Last Night I Ate A Hamburger . . . .

[BonzaiDuck]

I'm a 21st century Wimpie. I know I have to drastically cut back on red meat for my diabetes, my blood pressure, my cholesterol and maybe my kidneys.

I finally did a search on veggie burgers, their cost and viability as a beef substitute. Out of about 14 options, I found this:

Impossible Burgers -- 24 oz -- 6 patties -- about $15 at the right grocery

As a burger connoisseur -- who makes the best burgers I've ever eaten -- these taste like burgers, have the consistency of burgers, cook like burgers.

They may be worth the roughly $2.50 to $3 per pattie. I swear if there were anything hinky or wrong with how these burgers taste or chew, if I'd think right away that they weren't beef, I'd never want another one.

But these . . . . . . are freaking hamburgers. I think if I order $50-worth from Amazon for $12 each, I can get free shipping. The vendor apparently isn't covered by Prime membership for free shipping.

"I'll gladly pay you Tuesday for Impossible Burgers today . . . " -- with my Amazon card.

Anyway, a "real" burger at a drive-thru like In-and-Out or Burger King is going to cost you closer to $10. So buying these makes sense. I'm going to fix another one tonight. I can eat as many burgers as I want!

 

[balloonshark]

Burger King has the Impossible Whopper. I occasionally get the combo with fries and a drink which costs around $12 without cheese. If you want to stay plant-based order it without mayo.

You can also easily make veggie burgers with canned beans, whatever veggies you have on hand and rolled oats. You can use smoked paprika or liquid smoke to give them grilled flavor. It's also kind of cool that you can taste them raw.

Sauch Stache on youtube has been eating healthier lately but his older vids have a ton of fake meat recipes.

 

[mindless1]

^ I'll eat beans plain, or soup, or refried, not against eating beans but every veggie burger made with them has... sucked.

I sometimes get Morning star farms grillers which are soy based faux beef, and they aren't bad, but I just consider them a different type of meat as it isn't close at all to real ground beef, and it's very easy to microwave them too long and have them turn out like rubber from drying out too much. It helps to wet them before microwaving no more than 1 minute at 1200W. They're about $1 per 2.25oz patty.

I mainly eat them when I don't want to spend the time to thaw and cook ground beef, because I buy it in bulk and freeze it all in 1/4 lb chunks. I've bought a few cans of auguson farms TVP beef crumbles as well, and they can be acceptable in certain dishes but are on the salty side. I once got a can of their taco flavored crumbles and they work for tacos if mixed 1:1 with regular beef taco meat, but I decided I didn't want the extra prep step even though I also make taco meat ahead of time and freeze it in meal portions.

Fast food prices for burgers have gotten so outrageous that I'd just as soon make a ground taco meat or chicken burrito, freeze it ahead of time, take it with me on the go and have it thawing over the next few hours and eat it cold if I needed food on the go. I bulk freeze burritos too and don't mind eating them cold, but at home they get nuked for a minute then a toaster oven till golden brown.

 

[Greenman]

I'm so lucky that my wife cooks and bakes, and does both well. I'd starve to death left to my own devices.

 

[BonzaiDuck]

Burger King has the Impossible Whopper. I occasionally get the combo with fries and a drink which costs around $12 without cheese. If you want to stay plant-based order it without mayo.

You can also easily make veggie burgers with canned beans, whatever veggies you have on hand and rolled oats. You can use smoked paprika or liquid smoke to give them grilled flavor. It's also kind of cool that you can taste them raw.

Sauch Stache on youtube has been eating healthier lately but his older vids have a ton of fake meat recipes.

I think it would be too hard to make a veggie-burger like the Impossible to match the latter's flavor.

I once "stole" a recipe from Davide Ristorante in San Rafael, but was misled by the waiter about the sauce when he mentioned "something like Tabasco". It took me six months to figure out what was really needed before I could replicate the Spinach and pasta sauce Capellini. The salad on the other hand was easy: Arugula with sliced pickled beets, gorgonzola chunks, walnuts and fresh sliced onion with a blueberry vinaigrette. Pickled artichoke hearts or Anchovy might be further options, But the restaurant didn't use anything additional.

