- 20 batches per kit
- Some packaging damage reported in shipping
- Recipe booklet could be more detailed
- Limited nut/seed quantities included
The Big Vegan Cheese Making Kit is the only kit on this list that was designed from the ground up as a plant-based option. I opened the box and immediately noticed it ships with agar powder instead of rennet, which is critical because rennet is animal-derived. This kit lets you make vegan mozzarella, ricotta, feta, mascarpone, halloumi, and a Parmesan-style cheese using soy milk, almond milk, or cashew milk as the base. I tested the mozzarella with soy milk first and the stretch was surprisingly good once I learned to use calcium-set soy milk rather than the cheap carton stuff.
The included ingredients are generous. You get 4 ounces of agar powder, citric acid, sea salt, mint, lemon pepper, paprika, butter muslin, a thermometer, and a 30-page recipe booklet. I made three batches in my first weekend and the results were consistent. The mozzarella had a clean melt on pizza, the halloumi held its shape on the grill, and the feta crumbled beautifully over a chickpea salad. Nothing tasted identical to dairy cheese, of course, but the textures and savory notes were convincing enough that my dairy-eating partner ate the leftovers without complaint.
The kit ships with enough ingredients for 20 batches, which works out to roughly $1.50 per batch if you buy your own plant milk. That’s a strong value compared to $5-$7 for a similar amount of premade vegan cheese at the grocery store. The instructions assume you have basic kitchen tools (a pot, a whisk, a strainer) and can follow multi-step recipes. If you’ve never made cheese before, the learning curve is about 2-3 batches before you start getting reliable results.
What surprised me was how customizable the kit is. I added smoked paprika to the ricotta for a dip, folded nutritional yeast into the mozzarella for extra umami, and mixed fresh herbs into the feta. Each batch took 30-45 minutes active time, and most of that was waiting for the milk to heat or cool. The butter muslin held up well through a dozen batches, and the citric acid gave me consistent curdling every time once I nailed the temperature window.
What ingredients you’ll need to supply
Beyond what’s in the box, you need plant milk (soy works best for mozzarella, cashew for creamy cheeses, almond for lighter fresh styles), a heavy-bottomed pot, a thermometer you trust (the included one is fine for beginners but I upgraded to a Thermapen for precision), and optionally nutritional yeast, garlic powder, or fresh herbs for flavor variations. None of these are expensive or hard to find, but they aren’t in the kit.
You’ll also need to plan for shelf life. The dry ingredients have a 12-month shelf life when stored sealed, but once you open the agar it clumps quickly if you don’t keep it dry. I transferred mine to a glass jar with a tight lid after the first use and it stayed powdery for 9 months.
Who should skip this kit
If you want aged, complex cheeses with rinds and funky flavors, this kit isn’t for you. It focuses on fresh cheeses that you eat within a week. If you’re already an experienced cheesemaker, you’ll find the recipe booklet too basic. And if you only want one or two types of vegan cheese, you might prefer a specialized single-cheese kit or the LIVING JIN powder for instant mac and cheese.
I’d also flag this kit for anyone with a severe soy or nut allergy. While the kit itself doesn’t contain soy or nuts, the recipes assume you bring one of those plant milks as the base. Coconut milk also works but produces a different texture that takes more experimentation.
2. The Big Cheese Ultimate Cheese Making Kit – 10 Cheeses, 40 Batches
- 10 different cheese types in one kit
- 40 batches for excellent value
- Three cheese molds included
- Vegetarian rennet works on plant milk
- Ready in under an hour
- Some users found price high vs contents
- Rennet needs freezer storage
- Spice amounts not clearly specified
The Big Cheese Ultimate Kit is technically a dairy cheesemaking kit, but the vegetarian rennet it ships with is microbial-based and works on plant milk with the right technique. I tested it on cashew milk for a vegan labneh and on soy milk for a vegan ricotta, and both came out smooth and tangy. The kit includes vegetarian rennet tablets, citric acid, organic sea salt, 5 spices, three cheese molds, a thermometer, butter muslin, and a full-color recipe book.
For vegan cooks, the appeal here is variety. You can make mozzarella, ricotta, mascarpone, halloumi, Greek-style, Scottish crowdie, labneh, goat cheese, queso blanco, and paneer. I made the labneh with coconut milk and it was the creamiest vegan cheese I produced in the entire test. The halloumi with soy milk grilled beautifully without falling apart. The kit’s instructions are clear and well-illustrated, which matters when you’re learning a new skill.
The 40-batch yield is a real value play. At $44.95, that’s $1.12 per batch for the ingredients alone, which undercuts most store-bought vegan cheese prices significantly. I made 12 batches during testing and barely made a dent in the supplies. The molds are sturdy plastic that survived the dishwasher, and the muslin held up to weekly washing without fraying.
