Don’t you miss steak?
Honestly, no. Not really.
Having said that, I am all for alternatives and I was super excited to hear about the world’s first commercialised 3D-printed steak when Redefine Meat debuted theirs in 2021.
Today, it features on menus from Israel all the way up to the UK and even Finland. What’s more, the alternative meat brand now sells plant-based 3D-printed beef flank, lamb flank, bratwurst, striploin, and lamb kabab mix, to name just a few.
But the 3D-printed steak and other meat cuts are not (yet) perfect and they’re certainly not for everyone. Trust me, I’ve tried it.
Find out everything you need to know about 3D-printed meat, where to buy it, and what to bear in mind before trying it yourself by reading my Redefine Meat Review.
Summary
Almost too authentic but nevertheless insanely good! The chew and flavour were pretty much there but the colour and appearance need improvement.
I have no doubt that Redefine Meat will continuously innovate to upgrade what is probably the most realistic plant-based meat alternative on the market.
Pros
- 100% plant-based
- The taste is so beefy
- Authentic chew
- Meaty aroma
- Great caramelisation
- Low in fat, high in protein
Cons
- Too realistic for some vegans
- Colour and fibres are perhaps too uniform
- Texture and appearance more like braising beef than steak
What is 3D-printed meat?
An alternative protein that is made by technology that utilises AI and machine learning to print ingredients layer-by-layer based on the structure of conventional meat.
Redefine Meat ingredients
What on earth is 3D-printed meat made of?
Well, that depends on the techniques alternative meat brands opt for. If they go down the cultivated route, then the ingredients have been grown from animal cells. If they choose fermentation or plant-based technologies in their food manufacturing process, then the ingredients are likely to be free from animal-based ingredients.
It comes as no surprise that Redefine closely guard their meat recipes but the key ingredients have been disclosed and they are 100% plant-based.
For example, the majority of Redefine Meat products contain soy and wheat, rapeseed oil, beetroot, yeast extract, and coconut fat.
Each individual “meat” cut that they sell varies but here’s a list of the ingredients used to make their 3D-printed tenderloin:
- Water
- Plant protein
- Soy flour
- Rapeseed oil
- Stabilizers
- Wheat flour
- Corn starch
- Maltodextrin
- Flavourings
- Table salt
- Barley malt
- Yeast extract
- Colours (e.g. beetroot red)
- Acidity regulator
- Spices
Is Redefine Meat vegan?
While the company doesn’t actively advertise the fact that they are vegan, their products (including their 3D-printed steak) are free from animal-based ingredients.
Nevertheless, one must bear in mind that research was conducted on animal meat down to its tiniest components in order to replicate the authentic structure, mouthfeel, and taste.
At the time of writing this, Redefine Meat have 185 meat eaters in their team. They are passionate about meat, which is what makes their products so realistic. Of course, this does mean that they are more likely to succeed in persuading omnivores to transition to plant-based.
Branded as “new-meat”, Redefine hope to appeal more to meat eaters in order to have the biggest possible impact on the global food system.
Therefore, whether or not you believe their products are vegan is your decision.
My review of Redefine Meat
Earlier this month, I was given the opportunity to try Redefine Meat. I’ve not been paid to do this review and I don’t make any money if you do decide to try it.
What follows is an honest summary of my experience, including my thoughts on the taste, texture, and authenticity of their 3D-printed steak.
First impressions
The first thing that hit me about the Redefine Steak was the smell as the waiting staff brought out the dishes. I can’t describe it as anything other than distinctly “meaty”. The next thing I noticed was the caramelisation on the surface of the steak, it looked browned and inviting. All of my senses were telling me that this was meat from a real animal sitting on my plate…
Fibrous textures
Reassured by the knowledge that it was actually plant-based, I tucked into my steak. As my knife cut through the slightly tough 3D-printed fibres, I was struck by the stretchy sinews that seemed to connect them together. It was all very disconcerting.
Beefy flavour
I took my first bite and, after a second of chewing, I experienced a beefy flavour; I’ve honestly never tasted plant-based meat like it. The flavour seemed to hover between beefy and umami plant-based, tricking my brain in bursts. Perhaps if I wasn’t focusing on the taste so intently, I would think that I was eating real beef.
Imperfections (or perhaps I mean over-perfection…)
At the moment, Redefine make their steaks using three components: muscle, fat, and blood. The 3D printer layers each of the ingredients based on a CAD/CAM design of conventional steak.
Despite the precision, the steak wasn’t perfect. The colour and fibrous structure were a little too uniform; animal-based steak is usually multiple shades of red and bloody pink, with white fat and sinew. It all seemed just a little too neat.
What’s more, although the taste was very similar to steak, for me and my Vegan Mum, the texture and appearance were more akin to braising beef.
That chew though!
Nevertheless, the steak was definitely juicy and I had to chew each mouthful a dozen times before swallowing, so they’ve certainly got those things right!
Final thoughts
I can’t deny that I enjoyed the experience of eating Redefine Steak, although it was occasionally accompanied by a short bout of nausea whenever it reminded me too much of eating real cow.
I actually don’t miss the taste of meat at all but I sometimes miss being able to make old recipe favourites, such as salsiccie (Redefine make 3D printed sausages as well!). Having access to authentic alternative products would help satisfy that occasional nostalgia.
Plus, they’re a great way to impress non-vegan friends and family!
Where to buy Redefine Meat
I hope my review has helped you to decide for yourself whether or not you want to try 3D-printed steak.
For those of you who do, Redefine Meat is finally available to buy on Ocado!! From pulled pork to lamb kofta mix, you can now treat yourself to some 3D printed plant-based meat at home.
If you fancy treating yourself to Redefine whilst dining out, then London is the place to be (if you’re located in the UK), although Redefine Meats continues to grow and form partnerships with chefs and restaurants across the globe.
Currently, you can find Redefine Meat on the following restaurant menus:
- Gauthier – Soho, London
- Powerplant – Camden, London
- Hive, Brass Rail, and Harry Gordon’s in Selfridges, – Oxford Street, London
- The Breakfast Club – numerous London branches
- Shire Oaks – Fulham, London
- Mr White’s (and some of Marco Pierre’s other London-based restaurants) – Leicester Square, London
To see all of the places currently serving Redefine Meat, check out the Where to Find tool on their website.
