What began as a high-end restaurant burger served only in New York City’s elite restaurants swiftly trickled down to the groundbreaking Impossible Whopper accompanied by retail shelf space and additional meaty products including sausages and chicken nuggets. Given the meteoric rise of Impossible Foods , it’s natural to wonder about this revolutionary company. From what Impossible meat is made out of to where to find the nuggets, here is the fascinating story of Impossible Foods.
Impossible Foods Impossible Foods’ history The concept for Impossible Foods came to mind back in 2009 while Patrick Brown—then a Stanford University professor of biochemistry—was on sabbatical. It was the same year Beyond Meat debuted as a company, though the Beyond Burger as we know it today was still several years away. Brown realized the devastation of the current food system and wanted to create a sustainable alternative—starting with meat.
While continuing to work at Stanford until 2013, Brown assembled a team of food scientists and business-savvy professionals to build a company behind the inaugural product, the Impossible Burger. Unlike Beyond Meat, Impossible Foods did not go after the retail market from the start. Taking a page from Oatly—which also launched in the US in 2016—Impossible Foods took the food service route, hoping professionals would best showcase the product and spark early adopter buzz.
The first Impossible Burger was served at celebrity chef David Chang’s Momofuku Nishi in New York City (which has since permanently shuttered). “Impossible Foods is honored to have a chef of David Chang's talent and vision as our anchor chef in New York. Under David's skilled hand, the Impossible Burger is moving to the next level of taste," Brown christened the launch .
The Nishi Style Impossible Burger was adorned with romaine, a beefsteak tomato slice, pickles, and special sauce held together between two Martin potato buns. Following a successful debut, Impossible sold its grounds to high-end restaurants in California during the fall of 2016—including Jardiniere in San Francisco and Crossroads Kitchen in Los Angeles. By 2017, the Impossible Burger could be found on chain restaurant menus including Bareburger and Umami Burger, and in 2018, White Castle made a splash by becoming the first major fast-food restaurant to add the burger to its menu.
By the end of that year, Impossible Burgers could be found in over 5,000 restaurants throughout the US and Hong Kong. Never seeming to run out of momentum, the company topped its 2018 success by launching the Impossible Whopper in Burger King locations nationwide the following year, and seven years later, it remains a menu staple. That same year, Impossible patties finally made their way into retail where they vied for shelf space with its major competitor, Beyond Meat.
By 2019, seeing an Impossible Burger on any given menu was de rigueur . Impossible’s sausage had also hit both retail and restaurant menus in the form of versatile grounds. Frozen Impossible Meatballs were next, and during the fall of 2021, the brand launched Impossible Pork for food service only—a move to match the wild popularity of Hong Kong’s vegan pork product— Omnipork .
Like the original Impossible Burger, the company’s plant-based pork product first debuted at a David Chang restaurant, Momofuku Ssam Bar, before launching in over 100 additional restaurants in the US and Hong Kong, eventually making its way into grocery stores. Impossible Foods While continuing to improve and expand its beef and pork range, Impossible was cooking up another product to join the next trend in vegan meat alternatives—chicken nuggets. In 2021, Impossible’s tit-for-tat with Beyond Meat followed in the form of a golden, crispy chicken nugget.
First only available as limited-time offers at select restaurants, the nuggets later made their way into over 10,000 grocery stores . In the years since, Impossible has expanded its product offerings to include steak bites, hot dogs, corn dogs, sausage links, and more. Expansion into more retailers and restaurants still seems to be top of mind for Impossible Foods, but innovation plays a major role as well.
With a goal of eradicating all animal products by 2035, Impossible is not slowing down. What is Impossible Foods’ meat made from? Impossible meat has evolved in the last several years. 0 removed the gluten and upped the iron and protein to become even more comparable with its cow-based counterpart.
Far from the homemade veggie burger, Impossible patties are a product of science, and the ingredients reflect that. Soy protein concentrate makes up the bulk of the burger along with coconut oil to mimic the juicy sizzle of beef. These key ingredients are bound together with an assortment of natural flavors, starches, dextrose, methylcellulose, salt, and fortified vitamins and minerals.