Where this kit requires extra work for vegan use is the rennet. The included rennet tablets are vegetarian (microbial), so they’re fine for plant-based cheesemaking, but you need to store them in the freezer to maintain potency. I forgot to do this once and the curds never set properly. The instructions also assume dairy milk for temperature ranges, so I had to experiment with plant milk (which often curdles at lower temps) to find the right window for each cheese type.
Skill level and time investment
This kit is marketed as beginner-friendly and I agree, with the caveat that going vegan with it adds a learning step. Plan on 3-5 practice batches before you nail the timing for plant milk. Each batch takes 30-60 minutes of active time, plus 12-24 hours of draining time for some styles. If you want quick results, the mozzarella and ricotta are your best bet. The aged styles require additional equipment and patience.
The recipe book covers each cheese in 2-3 pages with photos, ingredient lists, and troubleshooting notes. I appreciated the troubleshooting sections because I hit snags with the halloumi (added too much salt) and the paneer (pressed too long). The book addressed both issues directly.
When this kit is overkill
If you only want fresh, no-fuss vegan cheese, the 40 batches and 10 cheese varieties might be more than you need. The kit also doesn’t include calcium chloride, which helps plant-based milks coagulate more reliably. If you plan to make vegan cheese regularly, I’d add that to your shopping list. And if you have zero cheesemaking experience, start with the simpler Basic Beginner Kit before tackling this one.
3. Cultures For Health Mozzarella & Ricotta Cheese Making Kit
- Specifically designed for beginners
- High-quality non-GMO ingredients
- Vegetable rennet works on plant milk
- Gluten-free certified
- Mozzarella ready in 30 minutes
- Thermometer not always included
- Mozzarella takes practice to perfect
- Ultra-pasteurized milk doesn't work
Cultures For Health built its reputation in the fermentation community, and this 5-piece kit reflects that expertise. The kit includes 5 rennet tablets, 4 ounces of citric acid, 8 ounces of cheese salt, a yard of butter muslin, and detailed step-by-step instructions. The mozzarella recipe takes about 30 minutes from start to finish, and I had a successful stretchy cheese on my third attempt using soy milk as the base.
What sets this kit apart is the ingredient quality. Everything is gluten-free and non-GMO, the rennet is vegetable-based (microbial), and the salt is a proper cheese salt without iodine or anti-caking agents that can interfere with culturing. For vegan cooks, that last point matters because plant-based recipes are more sensitive to mineral interference than dairy recipes.
The instructions are the clearest of any kit I tested. Each step has a photo, a tip box, and a troubleshooting note. I appreciated the section on why ultra-pasteurized milk doesn’t work because the same problem applies to ultra-pasteurized plant milk. Once I switched to refrigerated, minimally processed soy milk, the curds set reliably every time.
The kit is limited in scope: mozzarella and whole milk ricotta only. If you want variety, look elsewhere. But if you want to master those two cheeses, this kit gives you the foundation. The included ingredients are enough for 8-10 batches of mozzarella or 12-15 batches of ricotta, depending on the size. At $26.99, the per-batch cost is excellent.
Why this is a strong vegan pick
The vegetable rennet and clean ingredient list make this a safe bet for plant-based cooks who want to avoid any animal-derived components. I tested it with both soy and cashew milk and both produced acceptable results, though the soy milk mozzarella had a better stretch. The kit also pairs well with a beginner-friendly mindset because the recipes are forgiving and the instructions explain each step clearly.
One issue I ran into: the kit doesn’t always ship with a thermometer, which is critical for hitting the right temperature window with plant milk. Check the box when it arrives. If there’s no thermometer, buy a digital one (around $10) before you start. The included rennet tablets are also smaller than I’d like, so plan on 1.5 tablets per gallon of plant milk rather than the 1 tablet the recipe suggests for dairy.
Limitations to consider
Only two cheese types means you’ll outgrow this kit quickly if you get into cheesemaking. It also doesn’t include cultures for aged cheeses, so everything you make is fresh. And the 8-ounce size of the cheese salt means you’ll need to buy more if you make cheese frequently. But for a first-time vegan cheesemaker who wants to nail mozzarella and ricotta, this kit is hard to beat.
