John Miller
In 2018, Sonic Drive-In introduced blended mushroom-beef burgers to its menu, marking a shift towards more sustainable and healthier fast-food options. The burger, called the Slinger, contains roughly 25-30% mushrooms, with the rest being beef. While Sonic emphasizes the unique taste and juiciness of the burger, environmentalists applaud the reduced environmental impact of lowering beef consumption. This move by Sonic is part of a broader trend towards blended burgers, with organizations like the World Resources Institute advocating for plant-based alternatives to meat-centric menu items.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Burger Name | Signature Slinger |
| Burger Patty Composition | 70-75% beef and 25-30% mushrooms |
| Burger Taste | Juicier and more umami |
| Burger Calories | Under 350 |
| Burger Fat | Less than traditional burgers |
| Environmental Impact | Lower carbon footprint |
| Burger Availability | Available at all Sonic Drive-In locations |
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What You'll Learn
Sonic's blended burgers contain 25-30% mushrooms
In 2018, Sonic Drive-In introduced blended mushroom-beef burgers to its menu. The fast-food chain's blended burgers contain roughly 25-30% mushrooms. This addition of mushrooms to the beef patty amps up the flavours and makes the burger juicier.
Sonic's blended burgers were first introduced in certain locations in 2017. The company tested the new burger to see how customers would react. The trial went well, and the blended burgers were rolled out across all Sonic Drive-In restaurants.
The blended burgers were created in partnership with the Mushroom Council, an industry trade group. The Mushroom Council had been working with the Culinary Institute of America's Healthy Menus R&D Collaborative to develop the concept of blended burgers. The idea behind blending beef with mushrooms is to boost the umami taste, add moisture, and reduce the amount of beef needed for a burger.
According to the World Resources Institute, if 30% of the beef in every burger in America were replaced by mushrooms, it would reduce greenhouse emissions by the same amount as taking 2.3 million vehicles off the roads. Additionally, a study by the Mushroom Council estimated that producing a pound of mushrooms has a carbon dioxide footprint of 0.7 pounds, while a pound of beef has a footprint of 12.3 pounds.
While some customers have expressed dislike for the blended burgers, others have praised the taste and the environmental benefits of reducing beef consumption.
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The blended burgers have a reduced environmental footprint
Sonic's blended burgers have a reduced environmental footprint because they require less beef. According to the World Resources Institute, if 30% of the beef in every burger in America were replaced by mushrooms, it would reduce greenhouse emissions by the same amount as taking 2.3 million vehicles off the road. Additionally, a study by the Mushroom Council found that producing a pound of mushrooms has a carbon dioxide footprint of 0.7 pounds, while a pound of beef has a footprint of 12.3 pounds.
The blended burgers also have health benefits, as they contain less fat and fewer calories than traditional beef burgers. Furthermore, the mushrooms add moisture and boost the umami taste of the burgers.
The introduction of blended burgers has been applauded by environmentalists and organizations such as the World Resources Institute and the Mushroom Council. Richard Waite of the World Resources Institute stated, "I think it's great!" He also highlighted the potential environmental impact of a mainstream fast-food place like Sonic offering blended burgers on all their menus.
The blended burgers at Sonic represent a significant step towards more sustainable and plant-based menu options in the fast-food industry. The company's large scale adoption of blended burgers across its over 3,500 locations demonstrates a commitment to reducing the environmental impact of beef production and providing consumers with healthier and more environmentally-friendly choices.
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The burgers are healthier, with less fat and fewer calories
In 2018, Sonic Drive-In introduced blended mushroom-beef burgers to its menu. The fast-food chain's new burgers contain roughly 25-30% mushrooms, which reduce the amount of beef required.
Sonic's blended burgers are healthier, with less fat and fewer calories than traditional burgers. The addition of mushrooms amps up the flavours of the beef and seasonings in each bite. The burgers are also juicier, with more moisture. According to Scott Uehlein, Sonic's vice president of product innovation and development, the burgers "deliver the juicy, savoury deliciousness you expect from a burger".
