Yali Bio: Recreating a juicy steak in plant-based alternatives

5 min read

Nov 05, 2021

By Wang Xiao'e

Image: Shutterstock

Founded by the former head of Impossible Foods’ pilot plant, this Bay Area genomics and foodtech startup is one of the first to engineer a better fat for plant-based meat

Coconut oil is the primary plant-based substitute for animal fat used by foodtech companies rolling out plant-based meat, including market leaders such as Impossible Foods and Beyond Meat. But it is not an ideal replacement because it melts around 25°C, much lower than the melting point of animal fat. When heated, the coconut oil liquefies and renders out more quickly, causing the meat substitute to dry out faster during cooking.
This is why many plant-based meats fail to mimic the succulence and juiciness of real meat, as animal fat adds flavor, moisture and richness, and creates a fe...

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