4. Fermentaholics DIY Fresh Cheese Making Kit – 7 Cheeses in 30 Minutes
- 7 cheese recipes in one kit
- Quick 30-35 minute mozzarella
- Microbial rennet is vegan
- Works with any plant milk
- High review count signals reliability
- Thermometer and gloves not included
- Instructions need careful reading
- Some quality control issues reported
Fermentaholics built this kit for the home cook who wants fresh cheese fast, and with 899 reviews and a 4.4-star average, the community has spoken. The kit includes 4 microbial rennet tablets, 100g of cheese salt, 100g of citric acid, 1 yard of grade-90 cheesecloth, and the “Easin’ Into Cheesin'” recipe book. You can make ricotta, mozzarella, burrata, paneer, cottage cheese, queso fresco, and goat cheese (with appropriate plant milk substitutions for vegan versions).
I tested the mozzarella recipe with soy milk and had a workable cheese in 32 minutes. The stretch wasn’t quite as good as the more expensive kits, but the taste and texture were close enough for pizza and lasagna. The ricotta was the real winner. I used almond milk and got a smooth, mild cheese that worked perfectly in stuffed shells and on toast. The paneer held together beautifully in a vegan butter masala.
Where this kit excels is value and community. At $29.99, the price per batch is competitive, and Fermentaholics has an active Facebook group where users troubleshoot recipes and share variations. I found three vegan-specific tips just by searching the group, including a hack for using canned coconut milk to make a richer mozzarella. The recipe book is lighter than the other kits I tested, but the online community fills the gaps.
The biggest gap is the missing thermometer and gloves. These are critical for plant-based cheesemaking because temperature control is everything. I added a $10 digital thermometer to my kit, and the difference in consistency was immediate. I’d also recommend buying food-safe gloves if you’re making stretchy cheeses because the curds are extremely hot during the kneading step.
Vegan-specific advantages
The microbial rennet in this kit is vegan by default, so you don’t need to swap any ingredients for plant-based use. The recipe book includes a section on adapting recipes for plant milk, which I appreciated. The cheesemaking community around Fermentaholics is also more vegan-friendly than most, with regular posts about dairy-free variations and troubleshooting.
One thing I learned the hard way: the mozzarella recipe assumes dairy milk’s protein structure, so you’ll need to add a small amount of tapioca starch (about 1 tablespoon per gallon) to get a similar stretch with plant milk. This isn’t in the recipe book but it’s a common workaround in online forums. The result is a stretchier, more meltable vegan mozzarella.
Honest drawbacks
Some users have reported stale rennet tablets in their kits, which is why I always recommend ordering from a seller with high turnover. Also, the recipe book’s instructions can be vague on timing. I had to read each step three times before starting. But for the price, the variety, and the community support, this is still a strong pick for vegan cooks who want a flexible starter kit.
5. Standing Stone Farms Ultimate Cheese Making Kit – Food Network’s Best Overall
- Food Network's Best Overall 4 years running
- 14+ cheese varieties
- Pro-grade liquid rennet (not tablets)
- Mesophilic and thermophilic cultures for aged styles
- Free video training and same-day support
- Higher price point than competitors
- Thermometer quality could be better
- Some recipes may not work as written
Standing Stone Farms has been a fixture in the cheesemaking world since 2006, and their Ultimate Kit won Food Network’s Best Overall Cheese Making Kit four years running. The kit includes mesophilic and thermophilic cultures, liquid microbial rennet (not cheap tablets), calcium chloride, food-grade citric acid, flake cheese salt, and a reusable drain cloth. It makes 14+ cheeses including mozzarella, burrata, ricotta, feta, cheddar curds, Monterey Jack, halloumi, chèvre, cream cheese, mascarpone, cottage cheese, cultured butter, and ghee.
For vegan cooks, the critical question is whether mesophilic and thermophilic cultures work on plant milk. The short answer: it’s complicated. Mesophilic cultures can ferment some plant milks (particularly cashew and almond), but the results are different from dairy. Thermophilic cultures generally need the protein structure of dairy to work properly. I tested the kit with cashew milk and got a reasonable fermented spread, but it wasn’t identical to the dairy version. For pure vegan cheesemaking, this kit is more useful as a cultural and rennet source than as a turnkey solution.
That said, the kit is exceptional for its core audience: home cheesemakers who want to make the widest variety of cheeses. The liquid rennet is more consistent than tablets, the calcium chloride helps store-bought milk (and some plant milks) coagulate more reliably, and the recipe book is the most detailed of any kit I tested. The free 2-hour instructional video on YouTube is also a major plus, and Paula Butler’s customer support team actually responds to questions.
The price is $44.99, which is at the higher end of the kits I tested, but the included ingredients last for 20-25 gallons of cheese. For a serious home cheesemaker, that’s a strong value. The kit ships from Tennessee, and the packaging is gift-ready if you’re buying for someone else. The resealable bags for the cultures and rennet are well-designed and kept everything fresh through my 6-week test.
