Vegan Steak Brands You Need To Try

As more people adopt a vegan lifestyle, the culinary world is rising to the occasion by crafting delicious alternatives to beef steaks.

These innovative creations are not just tasty, but they also bring with them a cascade of health benefits and play a crucial role in protecting our environment.

Ready to see what all the fuss is about? Let’s dive into these vegan steak brands that are redefining indulgence in the most sustainable way.

Key Takeaways:

  1. Vegan steaks are healthier, containing fewer saturated fats and no antibiotics or hormones.
  2. Plant-based steaks come in different types based on their core ingredients like seitan, tofu, or mixed grains.
  3. These steaks are not just good for you, but also kinder to the planet by reducing land and water use, and greenhouse emissions.
  4. Brands like Beyond Meat, Redefine Meat, and Impossible Foods are leading the charge in taste and sustainability.
  5. Creativity in restaurants shows vegan steaks can rival traditional beef in both presentation and flavor.

What is a Plant-Based Steak?

A plant-based steak is an alternative to meat made from ingredients derived from plants. It’s designed to mimic the taste, texture, and appearance of a traditional beef steak.

There are four main types of vegan steaks you might encounter:

  1. Seitan, a wheat-based meat substitute, is high in protein and has a chewy texture.
  2. Tofu steaks, made from condensed soymilk, are versatile and readily absorb flavors.
  3. Tempeh steaks are made from fermented soybeans. They are a great source of probiotics.
  4. Steaks made from a mix of grains, veggies, and legumes are flavorful and packed with various nutrients.

Each type has its unique taste and texture, so it’s all about finding what suits your palate.

Why You Should Switch to Vegan Steaks

You’ll find numerous health benefits when you switch to vegan steaks, starting with a significant reduction in your intake of saturated fats. These plant-based alternatives are packed with protein, vitamins, and fiber while remaining low in cholesterol.

This can lead to improved heart health, lower blood pressure, and even weight loss. Plus, many vegan steaks are fortified with essential nutrients like iron and B12, which are often harder to obtain from a plant-based diet.

You’ll also be consuming fewer antibiotics and hormones that are commonly found in traditional meat. So, not only are vegan steaks a more ethical choice, but they’re a healthier one too.

Ingredients in Vegan Steaks

But what exactly goes into making these delicious and healthy vegan steaks?

The answer lies in an array of plant-based ingredients designed to mimic the taste, texture, and nutritional profile of conventional steak. These vegan creations typically include:

  • Plant proteins like soy, peas, or wheat gluten, which give the steak its meaty texture.
  • Vegetable fibers to add a chewy consistency.
  • Natural flavors, herbs, and spices to replicate the savory taste of steak.
  • Beet juice extract or other natural colorants to give it a realistic, reddish-brown hue.
  • Oils like coconut or sunflower to add a touch of fat for a juicy mouthfeel.

The Environmental Impact of Meat Industry

Consider the substantial impact your meat consumption has on our environment, particularly in the context of the meat industry’s detrimental practices. You may not fully grasp the environmental footprint of that juicy steak you relish.

Here’s a brief rundown:

  • Land Use: Livestock farming occupies nearly 80% of global agricultural land yet produces less than 20% of the world’s food supply.
  • Water Consumption: Producing a kilogram of beef requires about 15,000 liters of water.
  • Greenhouse Gases: The meat industry generates around 14.5% of global greenhouse gas emissions.
  • Deforestation: To create grazing fields and grow animal feed, large swaths of forests are cleared, disrupting ecosystems.
  • Waste: Animal farming produces significant quantities of waste, leading to water and land pollution.

Now, let’s dive into vegan steak brands that provide a cruelty-free, environmentally friendly, and health-conscious alternative to traditional steak.

Beyond Meat Steaks

Beyond Meat Steaks

Beyond Meat Steaks mimics the texture and flavor of traditional beef remarkably well, thanks to their unique blend of pea, mung bean, and rice proteins. The steaks are juicy and satisfying, providing a hearty and flavorful meat alternative for your meals.

They are GMO-, soy-, and gluten-free, making them a great choice for those with dietary restrictions. The steaks cook up beautifully on the grill or stovetop, offering a versatile option for your cooking needs.

