What is Impossible™ burger made of?

Impossible™ Burger is winning the hearts (and stomachs!) of consumers, celebrities, and chefs around the world. Why? Because it tastes like ground beef*, without the cow! Our team has spent years researching what makes meat taste like meat, and we found the answer -- using plants. 

The results are pretty amazing if we do say so ourselves. But don’t just take it from us, try it out for yourself. Our products are available in grocery stores and restaurants nationwide. Before you try, we bet you have a few questions, and we have the answers. Keep reading to learn everything you need to know about our ingredients and how we create the unmistakable taste of Impossible Burger. 

WHAT IS IMPOSSIBLE BURGER?

Impossible Burger is meat made from plants that tastes and cooks like ground beef*,  for people who love meat. It’s an extremely delicious and versatile ingredient that is a 1:1 substitute for meat, but is way better for the planet — it uses 96% less land, 87% less water, and 89% less greenhouse gas emissions than beef from a cow. 

Each 4 ounce serving has the same amount of protein as 80/20 lean ground beef (19g) but doesn’t contain any animal hormones or antibiotics. And because the taste is so delicious, Impossible Burger can be used in any recipe that calls for meat -- tacos, sliders, chili, lasagna, you name it! 

WHAT ARE THE INGREDIENTS IN IMPOSSIBLE BURGER? 

When Impossible Burger started back in 2011, we had  one simple question: "What makes meat taste like meat?" We answered that question—and then we figured out how to make it from plants! 

How did we do it? All credit goes to our team of scientists, researchers, and chefs, who  spent countless hours researching and analyzing animal meat on every possible level to learn what makes it meaty and how to recreate that experience. 

From that research, we’ve put together a mix of ingredients that work together to create a truly satisfying meat experience with all the characteristics you’ve come to know and love in beef from cows: 

• Protein from soy and potatoes provides a meaty bite and mouthfeel.

• Heme, a molecule found in all living things, gives Impossible Burger its unmistakably meaty flavor (Learn more about how we make heme).

• Coconut oil, sunflower oil, and binders are used as texturizers to provide Impossible Burger with that perfect sizzle and juiciness.

Add it all up, and you get meat made from plants that’s just as tasty, versatile, and protein-packed as meat from cows. And you can use it in all the ways you use ground beef.

WHY DOES IMPOSSIBLE BURGER USE SOY?

Much of the protein in Impossible Burger is derived from soy protein concentrate. We use  soy because we can source it sustainably and it’s highly comparable to animal protein in terms of protein quality, along with being an excellent source of fiber and essential nutrients like folate, copper, magnesium, manganese, molybdenum, potassium, phosphorus, and iron.

Although scientific consensus widely confirms the health benefits of soy, some concerns about its safety persist despite these claims lacking a factual basis. Read more about why we use soy.

DOES IMPOSSIBLE BURGER CONTAIN ANY ALLERGENS?

Impossible Burger contains soy. Along with soy, Impossible Burger also contains coconut oil. Note that while the FDA does classify coconuts as tree nuts, refined coconut is not considered an allergen. If you have other food allergies or sensitivities, we encourage you to review our ingredient list to ensure our product is safe for you to consume. 

Impossible Burger is filled with tasty, balanced ingredients you’re probably already familiar with. If you’re nut-free, gluten-free, dairy-free, peanut-free, vegan or kosher, Impossible Burger is for you! 

HOW DOES IMPOSSIBLE BURGER COMPARE TO A BEEF BURGER?

Both chefs and meat-lovers routinely say they are surprised by how similar the Impossible Burger’s flavor and texture is to beef. When cooking Impossible Burger, you’ll immediately notice that it crisps up on the outside just like beef and has a pink and juicy center when cooked medium-well, along with that familiar and satiating meat flavor.

Compared to 80/20 ground beef from cows, Impossible Burger contains:

• 35% less total fat**

• 0 mg cholesterol (14g total fat and 8 g saturated fat) per 4 oz serving

• 7X more of the daily value of calcium***

• Is a good source of dietary fiber (3g per 4 oz serving)

• Is packed with essential nutrients like calcium, potassium, riboflavin, phosphorous, iron, thiamin, niacin, vitamin B6, folate, vitamin B12, and zinc

And Impossible Burger shrinks up to 28% less than 80/20 ground beef, so you get more burgers for your buck!

WHAT DOES IMPOSSIBLE BURGER TASTE LIKE?

Delicious! If you love ground beef from cows, you’ll love Impossible Burger. Don’t just take it from us -- nearly 75% of people who try Impossible Burger report that it satisfies their cravings like ground beef from cows****.

"Nobody will miss the beef, Impossible (burger) is delicious! It's just a damn tasty burger! i loved that impossible (burger) can be seared on the outside with a rosie juicy inside, just like a medium cooked beef burger."

- Chef Craig Wong, Patois

 GET STARTED WITH IMPOSSIBLE BURGER

Now that you know all about the ingredients and nutritional aspects of Impossible Burger, it’s time to get cooking.  Need to stock up? Get Impossible Burger shipped directly to your door or use our locator page to find retailers selling Impossible Burger near you. 

Browse our recipes page, where you’ll find amazing recipes from our culinary team and guest chefs that touch on cuisines all around the globe—from comfort foods to local favorites and everything in between.

Need some tips on cooking Impossible Burger? Check out our blog on how to cook Impossible Burger at home.

* In a home usage study, 70% of 254 consumers who cooked with Impossible Burger thought the taste was comparable to or better than ground beef from cows.

** USDA 80/20 ground beef contains 23 g total fat, while the Impossible Burger contains 14 g total fat per 4 oz serving

*** USDA 80/20 ground beef contains 2% DV of calcium while the Impossible Burger contains 15% DV of calcium per 4 oz serving.

**** In a home usage study, 76% of 254 consumers said Impossible Burger satisfied their beef cravings as well as or better than ground beef from cows.