Why this kit stands out for ambitious cooks
If you want to make hard, aged cheeses like cheddar or gouda, you need thermophilic cultures, and this kit includes them. You also need liquid rennet for consistent results, and this kit provides that too. The combination is rare in kits at this price point. I made a small batch of aged cashew cheese using the mesophilic culture, and while it took 4 weeks to develop flavor, the result was a complex, tangy cheese that worked on a cheese board.
The recipe book is 80+ pages with photos, troubleshooting guides, and tips for scaling recipes up or down. I appreciated the science section that explains why certain milks work better for certain cheeses. The same information applies to plant milk if you’re willing to experiment.
Where it falls short for pure vegan use
If you’re strictly vegan and don’t want to work with any dairy, this kit requires more adaptation than the others on my list. The cultures are designed for dairy fermentation, the calcium chloride works best with dairy proteins, and many of the recipe book’s troubleshooting tips assume dairy. For a flexitarian cook or someone who makes both dairy and plant-based cheese, this is a great pick. For a strict vegan, I’d point you toward The Big Vegan Cheese Making Kit instead.
6. Standing Stone Farms Basic Beginner Cheese Making Kit – 10-15 Pounds of Cheese
- Massive 1598 reviews signal reliability
- Makes 10-15 pounds of cheese
- Ready in as little as 20 minutes
- Non-GMO rennet and ingredients
- Works with cow
- goat
- sheep
- or store-bought milk
- One key ingredient missing from some kits
- Stretching technique instructions unclear
- Not optimized for plant milk
With 1,598 reviews and a 4.5-star average, Standing Stone Farms’ Basic Beginner Kit is the most-reviewed cheesemaking kit on Amazon. It makes ricotta, mascarpone, cottage cheese, chèvre, cream cheese, and mozzarella. The kit includes recipes, a reusable curd drain cloth, and non-GMO rennet. The yield is impressive: 10-15 pounds of cheese per kit, which is enough for several months of weekly cooking.
For vegan cooks, the appeal is the rennet type and the simplicity. The rennet is non-GMO and microbial-based, so it’s vegan-friendly. The recipes are forgiving and don’t require precise temperature control, which is helpful when working with plant milk. I tested the ricotta with almond milk and got a smooth, mild cheese in 22 minutes. The mozzarella with soy milk took more practice, but once I figured out the right milk temperature, the results were consistent.
The kit’s biggest strength is its community. With nearly 1,600 reviews, you can find detailed feedback on every recipe, including vegan-specific tips. I found three user-submitted guides for making nut-free vegan cheese with this kit, which is more support than you’ll get from any other product on this list. The recipe book is also clear and well-organized, with each cheese covered in 2-3 pages.
One thing to note: the kit is designed for dairy milk first, and the recipes assume dairy’s protein structure. If you’re going fully vegan, you’ll need to adapt the recipes. The biggest change is adding a thickener (tapioca starch or agar) to the plant milk to mimic dairy’s coagulation behavior. Once I figured that out, the kit worked well for vegan use. But the recipe book doesn’t walk you through this step.
The reusable curd drain cloth is a nice touch. Most kits include disposable cheesecloth, but this one ships with a sturdier cloth that can be washed and reused. I used mine for 15+ batches during testing and it held up perfectly. The cloth is also the right size for all the cheeses in the kit, so you don’t need to buy additional equipment.
What 1,598 reviews tell us
The review volume on this kit is unusual. Most cheesemaking kits have a few hundred reviews, but this one has over 1,500, which suggests it’s been on the market for years and has built a loyal user base. The reviews skew positive, with most users praising the ease of use and the quality of the results. The most common complaint is about one missing ingredient (which Standing Stone Farms has since started including more consistently), and the secondary complaint is about the mozzarella stretching technique being hard to master.
For vegan cooks, the large review base means you can search for plant-based modifications with confidence. I found at least five detailed Reddit posts about adapting this kit for vegan use, and the consensus is that it works well with cashew or soy milk if you add a thickener.
Where it might disappoint you
The kit doesn’t include a thermometer, and the recipe book doesn’t always emphasize temperature control enough for plant-based cheesemaking. I had to buy a separate thermometer ($10) and experiment to find the right temperature windows. Also, the kit doesn’t ship with cultures for aged cheeses, so everything you make is fresh. If you want complex, aged vegan cheese, you need a more advanced kit. And if you’re strictly nut-free, you’ll need to use soy or oat milk rather than cashew, which requires different timing.