Instead of six months'-worth of experiments, I'll just buy the IMPOSSIBLE. Even if you enjoy cooking, a person begins to make these sorts of choices as they grow old.

 

[Iron Woode]

I don't eat much beef anymore due to the expense. There are alternative meats that are just as good. I use ground turkey instead of beef for most things. It's way cheaper and just as tasty.

I also eat fish which is very good for you. For burgers, I use lean ground pork. I don't miss beef burgers at all.

 

[BonzaiDuck]

I don't eat much beef anymore due to the expense. There are alternative meats that are just as good. I use ground turkey instead of beef for most things. It's way cheaper and just as tasty.

I also eat fish which is very good for you. For burgers, I use lean ground pork. I don't miss beef burgers at all.

I've been increasing my fish and fowl consumption. You can make good TACO meat from turkey. It can also be used for a combo burrito.

Everybody tells me to cut back on red meat consumption when I love my burgers and pot roast. These IMPOSSIBLE burgers have only one drawback -- which you mention regarding red meat: they cost more money.

I think I may try your pork burgers, or perfect a recipe for pork-based sloppy Joes.

 

[balloonshark]

^ I'll eat beans plain, or soup, or refried, not against eating beans but every veggie burger made with them has... sucked.

I sometimes get Morning star farms grillers which are soy based faux beef, and they aren't bad, but I just consider them a different type of meat as it isn't close at all to real ground beef, and it's very easy to microwave them too long and have them turn out like rubber from drying out too much. It helps to wet them before microwaving no more than 1 minute at 1200W. They're about $1 per 2.25oz patty.

I mainly eat them when I don't want to spend the time to thaw and cook ground beef, because I buy it in bulk and freeze it all in 1/4 lb chunks. I've bought a few cans of auguson farms TVP beef crumbles as well, and they can be acceptable in certain dishes but are on the salty side. I once got a can of their taco flavored crumbles and they work for tacos if mixed 1:1 with regular beef taco meat, but I decided I didn't want the extra prep step even though I also make taco meat ahead of time and freeze it in meal portions.

Fast food prices for burgers have gotten so outrageous that I'd just as soon make a ground taco meat or chicken burrito, freeze it ahead of time, take it with me on the go and have it thawing over the next few hours and eat it cold if I needed food on the go. I bulk freeze burritos too and don't mind eating them cold, but at home they get nuked for a minute then a toaster oven till golden brown.

I'm a fan of beans so making a burger with them is like a hamburger just a little different. I don't expect it to taste like a burger though.

When I first went plant based I tried Morningstar burgers but when I got home I discovered they had milk and egg in their ingredient list. At my walmart it looks like they only have one burger (Vegan Garden Veggie) without those ingredients. I also think I tried their sausage crumbles and they were really good. The corn dogs are also yummy.

I agree with you about the fast food burger prices. I recently tried Amy's plant-based chili which is good. It's less than $4 so way cheaper than a fast food meal.

 

[BonzaiDuck]

I'm a fan of beans so making a burger with them is like a hamburger just a little different. I don't expect it to taste like a burger though.

When I first went plant based I tried Morningstar burgers but when I got home I discovered they had milk and egg in their ingredient list. At my walmart it looks like they only have one burger (Vegan Garden Veggie) without those ingredients. I also think I tried their sausage crumbles and they were really good. The corn dogs are also yummy.

I agree with you about the fast food burger prices. I recently tried Amy's plant-based chili which is good. It's less than $4 so way cheaper than a fast food meal.

I would eat a veggie burger if I had to, if it was easy to fix and I had little time and energy otherwise. But I never thought they came close enough, nor close enough to incline me to purchase them.

The IMPOSSIBLE Burgers, however, surpass "close enough", and I swear -- I cannot taste the difference, after a lifetime of meat hamburgers from the time my father fixed them on the grill when I was 5 years old.

However, I am now fishing for a lunch plan. I don't have any plant-based chili "con carne" -- which you mentioned -- but several cans of the meat-based chili.

