Meat has a distinct taste, texture, aroma. A biochemist explains how plant-based alternatives mimic the real thing

How are plant-based "meats" made?

"From a scientific perspective, the development of plant-based meat alternatives is especially intriguing"

Meat has a distinct taste, texture, aroma. A biochemist explains how plant-based alternatives mimic the real thing

When you bite into a juicy hamburger, slice into the perfect medium-rare steak or gobble down a plateful of chicken nuggets, your senses are most likely responding to the food's smell, taste, texture and color. For a long time, these four attributes set meat apart from other food groups.

Meat has a distinct taste, texture and aroma − a biochemist explains how plant-based alternatives mimic the real thing

Lots of restaurants and food manufacturers offer plant-based meat alternatives. istetiana/Moment via Getty ImagesWhen you bite into a juicy hamburger, slice into the perfect medium-rare steak or gobble down a plateful of chicken nuggets, your senses are most likely responding to the food’s smell, taste, texture and color. For a long time, these four attributes set meat apart from other food groups. But in recent years, food companies have start…