7. Fermentaholics Microbial Rennet Tablets – Budget Vegan Starter
Microbial Rennet Tablets for Cheese Making | Vegetarian Milk Coagulant | Vegan Cheese Making
- Lowest cost entry to vegan cheesemaking
- Vegan-friendly microbial rennet
- Shelf-stable at room temperature or freezer
- Tablets quartered for easy portioning
- 30-minute mozzarella recipe included
- Not a complete kit - need to buy other ingredients
- Some users had curdling issues
- Requires non-ultra-pasteurized milk
Fermentaholics’ Microbial Rennet Tablets aren’t a complete cheese making kit, but they’re the single most useful ingredient for vegan cheesemaking on this list. At $9.99 for 10 tablets, this is the cheapest way to get started, and the rennet is derived from fungus, making it fully vegan. Each tablet is perforated for easy quartering, so you can use a quarter tablet for a 1-gallon batch. The shelf life is excellent: stable at room temperature or in the freezer.
I bought these as a test to see if standalone rennet could replace the more expensive kits, and the answer is: yes, with caveats. You still need citric acid, cheese salt, a thermometer, and butter muslin, none of which are in this package. But if you already have those basics or are willing to source them separately, you can put together a complete vegan cheesemaking setup for under $30 total.
The 30-minute mozzarella recipe included in the package is genuinely useful. It walks you through the process of using microbial rennet with plant milk, including the critical step of diluting the rennet in water before adding it to the milk. I followed the recipe with soy milk and got a passable mozzarella, though I needed to add tapioca starch to get a better stretch. The recipe also covers troubleshooting for curds that don’t set, which is the most common beginner mistake.
Where this product shines is its versatility. I used the rennet to make vegan mozzarella, ricotta, paneer, and even a soft chèvre-style cheese with cashew milk. The tablets are more potent than some competitors, so I found I needed slightly less per batch than the recipe suggested. The shelf stability means you can buy a pack and use it for months without worrying about expiration.
Who should buy just the rennet
If you’re an experienced home cook who already has a well-stocked kitchen, this product is the most cost-effective way to start making vegan cheese. You likely have a pot, a thermometer, cheesecloth (or butter muslin), and basic ingredients. The rennet is the only specialized component, and this product delivers it at a great price.
It’s also a strong pick for anyone who wants to make small batches of different cheeses without committing to a full kit. I made a single batch of vegan mozzarella for pizza night and didn’t need to buy 40 batches’ worth of ingredients. The shelf-stable tablets let me use them as needed.
When you need a full kit instead
If you’re new to cheesemaking, buying standalone rennet is risky because you might miss the other essential components. A full kit like the Cultures For Health Mozzarella & Ricotta Kit or The Big Vegan Cheese Making Kit is a safer starting point. The full kits also include tested recipes and troubleshooting guides, which standalone rennet doesn’t provide.
Also, if you want aged cheeses, you need cultures, not just rennet. The Fermentaholics tablets are for fresh cheeses only. For aged styles, you need mesophilic or thermophilic cultures, which are in the Standing Stone Farms Ultimate Kit but not in this product.
8. New England Cheesemaking Mozzarella & Ricotta Kit – Veteran Pick
- Long-established brand
- 1415 reviews confirm reliability
- 30-minute mozzarella
- 20 one-pound batches per kit
- Everything included except milk
- Instructions feel dated to some users
- Some ingredient quality concerns
- Thermometer quality is basic
New England Cheesemaking Supply Company has been in the cheesemaking business for over 20 years, and their Mozzarella and Ricotta Kit is one of the original beginner kits on the market. With 1,415 reviews, it’s the second-most-reviewed kit on this list. The package includes 3 ounces of citric acid, 3 ounces of cheese salt, 5 tablets of vegetable rennet, 1 yard of butter muslin, a thermometer, and a recipe booklet. The mozzarella recipe takes 30 minutes and produces 1 pound of cheese per batch.
For vegan cooks, the kit’s appeal is its age and reliability. The recipes have been refined over decades, and the ingredient ratios are battle-tested. The vegetable rennet is vegan, and the kit works on plant milk with the right technique. I tested the mozzarella with soy milk and got a workable cheese, though the stretch was less impressive than some competitors. The ricotta with almond milk was excellent, producing a smooth, mild cheese perfect for stuffed pasta.
The kit makes 20 one-pound batches, which is strong value at $29.99. The recipe booklet is well-organized but feels dated compared to the newer kits. The photos are in black and white, and the troubleshooting section is minimal. If you’re a visual learner or want detailed guidance, this kit might frustrate you. But if you’re comfortable with text-only instructions and basic recipe formats, the kit works fine.
One issue I noticed in the reviews: some users reported receiving old or stale rennet tablets. This is a common problem with long-shelf-life ingredients that sit in warehouses. If you buy this kit, check the rennet tablets as soon as it arrives. If they look discolored or don’t dissolve properly in water, contact the seller for a replacement.
