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Chef Reacts to Plant-Based Meat Alternatives (Steak, Bacon and More!)

Chef-Instructor Stephen Chavez of the Institute for Culinary Education tries cooking and eating five different plant-based meat alternatives, including substitutes for prosciutto, shredded steak, bacon, chicken breast and a holiday roast. Learn more about the Institute of Culinary Education here: Subscribe to CNET: Never miss a deal again! See CNET’s browser extension 👉 Follow us…

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Chef-Instructor Stephen Chavez of the Institute for Culinary Education tries cooking and eating five different plant-based meat alternatives, including substitutes for prosciutto, shredded steak, bacon, chicken breast and a holiday roast.

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83 Comments

  1. THE_JARMEL

    August 5, 2022 at 4:05 pm

    HAPPY FRIDAY EVERYONE.. HAVE A GOOD ONE

  2. crispy crunchy cooking

    August 5, 2022 at 4:07 pm

    like 8…..very nice upload amazing dear…..🌼🌼👌👌

  3. Christopher Alden

    August 5, 2022 at 4:08 pm

    Plant-Based Meat is just a bunch of chemicals. NOT better for you than the real deal. So you’re paying more for a worse product. If you’re going to pay more, pay more for a higher quality meat. If you’re a vegetarian, eat vegetables.

  4. Home McLaughlin

    August 5, 2022 at 4:13 pm

    Yummmm….chemical enhanced lab created food. Where’s the Beef?!!

    • Nathan Thomas

      August 5, 2022 at 5:01 pm

      You think meat isn’t chemically enhanced ?!

  5. Scott

    August 5, 2022 at 4:21 pm

    Nothing I would consider as food was seen in this video.

    • Bruno Teixeira

      August 5, 2022 at 4:59 pm

      The animals would appreciate it if you would stop calling their dead bodies “food”.

    • Scott

      August 5, 2022 at 5:28 pm

      @Bruno Teixeira oh well animals have always and will always be food. This is the reality of the world we live in. When all animals stop eating other animals I will too.

  6. RRAMOS

    August 5, 2022 at 4:25 pm

    Irony that all of it is packaged heavily in plastics and the smallest of servings LOL.

    • Harish U

      August 5, 2022 at 5:37 pm

      Lol u get ur meat in metal packaging ?😂

    • Hermes

      August 5, 2022 at 5:57 pm

      @Harish U that’s not the point.

    • Justice Ricketts

      August 5, 2022 at 10:19 pm

      @Hermes it kinda is the point, its not constructive criticism nor even relevant as the product it is replacing also is covered in plastic.

    • RRAMOS

      August 5, 2022 at 10:32 pm

      @Harish U the vegos should go all out and wrap it in cardboard so they can get an appetizer while they monitor their scorched grain meat.

  7. Jakob Dering

    August 5, 2022 at 4:28 pm

    Alcoholic reacts to water-based vodka alternatives.

  8. Tony Hernandez

    August 5, 2022 at 4:37 pm

    that all looks horrible

    • Bruno Teixeira

      August 5, 2022 at 5:00 pm

      Look up footage of a slaughterhouse and then tell me what’s horrible…

  9. xJuiCYxxJaYx

    August 5, 2022 at 4:43 pm

    funny how half the world wants nothing processed with foods while the other half runs straight towards it

    • Bruno Teixeira

      August 5, 2022 at 4:54 pm

      Regular meat is processed… Look up the process from birth until you buy it. 😉

    • xJuiCYxxJaYx

      August 5, 2022 at 7:12 pm

      @Bruno Teixeira Lets be real tho, this is made by science in a lab not a farm and then a butcher

  10. MA

    August 5, 2022 at 4:47 pm

    If u want your veggies look like meat just don’t been vegan. This is not to the chief he is amazing 👍🏼👍🏼👍🏼 it’s for who is vegan and still call they food chicken and beef just saying.

