Zero-dairy food tech company Armored Fresh, known for its fermented almond and oat-based cheeses, continues to innovate in manufacturing to create products that rival the taste and texture of traditional dairy cheese.
The South Korean company operating in the US announces that it has filed a new patent for a technology that mimics the process of grating traditional hard-aged cheese.
“Armored Fresh will continue to prove that zero-dairy cheese is not just an alternative”
Instead of using the standard spray-drying process for grated plant-based cheese, which involves a liquid mixture that is then atomized into particles, the food tech company creates cheese blocks and physically grates them. This method achieves a more authentic taste and texture, explains the company.
Rudy Yoo, founder and CEO of Armored Fresh, shares, “With this patented process, Armored Fresh will continue to prove that zero-dairy cheese is not just an alternative, but a truly enjoyable option that everyone can easily enjoy. We are empowered by our dedication to providing nutritious, plant-based options to consumers around the world to evolve and innovate in the journey towards a more sustainable and delicious future.”
Grated vegan parmesan
Leveraging this technology, Armored Fresh will introduce a zero-dairy Parmesan line this fall, marking its first expansion into grated options while strengthening its position in the US and global markets.
The company emphasizes that the manufacturing process for plant-based grated cheese results from ongoing R&D to set new standards in vegan cheese.
Besides this innovation, the South Korean food tech has developed a natural fermentation process using lactic acid bacteria; a method for making vegetable cheese that provides guidelines on cooking temperature, cooling, and other processes to replicate and enhance the aroma of cheese; and a protocol that assesses the taste, texture, and aging profiles of renowned global cheeses, enabling continuous improvements in the taste and flavor of its products.
Zero-dairy cheese options
Armored Fresh says its purpose is to dispel the notion that plant-based cheese is bland and unsatisfactory by creating products comparable in taste and price to dairy cheese.
To date, it has launched cubes, slices, shreds, and spreads at select retailers nationwide, including Kroger, Fresh Thyme Market, Town and Country Foods, and Fred Meyer. In addition, the East Coast restaurant chain Bareburger offers Armored Fresh’s zero-dairy Oat Milk Cheddar Cheese as an add-on to any menu item and has launched burgers crafted with the Impossible Standard and the company’s Oat Milk Cheddar Slices.
Yoo adds, “This technological development is a significant milestone in our mission to create delicious, sustainable, zero-dairy cheese options for consumers of all dietary preferences.”
