Just remember that veggie burgers are not necessarily healthier than their meat counterparts, says Joan Salge Blake, Ed.D., R.D.N., L.D.N. This will depend on your unique goals and purpose for turning to a meat alternative. “Just because there’s a longer ingredient list doesn’t mean that it’s unhealthy for you-it just means that perhaps you don’t know what the ingredients do.” How to choose the best veggie or plant-based burger for you Others, like potassium chloride, are minerals, probably included to mimic the nutritional content of red meat. “For example, methylcellulose just helps hold the ingredients together, and that’s totally safe,” Gans says. Fillers are used for consistency, texture, and binding, making the overall eating experience much more pleasant. “There are going to be ingredients that people might not recognize, but that doesn’t mean they’re bad for you,” Gans notes. The trade-off is that they contain few (if any) actual vegetables-they’re made with soy, pea protein, wheat, and other grains and processed legumes.Īnother important element in non-meat burgers is fillers, which you’ll find in just about any brand. Non-meat burgers, on the other hand, mimic beef very closely and tend to have much more protein than their veggie counterparts, with levels directly comparable to meat. Some are styled after meat, but most seem to do their own thing-you get the familiar shape of a burger, but not the familiar meaty flavor or texture. Veggie burgers are made primarily of vegetables like beans, greens, and mushrooms, plus grains and extras like onion, corn, and beets. Some of them, if you read the ingredients list, don’t have a single vegetable.” The distinction between veggie and non-meat burgers is important, Gans says, because some “are not made with just veggies. Both are vegetarian and most often vegan, but there can be major differences in their ingredient lists and nutrition. There are two main types of plant-based burgers: veggie burgers, which have been around forever, and non-meat burgers, which are newer to the market and simulate meat. But all the ingredients, options, and brands can turn a trip to the frozen aisle into a dilemma-which burger is right for you? Back up: What are veggie burgers made of? “I like to think of as an option that can create a 100% plant-based meal that perhaps you’re not getting on a regular basis.”īeyond the health benefits, plenty of veggie burgers simply taste great, especially with hearty ingredients like beans and grains. “ Research has shown that increased consumption of plant-based foods may help lower the risk for certain cancers, for heart disease, for high cholesterol,” says Keri Gans, M.S., R.D., author of The Small Change Diet. The positives of plant-based eating aren’t unique to vegans and vegetarians-anyone who emphasizes plants in their diet can start to feel healthier. If you’re starting to cut meat out of your diet (or simply looking to switch up your meatless meals), they can act like a bridge between meat and vegetables-you can almost trick yourself into eating less meat, without sacrificing those juicy, flavorful burgers in the process. Smells vinegary.Veggie burgers are more prominent than ever, with a new plant-based patty option popping up seemingly every week. Phuti Doesn't taste like beef, bland and grainy.Bronwyn I found it oily, fatty and mushy.However, quality is lacking and too fatty. Dean Didn't taste beefy but well seasoned. ![]() ![]() Phuti Well cooked, bit too smoky for me and it's a firm patty.Mia There's no aroma and needs more herbs and spices.Smuts Less beefy flavour but still good.Stefan Robust flavour, I like it a lot.Dean Great patty - juicy and tasty and left a great after-taste.Phuti Juicy, appealing from the get-go.Flavourful and beefy with perfect amount of salt. THE RESULTS BEEF BURGERS FIRST PLACE: CHECKERS Each category is judged out of 10 points: 10 is excellent, 5 average and 1 extremely poor.Īn auditor checks each score sheet and collates the results. The tasters undertake a blind tasting and the food is judged on a score sheet and is rated according to appearance, taste, quality of ingredients and whether the taster would consider buying the product. A food expert in the kitchen oversees the entire process. Items are categorised, numbered and stripped of all their packaging before being served. (In this case, the burger patties were cooked in identical griddle pans according to the package instructions.) We work with chefs who assist with any preparation that's necessary. (This one was made up of teachers from Bryanston High School.) The Taste & Tell series is a monthly feature where the same or similar supermarket items are put to a taste test by a panel. HOW WE CONDUCTED OUR TASTE TEST IT'S FREE AND FAIR!
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