Can You Eat Uncooked Impossible Meat?

Impossible Meat took the plant-based world by storm in 2016. Between 2014 and 2017, the number of vegans in the United States increased by a whopping 600%. Unsurprisingly, the corresponding market for plant-based foods rose in tandem, increasing by 17% and reaching a net worth of $3.7 billion by 2018, according to Forbes. With followers of vegan and plant-based diets on the rise, it makes sense that more and more companies would be looking for a way to fill the growing demand for quality, satisfying, plant-based protein. And Impossible Meats set out to do just that.

Started by Stanford University Professor Dr. Patrick O. Brown, the professor took a sabbatical from his teaching position to focus on finding a way to develop a more sustainable global food system (per Impossible Foods). In 2016, the company launched its first item — the Impossible Burger. Impossible Meat aimed to set itself apart from other veggie burgers on the market by delivering a patty whose umami texture and juicy, savory flavor was just about indistinguishable from real meat.

But how exactly did the Vegan Impossible Burger, which is made entirely from plants, create that rich, umami flavor? It turns out, it all comes from a small, plant-based molecule called heme. According to the Auguste Escoffier School of Culinary Arts, the molecule is rich in iron and is naturally occurring in hemoglobin, a protein that is found in the blood or muscle of animals and people. Therefore, it's a big part of what gives a burger patty its juicy texture, flavor, and color. In fact, it is "what makes meat taste like meat," according to Impossible Foods.

However, this molecule is not only found in animal sources. Small quantities of heme can also be found in the roots of soybean plants. Impossible Foods decided the best way to replicate the experience of eating a real burger was by extracting heme from plant-based sources. To create its impossibly meaty vegan patties, the company's scientists extract the heme from soybean plants and insert it into genetically engineered yeast, which is then fermented. This entirely plant-based heme is then used to craft a juicy, meaty patty. The result is a vegan burger that cooks, looks, and tastes just like real meat, with no animal products required.

Recently, Impossible Meat's similarity to meat has caused some people to wonder; exactly how similar to meat is this plant-based patty? Since part of Impossible Burger's appeal is the fact that it sizzles and cooks just like beef burgers, some people have been wondering if they can order it rare. In most restaurants, patrons have the option to choose if they want their burger cooked rare, medium, or well done. But vegetarians have never been afforded that option, at least, not until now. With these juicy, heme-based patties, could vegans have the option to safely order their burgers rare? And is it safe to eat the patty if it is undercooked, or even raw?

It turns out, the answer is yes, but with a pretty big caveat. A spokesperson for Impossible Foods explained to The Takeout that, while eating a raw Impossible Burger isn't quite the same as eating raw beef, it's still not recommended. "Impossible products should be handled with the same caution as any other raw protein, and it's important to remember that there are always risks to consuming raw or undercooked foods," they advised. The spokesperson further added that, much like real meat, "our products were made to be cooked, in order to achieve the best sensory, texture and visual experience." So while it seems that it won't necessarily be harmful to order your next Impossible Burger rare, it's not advised by its creators.