The Ultimate Veggie Burger Taste Test Slideshow

"Looks gray and tastes gray," said one taster. These veggie burgers have more brown rice than the others, with mushrooms and onions being the only discernible vegetable flavors (it's also held together with oats and mozzarella). The texture was soft and mealy, and the overall impression was that of a gray cardboard hockey puck. The cheese also boosted the fat content without adding much in the way of flavor. The only plus was that these were the least expensive of the bunch.

Nutrition
Fat: 6g
Calories: 150
Carbohydrates: 18g
Protein: 6g

These burgers contain mostly bell peppers, corn, zucchini, and onion, and while it smelled good and certainly looked the part, the flavor and texture left us wanting. "It tastes processed, and is very chewy," said one taster, while others felt that it "wasn't very satisfying." As for the "grilled vegetable" flavor advertised on the box, it was all but nonexistent.

Nutrition
Fat: 1g
Calories: 70
Carbohydrates: 7g
Protein: 12g

These patties contain mushrooms, onions, bulgur wheat, celery, carrots, oats, walnuts, and potatoes, which resulted in a flavor resembling "stale Thanksgiving stuffing in a patty form," according to one taster. The smell and look were also off-putting, and it could have used some salt. The texture was passable, however. These were also the most expensive of the bunch.

Nutrition
Fat: 5g
Calories: 150
Carbohydrates: 21g
Protein: 6g

These veggie-bombs pack in a ton of vegetables, including carrots, onion, string beans, soybeans, zucchini, peas, broccoli, corn, spinach, red peppers, garlic, and parsley, making them far and away the most veggie-full of the bunch. The flavor tastes just like that: mashed mixed vegetables, which was more appealing for some than others. There's not much in the way of binding agents in there so they fell apart. If you don't mind eating a patty of straight ground veggies and not much else, then this one's for you.

Nutrition
Fat: 5g
Calories: 110
Carbohydrates: 13g
Protein: 5g

The classic Gardenburger was generally well-liked, even though the only major vegetable flavors we detected were mushrooms and onions. "It's surprisingly juicy," said one taster, and others agreed that the cheese in there really gave the flavor a boost, and it had the most umami flavor of the bunch. The texture was varied and a little chewy, and one taster thought that it was too firm and found the smell to be "a little funky."

Nutrition
Fat: 3g
Calories: 100
Carbohydrates: 18g
Protein: 5g

These veggie burgers were very flavorful, and some clear thought went into the seasoning mix, which had a slight hint of curry. The primary ingredients in these are freekeh wheat, carrots, onions, celery, eggs, and bread crumbs, and the only complaint was that the texture was a little mushy. "It tastes like lots of healthy vegetables and grains," said one taster, and that combined with "a rich and good" flavor helped it rise above most of its competitors. These were larger than the rest of the bunch, too, which did contribute to a higher fat and calorie content, however. The price was right, though.

Nutrition
Fat: 11g
Calories: 230
Carbohydrates: 28g
Protein: 5g

The universal choice of favorite veggie burger was the one offered by Morningstar Farms. Containing mushrooms, water chestnuts, onions, carrots, bell peppers, olives, egg whites, olives, and rolled oats, it was loaded with veggies and also had a crisp, satisfying flavor. The texture was right in the middle ground between soft and firm and there was "a good mix of vegetables and natural fried crisp-ness," according to one taster, even though they're not fried. The seasoning blend used gave these patties an umami-rich meatiness that everyone agreed with. "I'd actually consider eating these regularly," said one taster, which is a high compliment for a carnivore to bestow on a veggie burger. They also were high in protein and low in fat and calories.

Nutrition
Fat: 3.5g
Calories: 110
Carbohydrates: 9g
Protein: 10g