    • Bruno Teixeira

      August 5, 2022 at 4:58 pm

      The reason why this exists is because some people want to keep eating the same things they enjoy but without the animal suffering. ☺️

    • MA

      August 5, 2022 at 5:05 pm

      @Bruno Teixeira It’s defeat the purpose must vegan been fight for or at least that act as but I could see that only for people with health problems that can’t eat meat

  11. Quien Vive

    August 5, 2022 at 4:52 pm

    Bill Gates Frankinmeat.
    🤢🤮🤧

  12. 3k1ng

    August 5, 2022 at 4:53 pm

    none of those looked good, nor did it look like the chef was enthusiastic about it on the first bite. I’m shocked he said it all tasted well lol

    • Bruno Teixeira

      August 5, 2022 at 5:01 pm

      You know you could just try it yourself right?

  13. Jorge Carrasco

    August 5, 2022 at 5:06 pm

    Garbage food…

    • MGL 2957

      August 6, 2022 at 5:23 pm

      If you can even call it proper human food.

  14. Mike Mabrey

    August 5, 2022 at 5:08 pm

    It’s all fine and good that you said they tasted okay, but did they taste at all like what they were supposed to be a replacement for? I would eat plant-based meat alternatives if they actually tasted like the meat they are replacing.

    • MrZancruz

      August 5, 2022 at 8:00 pm

      They don’t and I doubt it every will taste like the real thing….

    • Justice Ricketts

      August 5, 2022 at 10:20 pm

      What about the health or environmental benefit you could experience ? Or maybe even just sparing the animals could be a motivating reason

    • Mike Mabrey

      August 5, 2022 at 10:28 pm

      @Justice Ricketts I still get plenty of non-meats in my diet. But I also believe that a certain amount of actual meat protein is healthy. I also really enjoy the taste of certain meats. So that is why I wouldn’t replace a meat with an alternative that doesn’t taste anything like it. I still want the flavor. As for sparing the animals, if nobody was eating them then the ranchers wouldn’t raise them and then they wouldn’t have existed at all. So can’t spare something that never would’ve existed in the first place. 🙂

    • Justice Ricketts

      August 5, 2022 at 11:17 pm

      @Mike Mabrey you can spare someone of an existence of exploitation by not demanding the product, you said it quite well yourself but just backwards. No one should care about a job that causes suffering, just replace the job with the better option. But actual meat protein makes no difference as long as you are getting the amount of essential amino acids, regardless of “belief” or not. And I know you enjoy the taste of meat, same reason vegans who live a more compassionate lifestyle still eat it. They enjoyed the taste as well.

  15. ScH

    August 5, 2022 at 5:10 pm

    I wonder how many ingredients are in it and how many of them not sustainable for human consumption!

    • Nathan Thomas

      August 5, 2022 at 5:50 pm

      If it wasn’t suitable for human consumption they wouldn’t legally be allowed to sell it.

  16. Earl of Swagshire

    August 5, 2022 at 5:14 pm

    Well, being a meat eater… I really want these products to be good and be competitive in price (which they are not atm, it’s all a marketing hype to rake in cash). I don’t see why I shouldn’t eat less meat, if there’s a good alternative. (i grew up with quorn in the 90s, which was basically cardboard).

    • Earl of Swagshire

      August 5, 2022 at 5:56 pm

      @Moon oh I know making vegetarian/vegan stuff from scratch works just fine. But those products try to compete with “more convenient foods” – and judging by the state of the market atm, the alternative products are as pricy or pricier in m country. So they still have their work cut out on this end.

  17. Dick Riggles

    August 5, 2022 at 5:54 pm

    Funny how you never see anyone trying to imitate vegetables with meat.

    Why don’t vegans quit the BS?

    • otogigamer

      August 5, 2022 at 6:26 pm

      Get your cholesterol checked

    • Anthony R

      August 6, 2022 at 2:12 am

      @otogigamer it’s for the waaamen and the children. I’m so progressive ya know?

    • ezioaltairac

      August 6, 2022 at 6:47 am

      I’ve seen people replace the lettuce in lettuce wraps with cold cuts or another sliced meat.

    • Storm

      August 7, 2022 at 8:44 am

      @Anthony R It’s for meat eaters who want to be ethical, sustainable, and healthier. “A new study led by the University of Bath has found that plant-based dietary alternatives to animal products are better for human health and the environment than the meat products they are designed to replace.”