Impossible nuggets are also soy-based and vitamin-fortified but contain added wheat gluten, spices, corn flour, yeast extract, and leavening (for the battered component). Impossible Foods Is Impossible Foods’ meat healthy? Given these unorthodox ingredients, many have argued that Impossible Foods products are not healthy.
This statement is objective—it depends on what you’re comparing them to. When put up against their animal-based predecessors, Impossible’s plant-based products are healthier for the sheer fact that they contain a similar nutrient profile without the added cholesterol of animal-based foods. Plant-based meats are also safer in regards to the contamination that may result from zoonotic disease or animal feces that are occasionally ground into a final product.
A study conducted by the Physician's Committee for Responsible Medicine found that nearly half of the chickens tested contained fecal matter, and while the USDA admitted that “bacteria commonly found in feces are routinely present on meat and chicken products,” it would not tighten its inspection standards. To this end, feces-free products such as Impossible meats are healthier in comparison to animal-based meat. In 2023, the company debuted Impossible Beef Lite , a vegan alternative to USDA 90/10 ground cow meat.
This product contains 21 grams of plant protein per serving and is a good source of fiber, iron, B vitamins, zinc, and potassium. It also features 45-percent less total fat, 75-percent less saturated fat, and zero cholesterol than lean animal-derived beef. The product even received heart-healthy check certification from the American Heart Association.
Impossible Foods All of that being said, Impossible meat is still a replica of a generally unhealthy food. As such, it’s not the best thing for your body to consume on a regular basis. 5 grams saturated fat), and 480 milligrams of sodium (which equates to one-fifth of the recommended daily sodium intake).
Bringing back the comparison to animal-based nuggets, a similar-sized serving of frozen Tyson chicken nuggets contains 270 calories, 17 grams of fat (4 grams saturated fat), 40 milligrams of cholesterol, 470 milligrams of sodium, and zero dietary fiber (Impossible Nuggets contain 2 grams of fiber). Like any burger, sausage patty, or chicken nugget, Impossible meat is best enjoyed in moderation. Yes, it’s healthier than a beef-based Whopper, but in the end, it’s still a Whopper.
Impossible Foods products The brand currently churns out many plant-based meats for both retail and food service. Here’s the dish on all the juicy, meaty goodness. Impossible Foods 1 Impossible Burger The inaugural product of this booming brand, the Impossible Burger can be found in supermarkets and restaurants nationwide—it’s the company’s most distributed product.
The patties boast 19 grams of protein, 230 calories, 25 percent of the daily recommended iron, and an assortment of other vitamins and minerals. Granted, this nutritional package also comes with six grams of saturated fat and 13 grams of total fat. The brand also offers Grilled Burger Patties and Southwest Grilled Burger Patties for all of the smoky flavor without the need for a grill.
For an even meatier option, reach for the 1⁄3-pound Indulgent Burger Patties. Shop Amazon Impossible Foods 2 Impossible Nuggets and Tenders During the heyday of the vegan chicken wars when every meatless brand was launching chicken products, Impossible debuted its very own Impossible Chicken Nuggets. " Beyond superior taste, these meatless nuggets also boast 60-percent less saturated fat and 30-percent less total fat while packing 13 grams of protein.
In addition to its original nuggets, Impossible also makes spicy nuggets, Wild Nuggies ( chicken nuggets shaped like endangered animals ), and Lion King Nuggets (nuggets shaped like fan-favorite characters from the classic Disney movie). For a heftier bite, go for the Impossible Tenders. About double the size of Impossible Nuggets, these tenders pair well with just about any vegan-friendly condiment .
Keep it classic with a side of ketchup, ranch, or vegan honey mustard. Shop Amazon Impossible Foods 3 Impossible Chicken Patties In addition to nuggets and tenders, Impossible also makes chicken patties in two flavors: Original and Spicy. The former boasts 13 grams of protein while the latter packs 12 grams of the essential nutrient.
