Comparison of the Cooking Behaviors of Meat and Plant-Based Meat Analogues: Appearance, Texture, and Fluid Holding PropertiesClick to copy article linkArticle link copied!
- Hualu ZhouHualu ZhouBiopolymers and Colloids Laboratory, Department of Food Science, University of Massachusetts Amherst, Amherst, Massachusetts 01003, United StatesMore by Hualu Zhou
- Giang VuGiang VuBiopolymers and Colloids Laboratory, Department of Food Science, University of Massachusetts Amherst, Amherst, Massachusetts 01003, United StatesMore by Giang Vu
- Xiping GongXiping GongDepartment of Chemistry, University of Massachusetts Amherst, Amherst, Massachusetts 01003, United StatesMore by Xiping Gong
- David Julian McClements*David Julian McClements*Email: [email protected]. Tel/Fax: (413) 545-2275/545-1262.Biopolymers and Colloids Laboratory, Department of Food Science, University of Massachusetts Amherst, Amherst, Massachusetts 01003, United StatesDepartment of Food Science & Bioengineering, Zhejiang Gongshang University, 18 Xuezheng Street, Hangzhou 310018, ChinaMore by David Julian McClements
Abstract

Standardized methods are required to quantify the changes in the quality attributes of plant-based meat analogues when they are cooked and to establish the similarities and differences of their physicochemical attributes to real meat products. We therefore proposed testing protocols to characterize important physicochemical attributes of beef burgers and their plant-based (PB) analogues, including appearance, cooking loss, water holding capacity, and textural profile. The protocols are relatively simple to perform and provide quantitative data for the assessment. Their efficacy was established by measuring and comparing the physicochemical properties of 10 commercial real and PB beef burgers. A principal component analysis model showed appreciable differences in the cooking loss and texture profile properties, indicating that further research is still required to create high-quality PB products.
Cited By
Smart citations by scite.ai include citation statements extracted from the full text of the citing article. The number of the statements may be higher than the number of citations provided by ACS Publications if one paper cites another multiple times or lower if scite has not yet processed some of the citing articles.
This article is cited by 44 publications.
- Raquel Lucas-González, Carmen Botella-Martínez, Manuel Salgado-Ramos, Noelia Pallarés, Pedro V. Martínez-Culebras, Francisco J. Barba, Juana Fernández-López. Upcycling supercritical-CO2-defatted tiger nut milk Co-products into pork burgers: A sustainable fat replacer with enhanced quality properties. Future Foods 2025, 11 , 100542. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fufo.2025.100542
- Júlia Moraes da Costa Marques, Bruno Dutra da Silva, Ana Júlia Bento do Amaral, Gabriela Hsieh Min Yi, Luiz Torres Neto, Juliana Fidelis dos Santos Ferreira, Maria Lúcia Guerra Monteiro, Carlos Adam Conte-Junior. How does UVC-LED combined vacuum packaging impact pea protein-based patties?. Food and Humanity 2025, 4 , 100621. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.foohum.2025.100621
- Irene Peñaranda, María Belén López Morales, María Dolores Garrido, Macarena Egea. Plant-Based Burgers with Reduced Texture Additives: A Comparative Study of Methylcellulose and Sodium Alginate. Foods 2025, 14
(8)
, 1373. https://doi.org/10.3390/foods14081373
- Minji Choi, Hyun Woo Choi, Yaeji Choe, Jungwoo Hahn, Young Jin Choi. Development of emulsion gels as animal fat analogs: The impact of soybean and coconut oil concentration on rheological and microstructural properties. Food Chemistry: X 2025, 27 , 102439. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fochx.2025.102439
- Woo-Ju Kim, Yoonbin Kim, Yixing Lu, Reza Ovissipour, Nitin Nitin. Evaluation of plant-based composite materials as 3D printed scaffolds for cell growth and proliferation in cultivated meat applications. Food Hydrocolloids 2025, 160 , 110823. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.foodhyd.2024.110823
