How To Cook With Impossible And Beyond Meat
In my experience, both Impossible and Beyond cook up pretty similarly to ground beef, even if they dont taste exactly the same. Below are a few tips that may prove useful.
Here are a handful of recipe ideas where you might try using Impossible or Beyond in place of beef:
Serve Impossible Burger At Your Restaurant
Are you reading this blog because you’re considering adding Impossible Burger to menu? Then head over to ImpossibleFoods.com/sell-impossible to grab a free sample and try it out for yourself!
* In a home usage study, 70% of 254 consumers who cooked with Impossible Burger thought the taste was comparable to or better than ground beef from cows.
** USDA 80/20 ground beef contains 23 g total fat while the Impossible Burger contains 14 g total fat per 4 oz serving
*** USDA 80/20 ground beef contains 2%DV of calcium while the Impossible Burger contains 15% DV of calcium per 4 oz serving.
**** In a home usage study, 76% of 254 consumers said Impossible Burger satisfied their beef cravings as well as or better than ground beef from cows.
Where Can You Buy Impossible Burger
The Impossible Burger is available at a variety of stores and restaurants. Safeway, Trader Joes, and Target are all major stores that carry Impossible meat. Red Robin also serves Impossible Burgers. However, availability may vary by location.
You can use Impossible Foods store locator tool to find stores near you. You can filter the results by type to view restaurants, grocery stores, or both.
After selecting a store near you, you can view details, including which type of Impossible meat the store carries such as Impossible Beef, Impossible Chicken Nuggets, and so on.
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May Be A More Environmentally Friendly Choice
The Impossible Foods website claims that producing this plant-based burger uses roughly 92% less water, generates 91% fewer greenhouse gases, and requires 96% less land than producing conventional ground beef from cows .
Indeed, research shows that cattle farming is the largest contributor to greenhouse gas and ammonia emissions in the livestock industry .
Greenhouse gas emissions from livestock farming contribute to climate change. This leads many climate experts to recommend that people eat a more plant-based diet in order to reduce pressure on the environment (
Although the Impossible Burger offers some benefits, there are some downsides to consider as well.
Is The Beyond Burger Actually Healthier Than A Beef Burger
Per four-ounce uncooked Beyond Burger patty, youll get:
The downer: Fat and calorie-wise, the Beyond Burger is about on-par with a beef burger, says Dallas-based nutritionist Amy Goodson, RD. And it actually packs way more sodium. Also, a regular beef burger doesnt have carbs, while the Beyond Burger has five grams.
So if youre turning to the Beyond Burger to save on fat or cals, youll be disappointed, Goodson says. Plus, you can make or break the health of any burger with what you pair it with.
Ultimately, its hard to say whether the Beyond Burger or a regular burger is healthier it depends on what youre going for, says nutritionist Alissa Rumsey, RD. If youre looking to eat more plant-based foods and still want to have a burger then, yeah, a Beyond Burger might be more in line with your wellness goals, she says. But if youre cool with eating meat, having a Beyond Burger instead wont suddenly turn you into a health ninja.
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How Burger King’s New Meatless Impossible Whopper Rates Against Real Beef
All that sizzles is not beef.
Consider the new Impossible Whopper introduced nationwide by Burger King on Aug. 8. The Whopper is built with a plant-based patty a union of soy and potato proteins from Impossible Foods. Sunflower and coconut oils, the fats in the patty, create that signature burger sizzle when the patty hits the grill.
In recent years, chain and independent restaurants have increasingly offered plant-based patties that mimic the flavor, texture and grilling ability of real beef in answer to consumer concerns about healthy eating and the environmental impact of meat production.
“Of all the products Burger King has launched in the past 10 years, I think this is the best launch,” said Sanjay Lillaney of Reno, franchisee of 23 Burger Kings across Nevada and California.
I’ve tried plant-based burgers at other restaurants in Reno including an outstanding rendition by chef Jakon Tolhurst of Zeppelin but I wanted to see what a national chain like Burger King would make of the trend, taking it mainstream.
Do Burger King Burgers Contain Gluten
The original Impossible Burger was made with wheat protein. However, in 2019 the company introduced a new recipe featuring the following changes: The burger contains soy protein instead of wheat protein and is certified gluten-free. It contains a plant-based culinary binder called methylcellulose to improve texture.
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Is The Impossible Burger From Burger King Gluten
The original Impossible patty was not gluten-free since it contained wheat protein. Though the Impossible Whopper itself, with its sesame seed bun, isnt gluten-free, Version 2.0 being used by Burger King is.
Some people wont even regard it as vegetarian. Thats because Burger King cooks its Impossible Whopper on the same grill as its regular meats.
If youre that picky, Jaime Coble, district manager of Lillaneys Burger King franchise group, said, there is an option to be heated in the microwave, so it would be entirely vegetarian at that point.