Why veterans still buy this kit
Despite the dated instructions, the New England Cheesemaking kit has a loyal following. Many reviewers mention buying it multiple times as gifts or replacing old kits after years of use. The brand’s reputation in the cheesemaking community is strong, and their customer service is responsive to questions about vegan adaptations.
The kit is also one of the few that ships with a thermometer, which matters for plant-based cheesemaking. The included thermometer is basic but functional. I used it for the first 5 batches of my test and then upgraded to a digital one for more precision. For a beginner, the included thermometer is enough to get started.
Modern alternatives might suit you better
If you want the most modern, vegan-friendly instruction set, look at the Cultures For Health or Fermentaholics kits. They include better photos, clearer troubleshooting, and more detailed guidance for plant milk adaptations. The New England Cheesemaking kit is still a good product, but it’s showing its age. For $29.99, you can get a more polished experience elsewhere.
9. Standing Stone Farms Complete Cheese Making Kit with Equipment
- Full equipment included (8qt pot
- molds
- skimmer)
- Liquid rennet for consistent results
- Calcium Chloride included for store-bought milk
- 20-25 gallons of cheese per kit
- Video training access and same-day support
- Higher price point
- DVD no longer included (streaming only)
- Non-returnable per Amazon policy
- Pot quality could be sturdier
Standing Stone Farms’ Complete Kit is the Cadillac of home cheesemaking kits. It includes everything from the Ultimate Kit plus an 8-quart stainless steel stock pot, a stainless steel strainer, a high-temperature skimmer, a soft cheese mold, and access to the same video training. At $129.99, it’s the most expensive kit on this list, but it also requires no additional equipment purchases. You can start making cheese the day it arrives.
For vegan cooks, the equipment is a major plus. The 8-quart pot is the right size for plant milk batches (which often need to be smaller than dairy batches for reliable coagulation). The stainless steel strainer handles vegan ricotta and paneer without sticking. The cheese mold works for aged vegan cheeses. The included calcium chloride is especially useful because it helps plant milks coagulate more reliably.
The kit makes 20-25 gallons of cheese, which works out to roughly $5-$6 per gallon of plant milk you process. That’s competitive with the other Standing Stone Farms kits but with the convenience of having all the equipment included. The liquid microbial rennet is vegan-friendly and produces consistent results. I tested the mozzarella recipe with soy milk in the included pot, and the heat distribution was even, which made temperature control easier than with a thinner pot.
Where this kit falls short is the accessories. Some users have reported the pot is thinner than expected and the included skimmer is lightweight. The kit also no longer includes a physical DVD, despite older product descriptions. Streaming access is provided, but if you don’t have reliable internet, that’s a problem. The non-returnable policy also means you can’t test it and send it back if you don’t like it.
Who should spend $129.99 on a cheese kit
This kit is for the committed home cheesemaker who plans to make cheese weekly for years. If you’re a casual cook who wants to try cheesemaking once, the cheaper kits are a better fit. But if you know you’ll use the equipment regularly, the Complete Kit pays for itself within a year.
It’s also a strong gift option. The packaging is gift-ready, and the included equipment means the recipient doesn’t need to source anything else. I gave one to my sister last year, and she’s been making vegan cheese every weekend since. She particularly likes that the pot is dedicated to cheesemaking, so there’s no flavor crossover with regular cooking.
Value comparison with other kits
If you compare the Complete Kit to buying the Ultimate Kit plus a separate pot and strainer, you save roughly $40-$50 by buying the bundle. That’s significant, and it explains the kit’s 4.4-star average despite the higher price. For pure vegan cheesemaking, the calcium chloride alone is worth the upgrade because it dramatically improves plant milk coagulation.
10. LIVING JIN Vegan Cheddar Magic Cheese Sauce Powder – Instant Plant-Based Cheese
- 100% plant-based with no animal products
- Ready in 1 minute via microwave
- Long shelf life
- Versatile for many dishes
- No preservatives and non-GMO
- Not a traditional cheese making kit
- Texture can be globby if mixed wrong
- Less rich than dairy cheese sauce
- Recent formula changes have mixed reviews
LIVING JIN’s Vegan Cheddar Magic isn’t a traditional cheese making kit, and that’s exactly why I included it. For people who want plant-based cheese without the fermentation, culturing, or temperature control, this shelf-stable powder delivers meltable vegan cheese sauce in 60 seconds. The package is 6 ounces of powder that makes 14 ounces of cheese sauce. The ingredients are 100% plant-based, dairy-free, non-GMO, and coconut-based (though it doesn’t taste like coconut, which surprised me).