- Yue Fan, Pratheep K. Annamalai, Bhesh Bhandari, Sangeeta Prakash. Characteristics of faba bean protein-based high-moisture meat analogues incorporating brewers' spent grain through extrusion. Innovative Food Science & Emerging Technologies 2025, 100 , 103919. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ifset.2025.103919
- Sisheng Li, Minna Luo, Siu Wong, Yuzhen Zhang, Hang Xiao, David Julian McClements. Iron Bioavailability: A Comparative Study of Plant-Based and Animal-Based Burgers. Food Biophysics 2025, 20
(1)
https://doi.org/10.1007/s11483-025-09945-y
- Awanish Singh, Nandan Sit. Optimization of ingredient composition for meat analogue prepared from Manila tamarind protein isolate by freeze texturization. International Journal of Gastronomy and Food Science 2025, 39 , 101095. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijgfs.2024.101095
- Sisheng Li, Minna Luo, Xiaoyan Hu, Weixin Yan, Jaekun Ryu, David Julian McClements. Creation of novel animal protein substitutes with potato protein and gellan gum: Control of food texture, color, and shape. Food Hydrocolloids 2025, 158 , 110510. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.foodhyd.2024.110510
- Jean-Baptiste R.G. Souppez, Benjamin A.S. Dages, Geethanjali S. Pavar, Jack Fabian, Jason M. Thomas, Eirini Theodosiou. Mechanical properties and texture profile analysis of beef burgers and plant-based analogues. Journal of Food Engineering 2025, 385 , 112259. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jfoodeng.2024.112259
- Disha Jayakumar, Ramdattu Santhapur, David Julian McClements. Preparation and Characterization of Plant Protein-Mushroom Hybrids: Toward more Healthy and Sustainable Foods. Food Biophysics 2024, 19
(4)
, 1077-1094. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11483-024-09879-x
- Sisheng Li, Minna Luo, Minghe Wang, Xiaoyan Hu, Jaekun Ryu, David Julian McClements. Development of novel protein-rich foods: Studies of composite hydrogels formed from potato proteins and gellan gums with different degrees of acylation. Food Hydrocolloids 2024, 157 , 110387. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.foodhyd.2024.110387
- Woo-Ju Kim, Yoonbin Kim, Reza Ovissipour, Nitin Nitin. Plant-based biomaterials as scaffolds for cellular agriculture. Future Foods 2024, 10 , 100468. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fufo.2024.100468
- Arshia Shireen, Amanda J. Wright. The meat of the matter: plant-based meat analogue versus traditional meat product nutritional quality. Food Science and Human Wellness 2024, 13
(6)
, 3110-3125. https://doi.org/10.26599/FSHW.2023.9250003
- Irene Peñaranda, M Dolores Garrido. Viability of fructooligosaccharides as substitutes for methylcellulose reduction in plant-based burgers. Food Hydrocolloids 2024, 154 , 110104. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.foodhyd.2024.110104
- Hualu Zhou, Giang Vu, Qian Ju, David Julian McClements. Development of plant-based whole egg analogs using emulsion technology. Food Research International 2024, 187 , 114406. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.foodres.2024.114406
- Ramdattu Santhapur, Disha Jayakumar, David McClements. Development and Characterization of Hybrid Meat Analogs from Whey Protein-Mushroom Composite Hydrogels. Gels 2024, 10
(7)
, 446. https://doi.org/10.3390/gels10070446
- Changtai Zhang, Xiaohui Wu, Jian Chen, Jingwen Zhou. Novel fungal alternative proteins from Penicillium limosum for enhancing structural and functional properties of plant-based meat analogues. Food Chemistry 2024, 444 , 138627. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.foodchem.2024.138627
- Donpon Wannasin, Jaekun Ryu, David Julian McClements. Innovative method for producing plant-based meat analogs: Acid/calcium-induced internal gelation of potato protein/alginate composites. International Journal of Biological Macromolecules 2024, 270 , 132069. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2024.132069
