How do they get veggie alternatives to taste like meat?

Question

I red on the back of a morning star box and it said it texturizes the soy and veggies to make it taste like meat. but my mom thinks they put chemicals in it is that true? Thinks like Veggie Chicken wings, Chocolate, etc soy and veggie burger I'm talking about. I don't really have a taste for meat, but l like the veggie alternatives.

My family is against the whole idea esp my granny and my mother. She tells me its stupid yet when ppl ask about it she say's she tried to be one for 4 months..........hmmmmmm
Their all about meat so converting them is a no no

Answer 1

Seasonings and texturization. A lot of the taste associated with meat, as another poster pointed out, is in the seasonings. So you use seasonings to give the soy and/or wheat a "meaty" flavor and use binders (sometimes natural, sometimes not) to texturize it.

Look for ingredients you can pronounce when looking for analogues. I'm a huge fan of Amy's (www.amys.com) because she doesn't use a lot of artificial ingredients in her products.

Answer 2

IMHO, veggie alternatives taste nothing like meat. I don't eat them because I used to eat meat, and I loved it, and fake meat just left me wondering why I decided to be a vegetarian after all if this is the c**p I'm going to have to eat my whole life.

Luckily for us, there are plenty of real foods that aren't meat that taste great being exactly what they're supposed to be. Beans, tofu - which is NOT a meat substitute as many think but a food in its own right with a rich culinary history and tradition - lentils, falafel, etc. are all delicious sources of protein. Instead of a veggie burger, throw a portobello mushroom cap on the grill, it's much tastier.

Answer 3

Most meat "tastes like meat" because of the spices in it actually. Think about it: most of the time, poultry is flavored with "poultry seasoning" which includes sage, thyme, marjoram... So if you add sage, thyme and marjoram to tofu, it may "taste like chicken." Same goes for sausage. If you have garlic, onion, thyme, rosemary, basil and oregano and red pepper all mixed in with your tofu and pack it into patties and fry it up, *tada* it tastes like sausage.

Similar thing happens when you "texturize" and process and flavor anything: Tofu, baked potato, flour... So the veggie alternatives are flavored, usually with "natural flavors" or spices, sometimes with chemical extracts (like monosodium glutemate or MSG), other times with vegetable extracts (like carrot, beet, and celery juice), and sometimes with Brewer's Yeast (gives a "cheesy" flavor)...

Most likely it's not "CHEMICALS" that are really bad for you, but it is best to stay away from processed foods of any kind, including canned veggies and lunchmeat-type stuff. Try to stick with natural fresh foods, and look up vegetarian or vegan recipes and make it yourself. Have fun!

Also, I do not like the taste of meat at all. I do however like the taste of some of the "veggie meats" because they do NOT taste like meat, nor do they have the same gristly texture. It's smoother, and "fresher" or something.

It is still hard for me to explain to my mom why I am vegetarian, let alone vegan. She doesn't get it AT ALL, and she keeps kosher!! If ANYONE should be accepting and understanding of someone else's dietary limitations, she should, but she's not.

I wouldn't worry about the family. You do what you can to explain the why's, but if they keep hounding you about it, just say "I have already given you my reasons for the way I eat. Please don't bring it up again."

Answer 4

Your mother is right. You'd be surprised the flavors that can be synthesized with chemicals. I toured a food show in Anaheim and I recall one crystal clear, viscous liquid that tasted exactly like a sharp cheddar cheese.

Most of the "fake meat" made for the veggie-head consumer is processed and chemically enhanced. Avoid them and avoid them chemicals that may have long term health risks.

Answer 5

I eat both, meat and the veggie alternatives. And the substitutes don't take that close.

If you never eat meat, you wouldn't know, that cause ya never eat meat.

I usually put BBQ sauce on my hamburger. I also put BBQ sauce on my veggie burgers. So they taste very similar. They both taste like BBQ sauce.

With really spicy sausage or other heavily processed meat, much of the flavor comes from the added spices and flavoring, add that same flavoring to tofu, it is gonna taste similar.

Answer 6

i have had some quorn burgers and they taste exactly like meet i think it actually tastes nicer jus try lots of different productas and see what you like and what you dont like

in the super market they do a vegetarian isle

dont give in with it

good luck

x x x x x

Answer 7

Veggie Burgers? Gross,Veggie chicken wings? Gross. Believe me if you're familiar with the real thing, those substitutes taste NOTHING like meat.

Answer 8

It's the seasoning and texturization. Any other additives are listed on the list of ingredients. Don't worry about your family, but at the same time, don't be obtrusive and irritating with your new lifestyle.

Answer 9

if you barbecue some not dogs or whatever

then put on tons of sauerkraut and relish and catsup

Answer 10

They process the hell out of it.