Battle of the Burgers
Take a quick look at these burgers.
Take your best guess and select the correct burger name from the options below.
Burgers made from beef are the most popular type consumed in the world, but that's not the only option. Many other types of burgers can be made from turkey, pork and even vegetables!
Impossible
Impossible Foods was founded in 2011 and their plant-based "Impossible Burger" first hit fast-food menus in 2019. The Impossible Burger is different from other plant-based burgers because the burger patty is designed to look like beef and "bleeds" like a beef burger. This "bleeding" is caused by adding heme to the burger. Heme is an iron-containing molecule found in every living plant and animal . Scientists discovered that heme is what gives meat its aroma and flavor. It is also what humans crave when eating meat.
Beef
Currently, Minnesota is home to over 18,000 beef farmers and ranchers. These farmers and ranchers work hard, year round, to raise beef cattle. In about eighteen months a beef calf will grow and gain over 1000 pounds to be used for beef for us to eat. You may have enjoyed eating beef steaks, roasts, and ground beef in many meals including spaghetti and tacos.
Pork
Minnesota has over 3,000 pig farms. Many pig farmers feed their pigs grain, like corn and soybeans, that allow them to grow to over 270 pounds in six months. Pigs produce pork that can be eaten in many forms including ham, pork chops, bacon, and ground pork. In 2022, pork was the number one consumed protein in the world!
Turkey
Minnesota is the number one producer of turkeys in the nation and is home to 600 turkey farms around the state. Turkey may be famous for Thanksgiving dinner, but many people eat turkey throughout the year in sandwiches, burgers, hot dogs and more. Turkeys grow fast! Turkeys hatch from eggs and are fully grown in 4-5 months. Turkey packs more protein and less fat than other types of meat.
Veggie Burger
Veggie burgers were first available to buy in the 1970s. Plant-based burgers offer consumers a choice to eat meat free. Veggie burgers are often made with carrots, onions, mushrooms, soy and other ingredients. Soy protein comes from soybeans. Minnesota leads the nation in producing soybeans used in foods, like veggie burgers.
Compare and Contrast
What matters most to you when choosing the kind of burger you'd eat? Do you choose your food on how it looks, smells, tastes or how nutritious it is for you or all of the above? Are there other reasons you have for what your choice? What are they?