- Aleksandra Marczak, Ana C. Mendes. Dietary Fibers: Shaping Textural and Functional Properties of Processed Meats and Plant-Based Meat Alternatives. Foods 2024, 13
(12)
, 1952. https://doi.org/10.3390/foods13121952
- Nipat Limsangouan, Natita Rodkwan, Worapol Pengpinit, Titaporn Tumpanuvatr, Pathika Pengpinit, Yupadee Paopun, Hataichanok Kantrong. Physical property changes promoting shelf-life extension of soy protein-based high moisture meat analog under high pressure treatment. Journal of Food Science and Technology 2024, 61
(5)
, 918-927. https://doi.org/10.1007/s13197-023-05886-x
- Georgios Papatzimos, Paraskevi Mitlianga, Zoitsa Basdagianni, Eleni Kasapidou. Hemp Flour as a Functional Ingredient for the Partial Replacement of Nitrites in a Minced Meat Model: Effect on Nutrient Composition, Antioxidant Profile and Sensory Characteristics. Applied Sciences 2024, 14
(9)
, 3925. https://doi.org/10.3390/app14093925
- Jaekun Ryu, David Julian McClements. Impact of heat-set and cold-set gelling polysaccharides on potato protein gelation: Gellan gum, agar, and methylcellulose. Food Hydrocolloids 2024, 149 , 109535. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.foodhyd.2023.109535
- Jaekun Ryu, David Julian McClements. Control of plant-based biopolymer composite gel texture: Combining potato proteins with different high acyl-low acyl gellan gum ratios. Food Hydrocolloids 2024, 149 , 109636. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.foodhyd.2023.109636
- Sisheng Li, Minna Luo, Donpon Wannasin, Xiaoyan Hu, Jaekun Ryu, Qian Ju, David Julian McClements. Exploring the potential of plant-based emulsion gels enriched with β-glucan and potato protein as egg yolk alternatives. Food Hydrocolloids 2024, 148 , 109511. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.foodhyd.2023.109511
- Logesh Dhanapal, Chyngyz Erkinbaev. Portable hyperspectral imaging coupled with multivariate analysis for real-time prediction of plant-based meat analogues quality. Journal of Food Composition and Analysis 2024, 126 , 105840. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jfca.2023.105840
- Jun Guo, Muhammad Usman, Gabriel Swanson, Baochen Fang, Jiajia Rao, Bingcan Chen, Minwei Xu. Influence of germination and pulse type on texture of high moisture meat analogs. Food Hydrocolloids 2024, 146 , 109207. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.foodhyd.2023.109207
- Jung-Soo Lee, Jaejoon Han. Exploring the potential of bacterial cellulose paste as a fat replacer for low-fat plant-based hamburger patties. Food Research International 2024, 176 , 113832. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.foodres.2023.113832
- Youling L. Xiong. Meat and meat alternatives: where is the gap in scientific knowledge and technology?. Italian Journal of Animal Science 2023, 22
(1)
, 482-496. https://doi.org/10.1080/1828051X.2023.2211988
- Juana Fernández-López, Angel J. Ponce-Martínez, Judith Rodríguez-Párraga, Ana M. Solivella-Poveda, Jose A. Fernández-López, Manuel Viuda -Martos, Jose A. Pérez-Alvarez. Beetroot juices as colorant in plant-based minced meat analogues: Color, betalain composition and antioxidant activity as affected by juice type. Food Bioscience 2023, 56 , 103156. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fbio.2023.103156
- Esteban Echeverria‐Jaramillo, Weon‐Sun Shin. Black soybean cooking water (aquasoya) powder as a novel clean‐label ingredient in plant‐based vegan patties. International Journal of Food Science & Technology 2023, 58
(10)
, 5121-5133. https://doi.org/10.1111/ijfs.16611
- David Julian McClements. Modeling the rheological properties of plant‐based foods: Soft matter physics principles. Sustainable Food Proteins 2023, 1
(3)
, 101-132. https://doi.org/10.1002/sfp2.1015
- Jaekun Ryu, Xiaoke Xiang, Xiaoyan Hu, Shuli E. Rosenfeld, Dingkui Qin, Hualu Zhou, David Julian McClements. Assembly of plant-based meat analogs using soft matter physics: A coacervation-shearing-gelation approach. Food Hydrocolloids 2023, 142 , 108817. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.foodhyd.2023.108817
