What is it?
The White Castle Impossible Slider is an abomination of science!
Nah, it’s actually pretty ground-breaking. We’re talking about a plant-based (wheat, coconut oil, and potato protein) “burger” that somehow manages to mimic beef. Has the future arrived?
How is it?
It’s interesting.
The flavor is too smoky and reminds me of bad BBQ. I could have been convinced this was mushroom-based, so I guess this is that “umami” flavor I still don’t quite understand. The lingering flavor I kept thinking of was “fake bacon.” Kinda like the powder you’d get on those Potato Skin chips.
The patty is really just clumps –- kinda like a pulled beef. I can’t tell if it succeeds texture-wise, but it’s not like a regular veggie burger or tofu, it toes the line between those. It is definitely “meat-adjacent.”
I can’t explain it. It’s somehow spongy and crumbly, but also moist and meaty. It’s like the Impossible Foods folks invented a new form of matter. It still tastes “fake,” but not as fake. Make sense?
These sliders come with smoked cheddar and fire-roasted onions, which are a slight spin on the usual White Castle toppings you’re used to.
Is there anything else I need to know?
I’d say they are about 1.5 times the size of a normal slider, and they grill ’em fresh for you on order.
The thing that kinda bugs me is for a plant-based alternative to meat, they aren’t even that healthy. I feel like that kinda defeats the entire purpose. Who are these for? What Vegetarian is regularly going to hit up White Castle anyway?
Impossible Sliders are only available in Chicago, New York, and New Jersey right now, but don’t get too upset, you’re not missing anything life-changing.
Conclusion:
While I didn’t enjoy the taste all that much and the nutrition numbers make this a one-time novelty purchase, I do think it’s on to something. Impossible Burgers could very well be the future, but they haven’t quite cracked it yet.
I had a regular cheeseburger slider too, and there was no contest which was better.
Purchased Price: $1.99
Size: N/A
Rating: 4 out of 10
Nutrition Facts: 300 calories, 150 calories from fat, 17 grams of fat, 10 grams of saturated fat, 0 grams of trans fat, 10 milligrams of cholesterol, 870 milligrams of sodium, 18 grams of carbohydrates, 0 grams of fiber, 2 grams of sugar, and 18 grams of protein..
I’m a vegetarian (12 yrs now) and I will totally go to White Castle for this! The Beyond & Impossible burgers have been popping up all over chains on the East Coast and it’s pretty rad. They’re so much better than other veggie burgers, and as someone who doesn’t really remember the real thing, the taste is spot on to my palate.
I like healthy food but did not stop eating meat for health reasons, so no issues there 🙂
Good review, except you miss a key point. The point of being a vegetarian isn’t necessarily to only eat healthy things. The point is to not eat meat, plain and simple. Often this is for ideological reasons, other times it is for health reasons.
That said, the vegetarians and vegans I know tend not to be the healthiest people. A diet lacking in quality animal protein tends to make people crave more garbage.
If this tastes good, I feel this will be right up a lot of vegetarians’ alleys. And honestly the nutritional profile isn’t that terrible for something that you shouldn’t eat every day (like most fast food.)
> If this tastes good, I feel this will be right up a lot of vegetarians’ alleys.
Man, are they ever eating the wrong way.
“the nutrition numbers make this a one-time novelty purchase” why? what does this mean?
18g of protein? Sure, you can get it elsewhere but I’m always sold on plant protein.
I couldn’t stand this when I had it. Would give it negative 2 stars. The flavor and texture made me gag.
I wish I would have known about this offer which was apparently limited to one day last year.
___
Impossible Burger: 3 oz 220 Calories, 13g fat and 20g of protein.
Beyond Burger: 4 oz and 270 Calories, 20g Fat and 19.23g of Protein.
80/20 Beef burger: 284 calories, 22.4g of fat 19.23g of protein.
The FAQ page for Impossible Burger specifically states that their product is designed to match a 80/20 lean to fat ratio beef burger. What lean to fat ratio does White Castle use for their beef sliders?
Both Beyond and Impossible specifically state that it is their purpose to mimic the nutrition and texture profile of actual beef rather than just be a plant based analog. I would assume this is the issue you are experiencing when trying to reconcile what you think a veggie burger should have in regards to it’s nutrition value.
Unlike an actual beef burger these veggie burgers do not have any cholesterol and if you had ordered the Impossible slider without cheese it would have had less fat/calories and no cholesterol as they made the buns vegan a few years ago.
Obviously; taste, texture and smell is something else entirely.
I would also add that White Castle offers veggie burgers from Pr Praegers in it’s stores and as a frozen line in grocery stores. These are more conventional veggie burgers with less calories and fat. You could also just buy the Dr. Praeger brand which are more readily available as it’s the same thing minus the bun.
I have not had the Impossible Burger but I regularly purchase the Beyond Meat burger. It’s not 100% the same as beef, and the CEO says this too which reinforcing the idea they are continually working to make it better but it’s probably the closest thing I’ve had to something trying to mimic beef than any of the other veggie burgers out there.
How about a review of the Beyond Sausage links and Beyond Meat burger? That would be neat.
Heart healthy it definitely is not. Coconut oil and a load of saturated fat. Those facts alone would make a cardiologist gag.