How can boca burgers taste like meat if they are not made out of meat?

Question

What are they made out of?

I have only HEARD that they taste like meat, I have never actually tasted one. Are they really unhealthy tough?

Answer 1

Vegetarian here!

The quality of faked meat is very different between the companies who offers their products. Boca is a company of Kraft, while Morningstar Farms belongs to Kellogg's. Both have great and bad stuff, depending maybe on your taste.
The texture is very well copied, it is actually made of Gluten, a by-product of wheat (which is a grain). They add flavours like salt, sugar and yeast, and who-knows-what. As long as it is vegetarian, it is ok for me. But of course it is not healthfood.

Gardenburger is an independent company who offers almost the same stuff as the two big ones, but they have lost on the market, it seems. Maybe Kraft and Kellogg's are dumping the prices so much that a private company cannot compete anymore. The quality of Gardenburger meat is actually better then Boca's or Morningstar Farm's. If you ever find Gardenburger's Riblets, try that! We are in PA and buy it at Walmart.

Quorn is an english company who makes wonderful chicken tenders. My sister was visiting this year and she said they actually taste like chicken. I wouldn't know it, I am a vegetarian since 1984. But she eats meat at home, so she should know.

With those chicken tenders (from Quorn) you ca do any recipe you want, anything that requires chicken in it will do. I cook them in broth with noodles and vegetables as a soup, I use it in asian stirfires and anything where you want chicken in.

All these companies have websites, you can find out more about their products there.

More companies that make lunchmeat and other meat-fakes: Lightlife, Yves, Tofurkey.

I am so glad we have that now, because the 80s were pretty sad without them. In the old days we had only Tofu, and THAT was really bad (because tasteless). With the invention of Seitan (made of Gluten) all changed, and my cuisine is so much richer now.

I hope you will try it and not just think it is junk. It might not be health food (because of the sugar and salt in it), but believe me: compared to animal meat it is healthy. No hormones, no antibiotica, no torture involved.

Answer 2

Nothing vegetarian is unhealthy. Boca burgers are soy...I loved meat but I didn't like the way the animals were treated. If you don't like the tase of meat then don't try one but if you do....you won't believe how good they are. They are actually better tasting than flesh as is all the soy meats. The first answer you got here is obviously from a meat eater....all real flesh has added seasonings or they wouldn't have flavor.

Answer 3

Like someone else already mentioned, I think it's more about texture than the taste of it. I think some meat alternatives add flavors, kind of like tha liquid smoke you'd add to meat to make it smell & taste like it's been BBQ'd.
I'm not crazy about Boca burger patties. I do really like their meat crumbles & use them in mexican & pasta dishes.
If you want to try a good veggie burger patty, I recommend Morning Star Farms tomato & basil patty or the "veggie burger". Both are yummy!

Answer 4

Um, they're made of soy usually. But I don't think it tastes like meat. Supposedly has a patty, burger texture...but I rather prefer the boca texture vs actual hamburger texture. Way healthier than a regular burger too, as they have like 4x less saturated fat.

Answer 5

I don't think that it's so much the taste, but rather the texture that makes you think you are eating meat and therefore your brain is telling you that it tastes like meat (sort of). LOL

Answer 6

They don't taste like meat,they are an alternative to burgers for vegans.

Answer 7

Soy with added flavoring and chemicals. But they don't really taste like meat if you ask me.

Answer 8

Read the label... they are made out of a whole lotta' stuff. Don't, under any circumstances, eat them however. They are NOT healthfood. Research MSG, monosodium glutamate, and it's potential side effects and legal labelling practices.

(incidentally the hidden msg has a lot to do with why they taste like meat. Umami, the fifth taste, (after sweet, sour, bitter, and salty) is also referred to as meatiness or savory sometimes.)

Answer 9

They don't taste like meat, and they're not supposed to - they have their own taste, and I love them! Especially grilled, topped with melted cheese and sauted onions & mushrooms.... yum!

Answer 10

Soy protein and a lot of other stuff, I like veggie corn dogs better.