- Kartik Joshi, Elnaz Shabani, S. M. Fijul Kabir, Hualu Zhou, David Julian McClements, Jay Hoon Park. Optimizing Protein Fiber Spinning to Develop Plant-Based Meat Analogs via Rheological and Physicochemical Analyses. Foods 2023, 12
(17)
, 3161. https://doi.org/10.3390/foods12173161
- Haodong Liu, Jinchuang Zhang, Qiongling Chen, Anna Hu, Tongqing Li, Feng Guo, Qiang Wang. Preparation of Whole-Cut Plant-Based Pork Meat and Its Quality Evaluation with Animal Meat. Gels 2023, 9
(6)
, 461. https://doi.org/10.3390/gels9060461
- Rachael Moss, Jeanne LeBlanc, Mackenzie Gorman, Christopher Ritchie, Lisa Duizer, Matthew B. McSweeney. A Prospective Review of the Sensory Properties of Plant-Based Dairy and Meat Alternatives with a Focus on Texture. Foods 2023, 12
(8)
, 1709. https://doi.org/10.3390/foods12081709
- Irene Peñaranda, María Dolores Garrido, Purificación García-Segovia, Javier Martínez-Monzó, Marta Igual. Enriched Pea Protein Texturing: Physicochemical Characteristics and Application as a Substitute for Meat in Hamburgers. Foods 2023, 12
(6)
, 1303. https://doi.org/10.3390/foods12061303
- Xiaohui Wu, Changtai Zhang, Shiqin Yu, Jian Chen, Jingwen Zhou. Improving the cryoprotective effect of antifreeze proteins from Daucus carota on plant-based meat by eliminating N-glycosylation. Food Research International 2023, 164 , 112392. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.foodres.2022.112392
- Rasmi Janardhanan, Nelson Huerta-Leidenz, Francisco C. Ibañez, Maria Jose Beriain. High-pressure processing and sous-vide cooking effects on physicochemical properties of meat-based, plant-based and hybrid patties. LWT 2023, 173 , 114273. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.lwt.2022.114273
- Rasmi Janardhanan, Carmen Olarte, Susana Sanz, Carmina Rota, María José Beriain. Combined Effect of High Hydrostatic Pressure, Sous-Vide Cooking, and Carvacrol on the Quality of Veal, Plant-Based, and Hybrid Patties during Storage. Foods 2023, 12
(2)
, 289. https://doi.org/10.3390/foods12020289
- Carmen Botella-Martínez, Manuel Viuda-Martos, Jose A. Fernández-López, Jose A. Pérez-Alvarez, Juana Fernández-López. Development of plant-based burgers using gelled emulsions as fat source and beetroot juice as colorant: Effects on chemical, physicochemical, appearance and sensory characteristics. LWT 2022, 172 , 114193. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.lwt.2022.114193
- Bushra Safdar, Haochun Zhou, He Li, Jinnuo Cao, Tianyu Zhang, Zhiwei Ying, Xinqi Liu. Prospects for Plant-Based Meat: Current Standing, Consumer Perceptions, and Shifting Trends. Foods 2022, 11
(23)
, 3770. https://doi.org/10.3390/foods11233770
- Rasmi Janardhanan, Mikel González-Diez, Francisco C. Ibañez, Maria Jose Beriain. Comparison of High Hydrostatic Pressure Processed Plus Sous-Vide Cooked Meat-Based, Plant-Based and Hybrid Patties According to Fat Replacement. Foods 2022, 11
(22)
, 3678. https://doi.org/10.3390/foods11223678
- Giang Vu, Hualu Zhou, David Julian McClements. Impact of cooking method on properties of beef and plant-based burgers: Appearance, texture, thermal properties, and shrinkage. Journal of Agriculture and Food Research 2022, 9 , 100355. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jafr.2022.100355
Article Views are the COUNTER-compliant sum of full text article downloads since November 2008 (both PDF and HTML) across all institutions and individuals. These metrics are regularly updated to reflect usage leading up to the last few days.
Citations are the number of other articles citing this article, calculated by Crossref and updated daily. Find more information about Crossref citation counts.
The Altmetric Attention Score is a quantitative measure of the attention that a research article has received online. Clicking on the donut icon will load a page at altmetric.com with additional details about the score and the social media presence for the given article. Find more information on the Altmetric Attention Score and how the score is calculated.