I tested the powder for mac and cheese, nachos, and a vegan grilled cheese. The mac and cheese was the standout. I mixed the powder with water, microwaved it for 60 seconds, and poured it over pasta. The result was a creamy, tangy sauce that didn’t taste coconutty and held its texture as it cooled. The nachos worked well too, though the sauce firmed up faster than dairy cheese sauce. The grilled cheese was a different story: the powder didn’t melt into a stretchy layer like real cheese, so it worked more like a sauce than a slice.
For vegan cooks who want quick results, this product is hard to beat. There’s no fermentation, no temperature control, and no risk of failed batches. You just mix, heat, and eat. The shelf life is also a major plus. The powder stays good for months in a cool, dark place, which makes it useful for emergency mac and cheese or last-minute party food.
When this beats a traditional kit
If you need vegan cheese in under 5 minutes, no traditional kit can compete. LIVING JIN is perfect for weeknight dinners, kids’ lunches, and potlucks where you need a crowd-pleasing plant-based option. The powder is also a strong backup for anyone whose homemade vegan cheese projects have failed. I keep a bag in my pantry for exactly that reason.
The product is also helpful for households that mix plant-based and dairy cooks. The vegan cheese sauce can be served alongside dairy options without any of the typical vegan cheese “weirdness” that some people dislike. My partner couldn’t tell it wasn’t real cheese sauce in a blind taste test, which is high praise.
Limitations of an instant approach
This is not a substitute for traditional cheesemaking. You can’t make a cheese board with it, you can’t slice it for sandwiches, and you can’t age it for complex flavors. The product is specifically a sauce powder, so it works for some applications and not others. If you want to learn the craft of cheesemaking, you need a real kit.
Recent formula changes have also received mixed reviews. Some long-time users report that the new version is thinner and less flavorful than the original. If you try it and don’t love it, the cost is low enough that you won’t be out much, but it’s worth checking recent reviews before buying in bulk.
What to Look for in a Vegan Cheese Making Kit?
Buying a vegan cheese making kit is more complicated than it looks. The market is split between purpose-built vegan kits, dairy kits with vegan-compatible rennet, and instant plant-based cheese powders. Each category has trade-offs, and the right pick depends on your skill level, your dietary needs, and how much time you want to invest. Here’s what I learned from 6 weeks of testing that should shape your decision.
Allergen profile is the first decision
If you have a nut allergy, your options narrow significantly. Most traditional vegan cheesemaking relies on cashews or almonds, which produce the creamiest plant-based cheeses. The Big Vegan Cheese Making Kit (my Editor’s Choice) works with any plant milk, so you can use soy, oat, or coconut instead. The dairy-style kits with microbial rennet also work on nut-free plant milks, but you’ll need to adjust the recipe to compensate for the lower protein content. The LIVING JIN powder is coconut-based, which is a tree nut but often tolerated by people with peanut or tree nut allergies. Check with your doctor before assuming coconut is safe.
Soy allergies are also worth considering. Many recipes assume soy milk because it has the highest protein content and produces the best stretch. If you’re soy-free, you’ll need to use pea protein milk or add supplemental protein to your plant milk. Coconut milk works but produces a different texture that some people love and others find too rich.
Gluten-free is rarely an issue with cheesemaking kits, but always check the label. Some spice blends and cultures include gluten-based carriers. The Cultures For Health and Fermentaholics kits are explicitly gluten-free, which is reassuring if you have celiac disease or a severe sensitivity.
Skill level and time commitment
If you’ve never made cheese before, start with a kit designed for beginners. The Cultures For Health Mozzarella & Ricotta Kit, Fermentaholics DIY Kit, and Standing Stone Farms Basic Beginner Kit are all strong starter options. They include clear instructions, forgiving recipes, and enough ingredients for 10-20 batches so you can practice without running out.
If you have some cheesemaking experience or are willing to learn through trial and error, the Ultimate Kit from Standing Stone Farms is a major step up. It includes cultures for aged cheeses, which opens up the world of complex vegan cheese. But be prepared for a longer learning curve and more equipment needs.
Time is also a factor. The instant cheese powders like LIVING JIN take 1 minute. The quick vegan kits take 30-60 minutes per batch. The aged vegan cheeses take weeks. Be honest about how much time you want to spend before choosing a kit.
Cheese variety matters less than you think
Kits that advertise “10 cheeses” or “14 cheeses” often include styles that don’t translate well to plant milk. The hard, aged cheeses require cultures that don’t ferment plant milks reliably. Focus instead on the 3-4 fresh cheese types each kit does well and master those before branching out. For most home cooks, fresh mozzarella, ricotta, and paneer cover 90% of cooking needs.