Crisp up a couple patties in the air-fryer, place between two fluffy buns, and pile them high with fresh lettuce and tomato. For added oomph, melt your favorite vegan cheese atop each chicken patty. The possibilities are endless. Shop Amazon Impossible Foods 4 Impossible Steak Bites Vegan steak, anyone?
Reminiscent of steak tips, Impossible Steak Bites are juicy, beefy morsels of plant-based meat that can be used in anything from fajitas to stir fries, salads, burritos, bowls, and beyond. These soy-based bites offer 21 grams of protein, 80 percent less fat than animal-based steak tips, plus vitamin B12, iron, and more. Taco Tuesday will never be the same.
Shop Amazon Impossible Foods 5 Impossible Meatballs Most commonly found stuffed into hoagies in the food service world, Impossible Meatballs also cater heavily to grocery store shoppers. Find them in the frozen section of your nearest retailer. 5 grams saturated fat), 440 milligrams of sodium, 12 grams of protein, and an assortment of fortified vitamins and minerals.
Beyond pasta and marinara, these meaty bites are excellent when served doused in herbaceous vegan gravy. Shop Amazon Impossible Foods 6 Impossible Hot Dogs At the end of 2023, Impossible launched its Impossible Hot Dog, which boasts 50-percent less saturated fat and double the protein (12 grams per serving) than its animal-derived counterpart. “Hot dogs are an undeniably classic part of American culture and not to mention, they’re a burger’s best friend.
It’s long been a priority to add them to our product portfolio,” Peter McGuinness, former CEO and President of Impossible Foods, told VegNews. Shop Amazon Impossible Foods 7 Impossible Corn Dogs In 2024, Impossible Foods announced yet another Americana classic: the Impossible Corn Dog! The carnival classic features meaty Impossible Hot Dogs enveloped in a fluffy, golden, cornbread-like exterior.
Plus, it's packed with nine grams of protein per serving, and contains 40-percent less saturated fat than its meat-based counterpart. Shop Instacart Impossible Foods 8 Impossible Sausage Links Impossible offers not one, not two, but three varieties of sausage links: Spicy, Italian, and Bratwurst. Made from soy, these meaty links are fortified with vitamins B3, B6, B2, and B12 for added nutrition.
Each link packs 220 calories, 15 grams of total fat, and 14 grams of protein. These versatile links can be enjoyed between fluffy hot dog buns (adorn with your favorite fixings), chopped up into pasta, used for a quick British-style bangers and mash , and so much more. Shop Amazon Impossible Foods 9 Impossible Sausage Patties With a product portfolio this diverse, it's no surprise Impossible makes plant meat for every meal of the day.
The brand's Impossible Sausage Patties are perfect for breakfast. Stuff them into English muffins and pile high with Just Egg Folded, dairy-free cheese, and tater tots for the ultimate morning sando or add to a breakfast platter alongside pancakes, toast, tofu scramble, hash browns, and fresh fruit. Choose between Spicy and Savory patties—each offers six grams of protein.
Shop Instacart Impossible Foods 10 Impossible Grounds Impossible Grounds really let individual creativity shine in the kitchen. Perhaps the brand's most versatile product, Impossible Grounds come in two formats: ground beef and ground sausage. The classic beef-style grounds boast 19 grams per protein while the Lite version (a healthier, vegan alternative to 90/10 ground beef) pack a whopping 21 grams of protein.
The sausage-style grounds offer just a fraction of the protein (eight grams), but are just as versatile. Choose between Savory and Spicy sausage grounds and stuff them into dumplings. Shop Instacart Impossible Foods 11 Impossible Pork Launched in 2021, Impossible Pork was a restaurant exclusive—and at the time of writing, this is still the case.
Relatively heavy like its pig-based inspiration, a four-ounce serving contains 220 calories, 13 grams of fat (seven grams of saturated fat), 18 grams of protein, and 290 grams of sodium. We're counting down the days until Impossible Pork's retail debut.