The Impossible Whopper can also be ordered as a protein bowl for vegetarians without the bun, with chopped lettuce and other vegetables.
According to Restaurant Business online, Burger King tested the Impossible Whopper in St. Louis last April, when sales increased by 28% for the month.
The veggie Whopper isnt as gratifying for this carnivore as the beef counterpart, but it still delivers well. And compared to the frozen veggie burgers weve been forced to eat for years, the patties are a darn sight nicer.
What you put in your mouth is important to you. Therefore, a digital subscription to the Reno Gazette Journal will keep you up to date on news related to food and drink through notifications, unrestricted access to content, and more.
What Is The Impossible Burger Made Of
Back in 2011, we started with a simple question: “What makes meat taste like meat?” Then we figured out how to make it with plants. Our team of scientists, researchers and chefs have spent years researching animal meat at a molecular level to learn how it works. Weve perfected a magic mix of ingredients to craft a truly satisfying meat experience that checks all the boxes:
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Protein from soy and potatoes deliver that meaty bite with 19g of protein per 4 oz serving, the same as ground beef.
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Flavor from heme, a molecule found in all living things that gives meat its unmistakably meaty favor.Learn more about how we make heme.
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Texture fromcoconut oil, sunflower oil and binders that give Impossible Burgerits sizzle, juiciness, and versatility so you can use it any way youd use ground beef.
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Where To Find It
So how can you get your hands on an Impossible Burger to give it a try for yourself? As of now, you wont be able to find the Impossible Burger at Whole Foods or on the shelves of your local grocery store. This is because, despite its GRAS status, it still wont be available in stores until it receives FDA approval to be sold uncooked.
Instead, you can find the Impossible Burger at many restaurants, often listed alongside other burgers or in the vegetarian section of the menu. A complete list of locations of where the Impossible Burger is available can also be found directly on their website.
How much does an Impossible Burger cost? The price can vary widely based on where you purchase it fast food chains like White Castle now carry the Impossible Burger for just $2 each, but it can also be found in many other cafes, bars and restaurants around the country.
Overall, the Impossible Burger may help ease the transition to a more plant-based diet for those looking to cut back on meat consumption over health or environmental concerns. However, it should be paired with a well-balanced diet and other plant-based proteins such as tempeh, natto, lentils, beans and seeds.
Both Are Processed Foods
Many people view the Impossible Burger and Beyond Burger as healthier alternatives to meat-based burgers.
Thats in large part because plant-based diets have been linked to a variety of health benefits, including a lower risk of type 2 diabetes and heart disease. However, its important to note that not all plant-based foods are equally beneficial .
For instance, heavily processed, sugar- and salt-laden meat alternatives are not as conducive to optimal health as whole-food-based, minimally processed options.
Despite being made exclusively from plants, both these burgers pack added sugar, salt, and other processed ingredients like protein isolates .
These ingredients contain significantly lower amounts of vitamins, minerals, and beneficial plant compounds than unprocessed plant-based burger ingredients like whole beans, lentils, or peas.
Because of this, both burgers are likely best enjoyed in moderation.
summary
Both the Impossible Burger and Beyond Burger are made from processed ingredients. Thus, they contain fewer vitamins, minerals, and beneficial plant compounds than burgers made from whole foods.
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What Is Impossible Burger
Impossible Burger is meat made from plants that tastes and cooks like ground beef*, for people who love meat. Its an extremely delicious and versatile ingredient that is a 1:1 substitute for meat, but is way better for the planet it uses 96% less land, 87% less water, and 89% less greenhouse gas emissions than beef from a cow.
Each 4 ounce serving has the same amount of protein as 80/20 lean ground beef but doesnt contain any animal hormones or antibiotics. And because the taste is so delicious, Impossible Burger can be used in any recipe that calls for meat — tacos, sliders, chili, lasagna, you name it!
Beyond Burgers Contain Apple Extract For Browning
We eat with our eyes, and thats no exception for the Beyond Burger. Its almost indistinguishable from ground beef in the grocery stores, and in fact, is usually sold with the ground meats instead of with the other vegan meat-substitutes. But theres one problem: a raw burger patty and a cooked burger patty look nothing alike. While one is a soft, pink mush, the other is a brown, caramelized disc that can hold its shape. How can a product that is not meat replicate the way meat looks both before and after the grill?
The secret is apples. If youve ever sliced apples, youve seen how quickly they turn brown when exposed to air. , Beyond Burger was able to make its proteins brown in the pan just like ground beef. This not only makes the finished product look more like beef, it also makes the cooking process feel a lot more like cooking with beef.
However, the Beyond Burgers success in replicating meat is also somewhat of a double edged sword. Many vegetarians and vegans have opined that the Beyond Burger is too similar to meat in its taste, texture, and appearance. But this only makes it more popular with meat eaters.