The blended burgers have a much smaller carbon footprint than traditional beef burgers. Beef is one of the most carbon-intensive foods on the planet, with a pound of beef producing 12.3 pounds of CO2 emissions. By contrast, a pound of mushrooms produces only 0.7 pounds of CO2 emissions. If all 10 billion burgers that Americans consume annually used blended patties with 30% mushrooms, it would reduce CO2 emissions by 10.5 million tons, the equivalent of taking 2 million cars off the road.
The blended burgers also have positive impacts on water usage and land requirements. A 2014 study in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences found that beef production uses 11 times more water and 28 times more land than producing pork, poultry, eggs or dairy. By reducing the amount of beef in each burger, Sonic's blended burgers help to conserve water and land resources.
While some customers have expressed dislike for the blended burgers, others have praised the taste and environmental benefits. Richard Waite of the World Resources Institute, which has been pushing for more sustainable menu options, applauded Sonic's move. He noted that the blended burgers could become one of America's most-served menu items, with broad appeal due to still being mostly beef.
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The Mushroom Council partnered with Sonic to create the hybrid burger
The Mushroom Council, an industry trade group and the body of cultivated mushroom growers, partnered with Sonic to create the hybrid burger. The blended burger concept was first put forward in 2011 by the Mushroom Council and the Culinary Institute of America's Healthy Menus R&D Collaborative. The burger is made from a mixture of beef and mushrooms, with the patty containing roughly 25-30% mushrooms.
The idea behind the blended burger is to boost umami taste, add moisture, and reduce the amount of beef required. This, in turn, reduces the environmental impact of beef production, which has a large carbon footprint. According to the World Resources Institute, if 30% of the beef in every burger in America were replaced by mushrooms, it would reduce greenhouse emissions by the same amount as taking 2.3 million vehicles off the road.
Sonic's vice president of product innovation and development, Scott Uehlein, stated that the burger "delivers the juicy savory deliciousness you expect from a burger in a way that makes you feel like you're getting away with something." The blended burger offers a healthier option with less fat and fewer calories than traditional burgers, while still appealing to customers who may be less interested in fully vegetarian options.
The hybrid burger was initially tested in certain Sonic locations in 2017, and due to its success, it was rolled out nationwide. Sonic became the first fast-food chain to offer a blended burger at all of its 3,500-plus locations, representing a significant boost to the concept of blended burgers.
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The blended burgers are juicier and boost the umami taste
In 2018, Sonic Drive-In introduced blended mushroom-beef burgers to its menu at all of its 3,500-plus locations, making it the first fast-food chain to offer a blended burger at a large scale. The blended burgers contain roughly 25-30% mushrooms, with the rest being beef.
The idea behind the blended burgers is that mixing chopped mushrooms into the patties boosts the umami taste, adds more moisture, and reduces the amount of beef required. The Mushroom Council, an industry trade group, partnered with Sonic on the new hybrid burger. According to Scott Uehlein, Sonic's vice president of product innovation and development, the blended burgers "deliver the juicy, savory deliciousness you expect from a burger". He also stated that the burgers are "flavorful and juicy" and have a "broader appeal" compared to completely vegetarian burgers.
The addition of mushrooms to the beef patties makes the blended burgers noticeably juicier. This is especially true when the mushroom content is between 30-40%, according to some sources. The mushrooms also add depth to the flavour of the burgers, enhancing the taste of the 100% pure beef and seasonings in each bite.
The blended burgers have a smaller carbon footprint than traditional beef burgers, as mushrooms produce far fewer greenhouse gases than beef. According to the World Resources Institute, if 30% of the beef in every burger in America were replaced by mushrooms, it would reduce greenhouse emissions by the same amount as taking 2.3 million vehicles off the roads.
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Frequently asked questions
Yes, Sonic blends mushrooms into their hamburger patties.
Sonic's mushroom-blended hamburger patties are said to contain roughly 25% to 30% mushrooms.
Sonic claims that blending mushrooms into their hamburger patties improves sustainability by reducing the amount of beef required. Environmentalists and the World Resources Institute applaud this move as it reduces greenhouse emissions and has a positive impact on the environment.
Reactions to Sonic's mushroom-blended hamburgers have been mixed. Some customers have expressed dislike for the taste, while others have praised the burgers for being healthier and more environmentally friendly.
