Review: Beyond Meat - Chicken-Free Strips

Beyond Meat's Chicken-Free Strips are a vegan plant-based protein that purportedly "looks, feels, tastes, and acts like chicken - without the cluck."

I bought a 12-oz package of the lightly-seasoned version for $5.49 from Whole Foods, which is about the same price as cooked chicken strips there.

These might look and feel like chicken, but it definitely doesn't smell like chicken. There's a weird smell to it that I can't readily identify. Soy would be my guess.

So what about looks? Yup, I'd say the strips look like chicken. Some of the pieces even sport grill marks to complete the illusion.

And feel? They somehow weaved plant fibers together so that the strip tear just like chicken albeit fairly firm overcooked chicken. I tried browning a few of the pieces, but it didn't make them any more tender (also the box instructions stress not to overcook the chicken-free strips).

How about taste? Not quite for me. It tastes uncannily chicken-ish, similar to chicken broth, but there's other veggie-like stuff there as well. It's easier to pick up when eating the strips alone, but these could pass for chicken in a wrap or sandwich I think.

Overall, Beyond Meat's Chicken-Free Strips work out pretty well if you're vegan, vegetarian, or just going meat-free for a meal and aren't allergic to soy. There's also the added bonus of no cholesterol. They're not quite the real deal but come pretty close.

Nutritional Info - Beyond Meat Chicken-Free Strips
Serving Size - 6 strips (85g)
Calories - 120 (from Fat - 30)
Fat - 3g (Saturated Fat - 0g)
Sodium - 350mg
Carbs - 6g (Sugar - 0g)
Protein - 20g