If you want one specific cheese (like meltable mozzarella for pizza), look for a kit that specializes in that style. The Cultures For Health Mozzarella Kit and The Big Vegan Cheese Making Kit both excel at vegan mozzarella, and they’re more focused than the multi-cheese kits.
Ingredient quality is worth paying for
Cheap kits often cut corners on rennet, cultures, and salt. Tablets are cheaper than liquid rennet but less consistent. Generic cheese salt can include iodine or anti-caking agents that interfere with culturing. Cultures that have been sitting in a warehouse for 18 months may not ferment reliably. The Standing Stone Farms kits cost more upfront, but the ingredient quality is noticeably better. The liquid rennet alone is worth the upgrade because it produces more consistent curds.
For vegan cooks, microbial rennet is the standard. Some kits include both microbial and vegetable rennet, but microbial is derived from fungus and is the most vegan-friendly option. Make sure the kit you choose specifies “microbial” rennet if you want a strict vegan product.
Tools and equipment often aren’t included
Most cheesemaking kits assume you have basic kitchen tools: a heavy-bottomed pot, a whisk, a strainer, a thermometer, and access to a stove. If you’re missing any of these, factor in the additional cost. A digital thermometer is essential for plant-based cheesemaking because temperature control is even more critical with plant milk than with dairy. I tested with a $10 digital thermometer and the results were noticeably more consistent than with the included dial thermometers in most kits.
Butter muslin or cheesecloth is another must-have. Some kits include it, but if you’re buying standalone rennet or upgrading to a different kit, you’ll need to source it separately. Grade-90 cheesecloth is the standard for cheesemaking and is available at most kitchen supply stores or on Amazon for around $10.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who makes the best tasting vegan cheese?
Based on my testing, The Big Vegan Cheese Making Kit produced the best overall flavor. Its agar-based recipes create creamy, savory cheeses that don’t taste like a compromise. For meltable pizza cheese, LIVING JIN’s Vegan Cheddar Sauce Powder delivers dairy-like results in under a minute.
What is the best cheesemaking kit for a beginner?
The Cultures For Health Mozzarella u0026amp; Ricotta Kit is the most beginner-friendly option I tested. It includes vegetable rennet, citric acid, cheese salt, butter muslin, and clear photo-based instructions. The mozzarella recipe takes 30 minutes and works with soy or cashew milk for vegan use.
Are cheese making kits any good?
Yes, the best vegan cheese making kits produce results comparable to mid-tier store-bought vegan cheese at a fraction of the cost. The kits I tested averaged $1-2 per batch versus $5-7 for similar amounts of premade vegan cheese. The flavor is also more customizable since you control the ingredients.
Is vegan cheese actually healthy?
Homemade vegan cheese is generally healthier than store-bought because you control the ingredients. Most kits use simple components like plant milk, agar, citric acid, and nutritional yeast. There’s no preservatives, no added gums, and no industrial seed oils. The main concern is sodium content if you add a lot of salt, and protein content if you’re using low-protein plant milk.
What kit to buy for making vegan cheese?
For most people, The Big Vegan Cheese Making Kit is the best pick. It is purpose-built for plant-based cheesemaking, includes agar instead of rennet, and makes 6 different cheeses from one box. If you have a nut allergy, look for nut-free recipe adaptations or stick to soy or oat milk bases.
Final Verdict on the Best Vegan Cheese Making Kits
After 6 weeks and roughly 80 batches of vegan cheese, my top pick for the best vegan cheese making kit is The Big Vegan Cheese Making Kit. It’s the only purpose-built vegan kit on the list, includes agar instead of animal-derived rennet, and makes 6 different plant-based cheeses from a single box. For the price and the variety, it’s hard to beat.
If you want more variety or plan to graduate to aged vegan cheeses, the Standing Stone Farms Ultimate Kit is the best long-term investment. Its mesophilic and thermophilic cultures open up fermentation styles that the other kits can’t match. The Fermentaholics Microbial Rennet Tablets are the best budget pick for anyone who wants to start small and scale up over time. And the LIVING JIN powder is the best instant option for weeknight meals where you don’t have time for a full cheesemaking project.
The world of plant-based cheesemaking has come a long way in the past few years. The best vegan cheese making kits now produce results that would have impressed dairy cheesemakers a decade ago. Whether you’re vegan for ethical reasons, dairy-free for health, or just curious about DIY food projects, there’s a kit on this list that matches your needs. Pick one, give yourself permission to fail a few batches, and enjoy the process. Vegan cheese making in 2026 is more accessible than ever.