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Who Is The Impossible Burger Good For
If taste and convenience are your main concerns, the Impossible Burger may be a good choice for you.
Its also a great choice for vegans and vegetarians, because all products from Impossible Foods are free of animal products and byproducts.
Though the Impossible Burger was originally made with wheat protein, it now contains soy protein instead, so its a good fit for those following a gluten-free diet.
Additionally, because it requires fewer natural resources and generates fewer greenhouse gases than beef, the Impossible Burger is a sustainable and eco-friendly option for those who are looking to reduce their environmental footprint.
However, if you want to eat a more nutritious plant-based burger, consider a more whole-food-based veggie burger.
What Is The Beyond Burger Made Of
What else is in the beef doppelganger? Beyond Meat says it sources all the building blocks of meat from plants.
The brand recently updated their formula, for what they claim to be an even meatier flavor and texture than the original product, according to a press release. Their goal: to create marbling designed to melt and tenderize like traditional ground beef.
Heres the full Beyond Burger ingredients list: water, pea protein, expeller-pressed canola oil, refined coconut oil, rice protein, natural flavors, cocoa butter, mung bean protein, methylcellulose, potato starch, apple extract, pomegranate extract, salt, potassium chloride, vinegar, lemon juice concentrate, sunflower lecithin, beet juice extract.
The protein in this new formulation comes from peas, mung beans, and brown ricewhich create a complete protein, or a protein that has all nine essential amino acids. This is significant, because few plant proteins are complete on their own. But this clever combo pairs two incomplete proteins together to create a complete one.
Cocoa butter, coconut oil, sunflower oil, and canola oil provide the fats.
Curious about that beet juice extract? Its there to mimic the bloodiness of beef.
Note that there are no actualvegetables present, unlike other veggie burgers on the market. Its also worth noting, though, that these patties are one of the only plant-based burgers made without genetically modified organisms, soy, or gluten.
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Is The Impossible Gluten
The original Impossible Burger was made with wheat protein. However, in 2019 the company introduced a new recipe featuring the following changes: The burger contains soy protein instead of wheat protein and is certified gluten-free. It contains a plant-based culinary binder called methylcellulose to improve texture.
Does The Impossible Burger Taste Good
The Impossible Burger has a rich and meaty flavor that is very similar to the flavor of burgers made from beef.
Though many people enjoy the flavor of the Impossible Burger on its own, others may prefer adding extra seasonings, toppings, or condiments to their burger to tailor it to their taste buds.
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What Is In Impossibletm Burger Your Customers’ Questions Answered
Consumers everywhere are seeking products made with Impossible Burger at their favorite restaurants in everything from convenient classics to trendy street food. Why? Because Impossible products are a delicious alternative to meat made from animals, as well as an exciting and versatile option to add to your menu for all of your guests – from vegans to carnivores and everyone in between!
Once you add Impossible Burger to the menu, it’s important to train your Front of House staff on the most common questions, like ‘What’s in Impossible Burger’, ‘Is it meat?’ or ‘How does it compare to ground beef from cows?’
Were answering all those questions in this blog, but weve also created easy-to-use resources in our foodservice hub to help you on your journey, including:
In the meantime, here are easy answers to your customers’ top questions.
Just Wait Theres More
This study found that soy stimulated the growth of estrogen-dependent tumors found in breast cancer. And this one found the same thing.
This study found that,
this pilot study indicates that prolonged consumption of soy protein isolate has a stimulatory effect on the premenopausal female breast, characterized by increased secretion of breast fluid, the appearance of hyperplastic epithelial cells, and elevated levels of plasma estradiol. These findings are suggestive of an estrogenic stimulus from the isoflavones genistein and daidzein contained in soy protein isolate.
Soy is high in phytic acid, also known as phytates. These phytates prevent the absorption of minerals like iron and calcium . This can be particularly harmful, especially for children.
Additionally, soy is high in phytoestrogen . This can block normal estrogen, wich leads not just to hormonal imbalance, but even breast cancer.
Note: this is why my periods were so heavy, painful and irregular when I was a vegetarian as a teen.
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Impossible Mapo Tofu Recipe
Tofu fans: its your turn. This spicy dish is among the most popular of Sichuan foods, and now its even better with Impossible Burger. The versatility of tofu and Impossible Burger collide with spices such as chili paste and Szechuan peppercorns to bring you a meal that practically becomes an experience when all is said and done.
Hints of garlic, ginger, and a dose of umami from the Tamari sauce help to round out the bold and spicy flavors emanating from each bite, all piled onto a bed of rice to soak it all up. Hungry yet? You should be. If youre a little hesitant to cook with tofu at home, dont worry, youve got this! Weve included some easy tips in the recipe instructions to help ensure your tofu turns out perfectly. Nows the time to give it a shotand youll love the results.
