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True fans of their favorite brands of yeast extract spread claim there are NO REAL replacements.
But hey, few passable yeast extract substitutes might mimic that aggressively salty umami flavor that you lust on your snacks as well as recipes.
And if you’re frighteningly running away from the intense flavor because it is either you “love it or hate it”. Well, you can spoon some peanut butter on your toast to give your body a healthy boost.
Below we have hand-picked the most preferable alternatives to yeast extract that are readily available in ALL supermarkets at an affordable price.
Have a look!
Yeast Extract Substitutes For Spread
1. Miso
Miso is a fermented paste obtained from crushed soybeans with salt, and koji that designate its salty umami flavor to virtually any recipe.
And I’m giving miso the first spot because Miso is gluten and wheat-free, which makes it suitable for coeliacs — unlike most marmite and Vegemite spread.
This spread has different ingredients as to marmite. Interestingly, they taste pretty much the same when giving extra flavor to your broths or other savory recipes.
See Also: 7 Best Wheat Starch Substitutes
They are the stars in almost all Japanese cookings.
The spread has a similar texture to peanut butter as well.
Miso can either be smooth or chunky and fermentation can be anywhere around a few weeks to several years.
It is ideal in a wide variety of dishes like sauces, batters, dressings, and soups.
You can eat it raw or cooked. However, if you’re adding it to long-cooked dishes, be careful, as too much heat will kill the active bacteria in it.
Lastly, Miso is easily accessible and is also a vegan choice that offers an incredible amount of vitamin B.
2. Peanut Butter
One of the best yeast extract substitutes out there, peanut is a preferred choice that can swap in and save the day, except you’re allergic to them.
If not, peanut butter is one of the world’s most popular spreads you should try. It is sticky and distinctive flavored. I bet you’d love it, especially the way it sticks to the roof of your mouth right before it melts.
However, its flavor is nothing close to yeast extract spread like Marmite, Vegemite, or Promite.
They are spread products made from dry-roasted and ground peanuts with additional ingredients (like sweeteners, salt, or emulsifiers) until they turn into a paste.
Fortunately, you can use them for nearly any yeast extract spread purpose like to coat the bottom of an ice cream cone; spread on crepes, pancakes, salad dressing, and waffles.
And since they melt gracefully well, you can easily add them to stir-fries, stews, soups, dipping sauce, and baked goods.
Among other things is it does offer numerous benefits you might be unaware of.
Peanut butter incorporates the essential vitamins and minerals that your body needs such as vitamin B3, B6, and E, potassium, zinc, magnesium — just to mention a few. It is also a rich source of healthy fat and protein.
See Also: Best Shrimp Paste Substitutes
3. Soy Sauce
Next on the list is soy sauce — a very rich and tasty ingredient obtained from fermented soybeans and wheat.
While it might not behave like a spread because of its thin consistency, it can fill in as an ingredient for seasoning other sauces, stews, as well as other savory dishes.
Additionally, you can add them directly to food. Some may prefer to mix it with ground wasabi for dipping or salt seasoning in noodles, sashimi, rice, or sushi.
To prepare this sauce, all it takes is four basic ingredients: soybeans, salt wheat, and fermenting agents could be mold or yeast.
Moreover, soy sauce shares the same dark color along with a similar salty, fermented umami flavor profile like most yeast extract.
Hence, using it as a sub is not a bad idea after all. Mind you, the taste and texture may differ depending on where you bought it.
See Also: Best Almond Extract Substitutes
Frequently Asked Questions
What Is The Difference Between Yeast And Yeast Extract?
This is more like a broader topic on its own. But let’s see what we can do here because many people use both words interchangeably and that is inappropriate.
So let me clear up the air:
No doubt yeast and yeast extract are closely related, but they are two different things. So take note these two items shouldn’t be confused in the kitchen.
The most visible difference between both is their appearance.
Yeast extracts are commercially prepared in Paste-like or liquid consistency. Meanwhile, yeast is granulated and grainy.
Yeast is a unicellular organism that converts sugars and starches into CO2 bubbles and alcohol as a byproduct, which is why it is used in wine, bread, and beer production.
Yeast extract, however, is made by deactivating the yeast and breaking its cell walls.
It is a name used to describe a bunch of processed yeast goods. They are used as food additives or seasoning for various meals.
While yeast extract is a nutritious staple that provides your body with considerable doses of energy, yeast is a fungus, a non-nutritional food ingredient that steals up essential nutrients from your system.
And since it’s a pungent and salty flavor add-on (although some variations are quite sweet), the item in collaboration with others is being used as a spread for toast, bread, and sandwiches.
Is Yeast Extract The Same As Marmite?
Here is the catch:
Both are officially spread products. But marmite is made from (glutamic acid-rich) yeast extract, which is why it has a salty and slightly sweet taste.
And this flavorful savory spread can be enjoyed on sandwiches, toast, crackers, and many more.
It has a very strong flavor too. It is either you love it or hate it. Although most people thin it out with a little butter.
But if for whatever reason, you find it repulsive, there are some fantastic alternatives you could use. So endeavor to check this post showing you the best marmite substitutes.
Is Yeast Extract A Natural Ingredient?
Absolutely!
Yeast extract is natural ingredient stuff with vitamins and minerals.
You can lavish it on toast for breakfast or stir it into hot water for a warming drink rich in vitamin B.
This item has also gone viral in the world of culinary ingredients as a seasoning for soups, sauce, and stews.
Can You Use Yeast Extract To Make Bread?
You can’t use yeast extract per se, but you can use its source: fresh yeast.
Fresh yeast has been long used to produce bread and beer.
Conclusion
In conclusion, while it may seem like all hope is lost, you can still get that intensified saltiness and umami taste by using the above yeast extract substitutes, especially from Miso.
These substitutes serve virtually the same purpose and can be spread on snacks, add to soups, sauces, meats, and seasonings.
However, if you long for something less intense with a distinctive flavor, peanut butter might just be your new normal.
See Also: Almond Extract Vs Vanilla Extract
