Is sugar vegan? Bone char, the lot code on the bag, and 8 sugars checked
Sugar is vegan unless the cane went through bone char. Beet, USDA organic and Certified Vegan sugar skip it; on Domino or C&H, only lot 1, 4 or 6 is clear.
Gregory Knox
Gregory has been vegan since 2012 and came to it as a sceptic. He believed a balanced diet needed meat and dairy, so he read the studies and the books until he was sure it didn't. He still reads them, and turns what he finds into plain answers on food, ingredients, supplements and health questions. He also runs the technical side of Vegan Pots. Not a doctor, just very thorough.
Why do chia seeds become gelatinous? The seed coat, the chia egg ratio and 7 bags compared
Chia gels because its seed coat holds mucilage. Chia egg: 1 tbsp seeds to 3 tbsp water. 7 bags compared; our pick is Terrasoul's black chia seeds.
How to make vegan food taste better: 10 pantry sauces checked, and the oyster the label won’t flag
Miso, tamari, vegan Worcestershire, mushroom oyster sauce, fish sauce, liquid smoke: 10 checked. Oyster sauce lists oyster; its allergen line doesn't.
Baking without butter: 9 swaps with ratios, and the water nobody measures
Use 3/4 cup oil per cup of butter, shortening or vegan sticks cup for cup in creamed bakes, and applesauce for half the butter. 9 swaps, fat and water compared.
Best vegan hot dogs: 6 compared, and the no-nitrite claim with a celery footnote
Our pick is Lightlife Smart Dogs: certified vegan, 60 calories and 350 mg sodium a link. Six plant-based dogs compared, and what the nitrite claims mean.
Is tofu plant-based? Yes, except egg tofu
Yes. Plain tofu is soybeans, water and a mineral or acid coagulant. The exception is egg tofu. Seven packs and a tofu press, checked label by label.
Are tater tots vegan? The potato ones we checked are, but Green Giant’s veggie tots all have egg
The potato tots we checked are: Ore-Ida and Grown in Idaho list nothing animal. Green Giant's veggie tots list eggs and whey, Dr. Praeger's egg whites.
Are ice cream cones vegan? The boxed ones we checked mostly are, but Carvel’s and Cold Stone’s waffle cones aren’t
Most boxed cones we checked are: Joy's undipped cones and Let's Do list nothing animal. Carvel and Cold Stone waffle cones have egg and buttermilk.
Are English muffins vegan? Some are, but all six Thomas’ muffins we read list whey
Some are. The Dave's Killer Bread, Ezekiel 4:9, Rudi's, Katz and Trader Joe's Classic muffins we read are vegan; all six Thomas' muffins list whey.
Is baklava vegan? Usually not, and honey isn’t always the reason
Usually not. Trader Joe's baklava has ghee and eggs, Athens' has honey, Kontos' has butter. Athens, Kontos and Fillo Factory phyllo doughs are vegan.