  18. Roman Alekseev

    August 5, 2022 at 6:25 pm

    Only one question I have. Why person who is Vegan/Veterian who DOES NOT eat meat products or anything comes from anymals what to have something that looks like meat? Eat your grass FFS!

  19. Gabriel Velasco

    August 5, 2022 at 7:02 pm

    Nasty

  20. Rheyad R

    August 5, 2022 at 7:09 pm

    i wouldnt feed that to my dog

  21. dun ray

    August 5, 2022 at 7:39 pm

    You can have it all enjoy, I’ll skip supper 🤮🤮🤮🤮

  22. MrSimonj1970

    August 5, 2022 at 8:22 pm

    The horror, the horror.

  23. TX Wombat

    August 5, 2022 at 8:43 pm

    nope

  24. Red Dwarf

    August 5, 2022 at 11:47 pm

    I eat only meat and low carb vegetables. My daily breakfast is eggs and bacon. Real meat and real bacon. I get a full blood work up three times a year. I am above average healthy since I gave up eating carbs with my meats and fats. Low T, high bad cholesterol, high BP, it was all because of the carbs. I am so much healthier than my stubborn vegan friends it’s not funny. The science is there. This vegan industry is a scam. Try my diet for nine months with a blood test every three months, and you’ll never go vegan or back to carbs. Blood tests don’t lie, only marketing people selling vegan foods lie.

  25. Anthony R

    August 6, 2022 at 2:08 am

    That stuff is straight garbage

  26. Matt Fraser

    August 6, 2022 at 4:00 am

    I love my vegetables , with a bloody steak , if your a vego and need to pretend to eat meat you’ll turn back to the real thing eventually , guaranteed Hahahahah

    • Storm

      August 7, 2022 at 8:36 am

      I don’t think so. “A new study led by the University of Bath has found that plant-based dietary alternatives to animal products are better for human health and the environment than the meat products they are designed to replace.”

    • Matt Fraser

      August 7, 2022 at 1:11 pm

      @Storm I said if your a vego and have to pretend to eat meat , not anything about the environment , we as humans are omnivores meaning we need both forms of protein vegetable and meat to be in peak health , optimum brain function needs meat protein , we need to eat far less meat not zero meat .
      University of Sydney decades ago !

    • Storm

      August 8, 2022 at 3:31 am

      @Matt Fraser and obviously this plant based meat isn’t just for vegans

  27. Ash Salleh

    August 6, 2022 at 6:07 am

    like this guy

  28. Jerry Ouderkirk

    August 6, 2022 at 7:26 am

    Yum synthetic food, I’m sure that’s healthier & tastier then the real thing NOT!!!! 🤣🤣🤣

    • Storm

      August 7, 2022 at 8:23 am

      they’re indeed healthier. that’s why you inform yourself first before you make biased opinions since it’s not very efficient, it’s time wasting.
      “A new study led by the University of Bath has found that plant-based dietary alternatives to animal products are better for human health and the environment than the meat products they are designed to replace.”

    • Storm

      August 7, 2022 at 8:26 am

      Imagine if no one replied to your ignorant comment, then you’d remain misinformed. Why do you depend on someone else to find your comment and reply much later in order to correctly inform yourself? To inform yourself well is a form of self-respect.

  29. Neel O

    August 6, 2022 at 8:35 am

    What’s the point of making vegetables look like meet anyways? 😑

    • Neel O

      August 6, 2022 at 8:47 am

      Do you even know what kind of chemicals they’ve added to make plants look like that. I’m sure there’s more industrial chemicals than actual healthy nutriment in those.

    • Storm

      August 7, 2022 at 8:37 am

      @Neel O “A new study led by the University of Bath has found that plant-based dietary alternatives to animal products are better for human health and the environment than the meat products they are designed to replace.”

    • Storm

      August 7, 2022 at 8:38 am

      why? it’s for meat eaters who want to be ethical, sustainable, and healthier ¯_(ツ)_/¯

  30. Adipose Rex

    August 6, 2022 at 9:49 am

    Plant based means eating only plants. Pseudo meats are junk food and totally unnecessary.

    • Storm

      August 7, 2022 at 8:37 am

      false. “A new study led by the University of Bath has found that plant-based dietary alternatives to animal products are better for human health and the environment than the meat products they are designed to replace.”