From a sizzling steak dinner to a savory sandwich, Beyond Meat Steaks proves to be an impressive plant-based alternative to traditional beef.

Redefine Meat

Redefine Meat

Redefine Meat is leading the way with its innovative, three-dimensionally printed vegan steaks. This groundbreaking company uses cutting-edge technology to create realistic meat substitutes.

Here’s what sets Redefine Meat apart:

Innovation

Their 3D technology prints layers of plant-based ingredients, accurately mimicking the texture and flavor of animal-based meat.

Taste

Redefine Meat’s vegan steaks don’t just look like the real thing, they taste remarkably similar, too. This makes them a perfect choice for transitioning meat lovers.

Sustainability

By choosing plant-based ingredients, they’re helping to reduce the environmental impact of traditional meat production.

Impossible Foods

vegan steaks with fries

This brand has carved a niche for itself in the vegan meat industry through its commitment to taste and sustainability. Here’s what makes their steaks stand out:

  • They’re made from soy and potato proteins, providing a meat-like texture while being entirely plant-based.
  • Their Bioengineered heme gives the steaks a unique, meaty flavor that’s hard to beat.
  • They’re gluten-free, making them ideal for those with dietary restrictions.
  • Impossible Foods’ steaks have a lower environmental footprint than beef, aligning with a sustainable lifestyle.
  • They cook similar to beef steaks, ensuring a seamless transition for new vegans.

Novameat

Novameat

Novameat in Spain is using advanced 3D printing to create meat-free options that have a texture similar to real meat’s muscle fibers. Their lineup includes plant versions of chicken and beef, with a pork substitute on the way.

Green Rebel Foods

vegan steak

Indonesia’s Green Rebel Foods is making plant-based meats that are both healthy and simple, with standout items like a mushroom-based Beefless Steak and a soy-based Chick’n Satay Taichan.

Chunk Foods

vegan style steak and sides

In Israel, Chunk Foods uses a process called fermentation to make a plant-based steak that chews like meat and is full of flavor.

With the help of actor Robert Downey Jr.’s investment, these steaks are now being served in Charley’s Steakhouse in Orlando, transforming the plant-based dining experience in the US.

Juicy Marbles

Juicy Marbles a vegan steak brand

This innovative brand has mastered the art of mimicking the taste, texture, and appearance of a traditional steak using only plant-based ingredients.

  • Juicy Marbles steaks are seasoned to perfection, offering a flavor that’s so close to the real thing, you’ll hardly notice it’s vegan.
  • Their unique production process results in a steak with the same chewiness and juiciness as a traditional beef steak.
  • From the marbling to the grill-ready cuts, this brand’s vegan steaks look just like their meat counterparts.

Creative Vegan Steaks in Restaurants

You’ll find several restaurants experimenting with unique and delicious vegan steaks.

For instance, there’s the Crossroads Kitchen in Los Angeles with their impressive eggplant-based steak.

vegan steak

Or, if you’re in the Chicago area, drop into Bronzeville Winery to sample their smoked watermelon steak.

watermelon steak

These chefs are proving that vegan steak doesn’t have to mean a lackluster slab of tofu. With a bit of culinary creativity, they’re transforming humble vegetables into show-stopping main courses that are as satisfying as their meat-based counterparts.

Conclusion

The plant-based steak revolution is delicious proof that making choices better for our health and the planet doesn’t require sacrificing the joys of a good meal.

With avant-garde companies continuously improving vegan steak’s flavors and textures, every bite is a step toward a greener future.

These guilt-free, meatless alternatives are not just for vegans, but for anyone interested in a modern take on a classic favorite.

Two More Recommendations for Your Plant-Based Journey

1. This is the best free video training I’ve found on plant-based nutrition. You’ll learn how to reduce your risk of cancer, heart disease, type 2 diabetes, Alzheimer’s, and obesity—all with plant-based food. Watch the free “Food for Health Masterclass” here.

2. This is the best vegan multivitamin I’ve found in my 14 years of being vegan. It has vitamin B12, vitamin D, omega-3—and nothing else. Translation: It only has the nutrients vegans are actually low in. Read my full review of Future Kind’s multivitamin here (with 10% discount).