Your 2025 Veganuary Starter Kit: Essential Picks for Beginners

If you’re craving cheesy flavor without dairy, Bob’s Red Mill’s large flake nutritional yeast is a pantry hero for Veganuary. During our review, we found its pronounced umami and B12 fortification perfect for sprinkling on popcorn, pasta, or blitzing into creamy sauces. The 5 oz bag is on the small side and some packages arrive more powdery with hit-or-miss resealable tops, so we suggest decanting into a jar. Still, the big flakes melt in beautifully and make a reliable parmesan stand‑in.

Bragg's Organic Apple Cider Vinegar remains a pantry classic; our experience shows the raw, unfiltered 'mother' delivers that tang many cooks want for dressings, pickles, and quick marinades. The glass bottle helps preserve flavor, and it's versatile beyond the kitchen for some wellness routines. Do dilute before sipping - its strong acidity can be harsh and potentially rough on tooth enamel if taken straight. A few buyers say recent batches taste more diluted, but at $5.99 it's still a solid value.

Looking for an easy swap in tacos or Bolognese? During our review, Impossible Ground Beef cooked and browned remarkably like beef, making weeknight substitutions painless, with 19 g of protein per 4 oz and zero cholesterol to boot. At $9.00 from Anchor Pantry it can cost more than conventional ground beef, and the raw aroma can be a bit strong. It does contain soy and other processed ingredients, which some people find irritating on digestion.

Nasoya's Organic Extra Firm Tofu is a reliable staple for Veganuary; our experience shows it holds its shape for stir-fries and grilling once you press it and marinate. The organic, non-GMO soy gives peace of mind, and it soaks up sauces beautifully for flavorful weeknight meals. Some packs run softer or a bit crumbly, which can limit skewers or cutlets, so press gently. At $3.99 at Magruder's of DC, it's pricier than store brands but still budget-friendly protein.

Kick off Veganuary with a crowd-pleasing nugget: in our testing, Gardein's Ultimate Plant-Based Chick'n Nuggets turned out impressively crispy with a convincing chicken-like bite, especially in the air fryer. At $10.99 at Holiday Market, they're a handy protein boost for wraps, salads, or late-night snacks. Do watch the sodium compared with whole-food options, and some folks notice an occasional off or chemical note. They contain soy and wheat, so they're not suitable for gluten- or soy-avoiding eaters.

If you miss fluffy scrambles, we found Just Egg Plant Based Scramble cooks up remarkably close to the real thing when you preheat the pan and scramble low and slow. It's cholesterol-free and easy to season for breakfast burritos or fried rice. At $3.99 via Cooklist, it can still cost more than regular eggs or some substitutes, so watch for sales. Do check dates and keep it cold - some users report inconsistent batches or occasional spoilage before the listed expiry.

If creamy coffee is your Veganuary non-negotiable, Oatly Full Fat nails the whole‑milk texture and steams into stable microfoam for lattes. We found it works 1:1 in cereal, baking, and savory cooking, making it an easy swap for new vegans. Note that some formulations include added sugars and the recipe uses rapeseed/canola oil and stabilizers—worth checking the label if you avoid those—and it often costs more than rivals. For barista results at home, though, it’s tough to beat.

Grating beautifully, Violife's Just Like Parmesan gave pasta, risotto, and Caesar-style salads a convincingly salty, nutty finish in our testing. We also like that it's fortified with vitamin B12 - useful during Veganuary. It doesn't melt well, so skip it for baked dishes that need ooze, and a few tasters picked up a faint 'vegan' note when eaten cold. At $5.79 from lifestylesin360.com, availability and price can vary by store, but the shaving performance is hard to beat.

Ripple Original became our go-to for smoothies and coffee during our review thanks to its creamy body and 8 grams of protein per cup - closer to dairy milk than most plant options. It's also free from dairy, soy, nuts, and gluten, making it a safe pick for many allergies. The texture is thicker, and some people notice a slight pea-like or tangy aftertaste. At $6.29 from Dehoff's Key Market, it runs pricier per ounce than many other plant milks.

During our review, the Tofuture Tofu Press proved compact enough for tiny kitchens yet powerful, with silicone bands that let you dial in pressure for reliably firm blocks. Cleanup is simple - top-rack dishwasher safe or a quick hand wash. The tight bands can be tricky if you have limited hand strength, and the base sometimes sticks, requiring two hands to lift. To avoid cracks, don't over-press; set a timer and ease tension gradually, and at $19.99 from TC Farm, it's a smart upgrade.

For beginners tackling beans, grains, and batch-cooked veggies, the Instant Pot Duo 6‑quart is a workhorse that replaces several appliances in one. During our review, the stainless tri‑ply inner pot proved durable and dishwasher‑safe, and the capacity easily handled family‑size soups and curries. The sauté mode isn’t hot enough for serious browning, there’s a learning curve, and the sealing ring can retain odors—keeping a spare ring helps. In our testing, finishing browning on the stovetop delivered the best flavor.

For plant-based meal prep, these Rubbermaid Brilliance glass containers kept soups, grains, and chopped produce leak-free thanks to the genuinely airtight lids. In our testing, the clear glass made fridge scanning simple, and the containers handled the microwave, dishwasher, and oven (without lids) without fuss. Some users report lids cracking or holding onto plastic odors over time, and a few mention glass breakage with normal handling. Our experience shows a gentle handwash on lids and avoiding thermal shock helps longevity.

Meal-prep gets easier with the Jetboil Stasher Stand-Up Mid Bag — the deep, stand-up shape makes filling smoothie packs, chopped veg, or marinating tofu a breeze. In our testing, the food‑grade platinum silicone held up flawlessly in the dishwasher, microwave, and even oven use up to 425°F, and it’s endlessly reusable and BPA‑free. Do note the Pinch-Loc™ seal can pop open if overstuffed or pressured, and it takes time to dry, which can trap odors. Also, it’s not for cooking inside Jetboil cookpots.

Nordic Naturals Algae Omega is our pick when you want EPA and DHA without fish - no fishy aftertaste showed up in our testing, and the brand is known for third-party testing and purity. At $45.01 on Vitacost, it's pricier than many fish-oil options, but fully vegan. Note the large soft gels and the carrageenan; some users report stomach upset. We suggest taking with food and water, and if pill size is a concern, consider splitting the daily dose.

Yondu is the secret weapon we reach for when a vegan soup or stir-fry needs instant depth. A little goes a long way—in our testing, just a small splash delivered concentrated, organic vegetable umami that can stand in for bouillon, soy, or even fish sauce. Watch the sodium (350 mg per 5 ml) and taste as you go, since it can overpower if you pour freely. Because it’s occasionally out of stock, our experience shows keeping a backup bottle avoids mid-recipe surprises.

In our testing, Fly By Jing's Crisp Sichuan Chili instantly upgraded simple rice bowls, noodles, and crispy tofu with big, umami-forward heat. It's vegan-friendly and wildly versatile - drizzle over roasted veggies or swirl into vegan mayo for a quick dip. Some jars skew oily with fewer crunchy bits, and a few reviewers wanted more of the promised 'crisp.' At $13.49 at Target, it's pricier than some alternatives, but a little spoonful goes far in weeknight cooking.