  31. J kid

    August 6, 2022 at 11:48 am

    Everything looks so dry

  32. MGL 2957

    August 6, 2022 at 2:14 pm

    I’ll take the real thing over these plant-based alternatives.

  33. MGL2957

    August 6, 2022 at 2:14 pm

    I’ll take the real thing over these plant-based alternatives.

    • Storm

      August 7, 2022 at 8:19 am

      if they’re designed to be similar in nutritional values then I don’t see the obsession over the real meat. It’s called natural fallacy or maybe genetic fallacy

    • Storm

      August 7, 2022 at 8:28 am

      “A new study led by the University of Bath has found that plant-based dietary alternatives to animal products are better for human health and the environment than the meat products they are designed to replace.”

  34. Kathryn M.

    August 6, 2022 at 3:25 pm

    I’m not vegan or vegetarian however I’m stunned the lack of vegetables ingredients in these products. Grain usage is okay however I think it would’ve been more ideal to list… sauteed cabbage, well-seasoned roasted cauliflower, carrots, mushrooms, potatoes etc.

  35. JamesTerra Price

    August 6, 2022 at 7:53 pm

    I’ve never understood why people repulsed by the idea of eating meat want plants to look & taste like meat. Chef — good on you for putting this video together. Thank you.

    • Storm

      August 7, 2022 at 8:16 am

      it’s not for people who don’t eat meat, it’s for meat lovers who want their meals to be sustainable for earth

    • Storm

      August 7, 2022 at 8:21 am

      also if vegans want meat tasted plants, I don’t see the problem. people want variety in taste

  36. Monkey Pox

    August 7, 2022 at 6:38 am

    💩💩💩💩💩💩💩💩💩💩💩💩

  37. Andrew anderson

    August 7, 2022 at 9:06 am

    Why am I not surprised he liked everything. It would be a better test if after the food was cooked he has a regular person on the street taste the food and give their opinion.

  38. Pragmatic Skeptic

    August 7, 2022 at 2:06 pm

    I won’t eat this garbage, bugs either for that matter. I would rather eat soylent green!

  39. MovieCaveDave

    August 7, 2022 at 6:22 pm

    Why would you need to temp check a plant based piece of phicken ? It’s not gonna mater if you eat it raw there’s no salmonella…no meat, no skin, no blood

  40. Home McLaughlin

    August 7, 2022 at 8:15 pm

    Wonder how much the “chef” was compensated by the G foundation to promote that stuff.

  41. Viersechs

    August 7, 2022 at 10:00 pm

    Well being a- yeah I don’t really care about meat or plant based diet. Insect Diet is the future, it would be extremely educational if you could spotlight some recipe featuring Insects or something with insect incorporated into it.

  42. Rc_lou

    August 8, 2022 at 1:50 am

    3:32

    Hhahaha burned it, had to do it again.

  43. Darrell Yelity

    August 8, 2022 at 2:21 pm

    F🤬🤬k plant based meat. 👎🏾
    This chef knows this stuff is nasty.😂

  44. Ben Brown

    August 8, 2022 at 10:35 pm

    I originally tried vegan after several members of my family died within 5 years of one another and my physician couldn’t explain the abnormal bilirubin levels most of my siblings and I carry. I definitely am okay with the idea eating meat can help keep natural ecosystems in balance. I’m also okay that my liver function, blood pressure, pre-diabetes approaches normal when I have eaten whole foods plant based (subset of vegan eating) for several months among other things. Except for the sodium in most of these convenience foods CNET presented, they allow me to bring food to family gatherings and not feel completely left out. I clearly know I’m not eating steak, for example, but I in no way feel deprived with the choice of food on my plate. As one sibling said to another, “Which would you rather have, a live brother [eating his vegan ‘xxxx’] or to know you served him his last animal based meal and you took pride in his eating it before he died?”

  45. Matthew Howell

    August 9, 2022 at 4:19 am

    I once cooked a package of meatless bacon. Even though I cooked it according to the directions, the end result both looked and tasted like charcoal. I won’t be buying meatless bacon again.

    • warpatato

      August 9, 2022 at 3:06 pm

      “looked like charcoal” I think that’s the problem my dude.

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