Review of Beyond Meat's Beyond Burger
As a Canadian, anytime I find myself in the United States, I make a plan to try as many vegan products and meals as possible that are not yet available up north. So far that list has featured by CHLOE., Yard House’s The Vegan Burger, Ben & Jerry’s non-dairy ice creams, and the Impossible Burger.
On a recent trip to Fort Lauderdale, I checked to see if any nearby restaurants or supermarkets carried Beyond Meat’s Beyond Burger. I assumed not, and was right. However, when I went to a local Whole Foods Market, I still checked to see if it was there (I am an eternal optimist) but there was nothing of the sort in the frozen meat section, and the workers in that area had no idea what I was talking about. That’s why I was really pleasantly surprised when I headed over to the Alternative Meats section in defeat and saw this:
I grabbed the $5.99 pack-still in disbelief-and decided to try it that night. Since I had no access to a barbecue, I settled on pan-frying the burgers per the instructions on the package (about 3 minutes on medium-high heat on each side). I almost added oil to the pan but was so happy with my decision not to since the burgers release a lot of their own red-hued oil-essentially bleeding (beet blood)-while cooking.
By this point, it started to smell really similar to what I remember meat smelling like-just slightly milder. After cooking them for about 3.5 minutes on each side, I turned off the heat and let the burgers sit a little longer in the pan to soak up their own juices. I decided to have mine in a pita with pickles, onions and some mustard, but cut off a small piece first to try it on its own. The juiciness of the burger was really apparent when I cut it:
After trying the small piece free of any toppings, I can say that I really enjoyed the taste. While it is milder than what I remember meat burgers tasting like, I think that is a good thing. The moisture-packed patty and overall flavor really made the burger delicious, and I appreciated how thick each individual patty was, making the $5.99 price tag seem more justifiable. My sister, who does eat meat, ate the second patty and right away noted how it “looked, smelled and tasted like meat.” We both agreed it would be fantastic barbecued, and when the Beyond Burger makes its way over to Canada, that’s exactly what I plan on doing.
The other thing I wanted to note with this burger was that after eating it I didn’t feel weighed down or stuffed in the same way I used to feel after eating meat. While it was definitely filling, the pea-based patty was much lighter in terms of its overall effect. All in all, I am happy to agree with the Washington Post‘s assessment that “the results lived up to the hype.” Here’s hoping that they make their way to Canada fast!
Okay, I will grant that the burger seems to be moist and juicy, even when cooked to the desired temperature of 165 F (74C). But to me the flavor was awful. Beyond Burgers list the main ingredient of pea flour. I do like peas, pea soup, even raw peas. But this burger left a bad odor in my kitchen and an after taste that even overwhelmed the added fixings (sliced tomato, onions, pickle slices, catsup and mustard). They need to go back to the drawing board on this product! The look and texture are good. However, the smell and taste need a lot more work and testing!
I agree with JH. In fact, I even feel slightly nauseated a week later when I think about its smell, taste, and mushy texture. I did notice that the really crunchy pieces that feel off of it in the pan tasted much better than the whole burger, so I think I might break apart the remaining burger, fry the heck out of the crumbles and mix it in with some fried potatoes, mushrooms, onions, and green peppers for a breakfast hash. But just the thought of that smell makes me think I might just have to chuck it, even though I hate wasting food.
I also agree with JH. I was soooo excited to potentially have a vburger I could love and it seemed my wish was fulfilled while eating it. Sadly not long after finishing my burger, a horrible aftertaste that reminds me of liver I ate as a kid settled in and lingered for hours. I bought a second package in hopes it was just an aberration but alas, no.
My daughter and I just tried these burgers and I also agree with Mr. Hamilton. The texture was fine but the weird, greasy aftertaste and the amount of oil that came out of it were off-putting. We ate both patties but I won’t be purchasing again.
I tried my first Beyond Burger last week. After eating assorted veggie burgers in different restaurants and not liking any except Black bean burgers I was not expecting much. Wow I have been 100% vegetarian for 5 years and miss the smell and taste of meat once in while. Well no longer I went to Whole Foods the next day and bought 4 of the 5 packages on the shelf. They taste wonderful and I love that I don’t need to Freeze them ust eat them buy the date on the label. I did use cooking oil and combined with the juices from the Burgers it wasn’t needed. So tonight I will have two again but without oil too see how that goes. Since I have had no Meat or Chicken or Fish for 5 1/2 years these Burgers taste just like meat to me. I am hooked for life. I just need to find additional stores that sell them where I live. Amazon charges the same price as Whole Foods but want you to join a club called Prime Fresh or something for an additional $14.99 a month even if you order nothing. Screw that.
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I think these taste fine, but I have tried these twice and gotten nauseated and severely bloated. The taste it left in my mouth made it even worse. Ick.