Vegan Encyclopedia

Just when you thought 2020 couldn't get any weirder, a company unveiled the world's first 3D-printed vegan steak. Rehovot-based Israeli company Redefine Meat has unveiled an "alternative steak" that replicates the texture, taste, and appearance of real meat—all thanks to 3D printing technology. The new alternative steak is made from soy and pea proteins, coconut and sunflower oils, and natural colors and flavors. Designed to recreate the muscle structure of beef, the artificial steak is rich in protein and—being plant-based—is cholesterol-free.

It seems no detail has been spared with this creation either. Redefine Meat worked with leading butchers, chefs, food technologists, and taste experts to digitally map over 70 different sensory factors – including the texture of the cut of meat, juiciness, fat distribution, mouthfeel, and more. The company is expected to begin testing the alternative beef cut in high-end Israeli restaurants as early as next month – with plans to roll it out in European restaurants next year and in supermarkets in 2022. The man behind the alternative steak says the invention has big implications for the food industry too. "This is the world's first 3D-printed steak that actually passes the test of what a steak is," Eshchar Ben-Stiit, co-founder and CEO of Redefine Meat, told Medialine. "We've reached a milestone because we can print steaks at scale with a fantastic taste and texture." Special 3D printers are required to create meatless steaks that resemble animal muscle. “Until now, no one had a printer like this, and we’ve spent the past two years developing it.” Of course, Redefine Meat isn’t the only brand jumping on the “lab-grown” meat bandwagon. Three years ago, Beyond Burger launched its vegan “bleeding” burger – a product that looks, cooks and tastes like a fresh beef burger.