Our list of the best nutritional yeast brands…
Nutritional yeast is very popular among vegans and is a vegan pantry staple. It is a species of yeast known as Saccharomyces cerevisiae whereby S. cerevisiae cells are grown for several days on a sugar-rich medium like molasses. The yeast is then deactivated with heat, harvested, washed, dried, crumbled and packaged for distribution. This gives the nutritional yeast a tangy, cheesy, creamy flavor and texture, making it perfect for sprinkling on popcorn, salads or for blending into hot foods.
Nutritional yeast gained its name because of its exceptional nutritional properties. It is a complete protein, containing all 9 essential amino acids. In fact, 1 tablespoon of nutritional yeast contains 2 grams of protein. It also contains B vitamins and trace minerals. One tablespoon contains 2–30% of the RDI for trace minerals, such as zinc, selenium, manganese and molybdenum.
Now there are 2 types of nutritional yeast, which are unfortified and fortified. Unfortified doesn’t contain any added vitamins or minerals while fortified contains synthetic vitamins added during the manufacturing process to boost nutrient content. Some popular brands of fortified nutritional yeast worth mentioning are Anthony’s Nutritional Yeast Flakes, NOW Supplements and Bragg.
Anthony’s Nutritional Yeast Flakes
Alex and his business partner, Anthony Zanontian founded Anthony’s Goods after Zanontian developed arthritis. The two went on the create Anthony’s Goods to sell gluten-free foods to make Zanontian feel better. Anthony’s Nutritional Yeast Flakes is batch tested and verified gluten free. It is fortified with B vitamins including folic acid and B12 produced by natural fermentation, not synthetic or animal source. Anthony’s Nutritional Yeast Flakes makes the list because they are one of the few who offer nutritional yeast in bulk (1 lb). Not only does Anthony’s offer us this gem in bulk, but we get a tasty product that has no bitterness or aftertaste. As an added bonus there are 4 grams of fiber in 1-½ tablespoons of Anthony’s Nutritional Yeast.
NOW Foods
Next on the list is NOW Supplements, which is a family owned and operated company that was founded in 1968. Their nutritional yeast is packaged in the USA and is vegan/vegetarian, kosher, soy free, nut free and low in sodium. It has a NPA A-rated GMP certification, which means that every aspect of the NOW manufacturing process has been examined, including their laboratory/testing methods for stability, potency and product formulation. NOW Nutritional Yeast has a texture and flavor that is comparable to other brands. The only downside is that NOW does not offer nutritional yeast in bulk.
Bragg
Next is Bragg, which was founded in 1912 by Patricia and Paul Bragg. Bragg has earned it’s place at the top of the list as a reputable brand of nutritional yeast. What stands out most about Bragg’s nutritional yeast is its nutty, savory flavor. Bragg’s nutritional yeast is second to none in that regard. Though as good as it is we only wish that they would offer it in larger quantities at more competitive prices. As it stands Bragg’s nutritional yeast comes in 4.5 ounce packaging, which makes it a bit pricey compared to other brands that offer you more in quantity for a similar price.
Though nutritional yeast is sold by many brands the brands listed above have a long-standing reputation of quality that is second to none. Try one, try them all and you will not be disappointed.
What do you consider the best nutritional yeast brands?
