Nutritional yeast?

Question

What is this stuff? I never used it before when I was a vegetarian, but several of the vegan recipes I have found use it. I can't find it a regular supermarket or health food store. Any ideas?

Answer 1

Check in the bulk section at the health food store.
I add it to everything and it is Delicious on popcorn!

Answer 2

PS... After doing more reading on the 'net. It appears that I may be mistaken. That nutritional yeast is different than brewer's yeast. Both are nutritional... but may have a different taste. It's been over 20 years since working in health food... Things don't change that much, do they???

It's also called Brewer's Yeast.
I used to work in a health food store and we sold it as Brewer's yeast which was available in Bulk.

I'm kind of surprised that it's so difficult for you to find.
You can try your local food co-op or whole food store.
Some larger supermarkets, with a bulk food aisle, will have brewer's yeast.


From Wikipedia -
Yeast is used in nutritional supplements popular with vegans and the health conscious, where it is often referred to as "nutritional yeast". It is a deactivated yeast, usually Saccharomyces cerevisiae. It is an excellent source of protein and vitamins, especially the B-complex vitamins, whose functions are related to metabolism as well as other minerals and cofactors required for growth. It is also naturally low in fat and sodium. Some brands of nutritional yeast, though not all, are fortified with vitamin B12, which is produced separately from bacteria. Nutritional yeast, though it has a similar appearance to brewer's yeast, is very different and has a very different taste.

Nutritional yeast has a nutty, cheesy, creamy flavor which makes it popular as an ingredient in cheese substitutes. It is often used by vegans in place of parmesan cheese. Another popular use is as a topping for popcorn. Some movie theaters are beginning to offer it along with salt or cayenne pepper as a popcorn condiment. It comes in the form of flakes, or as a yellow powder similar in texture to cornmeal, and can be found in the bulk aisle of most natural food stores. In Australia it is sometimes sold as "savory yeast flakes". Though "nutritional yeast" usually refers to commercial products, inadequately fed prisoners have used "home-grown" yeast to prevent vitamin deficiency.[35]

Answer 3

I've found it in the Super Walmart, Target, Tom Thumb, Central Market, etc. (I'm not sure which stores you have in your area.) so maybe try asking managers to see if they know where it's hiding. If you still can't find it, plenty of specialty online stores carry it. Just google for "buy nutritional yeast" and many sites will come up.
This is the brand I have now:
http://www.veganessentials.com/catalog/red-star-nutritional-yeast.htm

I think it is really tasty, esp. in soups, stuffing, pasta, etc. It's not quite cheesy or chickeny, but rich along those same lines. The exact taste varies from brand to brand. And it's chock full of B12. Some people say it tastes like parmesan, but I don't think it does really - and I wouldn't recommend going into it expecting it to taste "like" anything.

Edit: Dave C, I did not realize brewer's yeast was the same thing. Thanks for telling me...maybe it is a regional difference.

Answer 4

Nutritional yeast is very good for true vegetarians who take no animal products. It contains B12, and can take the place of cheese and butter, even on popcorn. God has provided everything we need to sustain our bodies in a plant-based diet.

Answer 5

I like to sprinkle it on popcorn. It's awesome! You might be able to order it online from a nutritional store.

Answer 6

Yeast Infection Freedom System : http://YeastCured.uzaev.com/?Llbh