I'm going to fix me some. Now. To-Dayyy! Meanwhile, in the 93F heat, I've harvested oversized zucchini and ripe tomatoes from my garden. I still need to pick up items at the grocery. So I must venture out into the So-Cal sunshine and heat. Such is life.

I'd better have the chili now, to temper my grocery-shopping impulse buys . . . .

. . . Not doing the chili. I had some stewed asparagus, so warmed up with butter chips. I decided to do another veggie burger. So strange! No meat in the meal, but I can make myself think it's meat . . .

 

[balloonshark]

I would eat a veggie burger if I had to, if it was easy to fix and I had little time and energy otherwise. But I never thought they came close enough, nor close enough to incline me to purchase them.

The IMPOSSIBLE Burgers, however, surpass "close enough", and I swear -- I cannot taste the difference, after a lifetime of meat hamburgers from the time my father fixed them on the grill when I was 5 years old.

However, I am now fishing for a lunch plan. I don't have any plant-based chili "con carne" -- which you mentioned -- but several cans of the meat-based chili.

I'm going to fix me some. Now. To-Dayyy! Meanwhile, in the 93F heat, I've harvested oversized zucchini and ripe tomatoes from my garden. I still need to pick up items at the grocery. So I must venture out into the So-Cal sunshine and heat. Such is life.

I'd better have the chili now, to temper my grocery-shopping impulse buys . . . .

Normally when I make a black bean burger I use a food processor. I do admit I hate cleaning it after dinner.

I like how the Impossible burgers get crispy and char when frying them in a pan. Just thinking about it makes me hungry.

 

[esquared]

I've been increasing my fish and fowl consumption. You can make good TACO meat from turkey. It can also be used for a combo burrito.

Everybody tells me to cut back on red meat consumption when I love my burgers and pot roast. These IMPOSSIBLE burgers have only one drawback -- which you mention regarding red meat: they cost more money.

I think I may try your pork burgers, or perfect a recipe for pork-based sloppy Joes.

Funny you posted this. Last night I bought a Beyond Meat (a competitor to Impossible Burger) Sweet Onion Burger at Grocery Outlet.
I've had both Impossible and Beyond Meat burger and I can't really taste the difference.
The Sweet Onion version was two, 4 oz burger patties for 4.99. So around 10.00 /lb. I pan cooked it and added my condiments,
relish, dill pickle, mustard tomato and lettuce. I couldn't tell the difference between that and a real burger. That's just me.
They also had a jalapeno/cheddar pattie, which I didn't buy, but may try it out next time.

Plant Based Meat Products | Vegetarian Meat | Beyond Meat

From breakfast sausages to burgers & brats, our Plant-Based meat products leave you feeling satisfied. Stock up in the meat aisle & head to the nearest cookout!

www.beyondmeat.com

 

[BonzaiDuck]

Funny you posted this. Last night I bought a Beyond Meat (a competitor to Impossible Burger) Sweet Onion Burger at Grocery Outlet.
I've had both Impossible and Beyond Meat burger and I can't really taste the difference.
The Sweet Onion version was two, 4 oz burger patties for 4.99. So around 10.00 /lb. I pan cooked it and added my condiments,
relish, dill pickle, mustard tomato and lettuce. I couldn't tell the difference between that and a real burger. That's just me.
They also had a jalapeno/cheddar pattie, which I didn't buy, but may try it out next time.

Plant Based Meat Products | Vegetarian Meat | Beyond Meat

From breakfast sausages to burgers & brats, our Plant-Based meat products leave you feeling satisfied. Stock up in the meat aisle & head to the nearest cookout!

www.beyondmeat.com

It's nice to hear someone else further verify that there are veggie burgers that taste indistinguishable from real burgers. I will attempt to find Beyond Meat product so I have more options. The groceries seem to primarily stock their shelves for younger, healthier people without "diagnoses".

But I've finally come to terms and accept the wisdom of reducing the consumption of certain things, and these substitutes or replacements are of great comfort to me.

TODAY: Found the Beyond Meat burgers 32oz 8-pack at a local grocery for something less than $17. Gonna get me some.

TWO BEYOND BURGERS LATER: Just as good as IMPOSSIBLE -- thanks for the tip!