Emma Wilson
Sonic Drive-In, America's #1 drive-in fast-food chain, has introduced a blended burger made with beef and mushrooms. The burger patty is made up of about 70% beef and 25-30% mushroom, with the mushroom addition aimed at reducing calories, cholesterol, saturated fat, and environmental footprint. The blended burger, called the Signature Slinger, delivers the same juicy deliciousness expected from a burger but with less fat and fewer calories.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Burger name | Signature Slinger |
| Type of burger | Hybrid/blended |
| Patty composition | 70% beef and 25-30% mushroom |
| Calories | 350 |
| Environmental impact | Reduced GHGs by 10.5 million tons, saving 80 billion gallons of water, and reverting a significant amount of land used for factory farming |
| Taste | Juicier, boosts umami taste |
| Health benefits | Reduced calories, cholesterol, saturated fat, fat content, sodium content |
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What You'll Learn
- Sonic's blended mushroom-beef burgers are healthier and more environmentally-friendly
- The blended burgers contain 70% beef and 30% mushroom
- The mushroom content reduces calories, cholesterol and saturated fat
- The burgers are marketed as tasting like a regular burger, but juicier
- The blended burgers are known as 'Sonic Slingers'
Sonic's blended mushroom-beef burgers are healthier and more environmentally-friendly
In 2018, Sonic Drive-In, a popular fast-food chain, introduced blended mushroom-beef burgers to its menu. The burger patty is made with 70% beef and 30% mushroom, and is marketed as a healthier and more environmentally-friendly alternative to traditional beef burgers.
Sonic's blended mushroom-beef burgers are healthier because they contain less beef, which reduces the amount of calories, cholesterol, saturated fat, and sodium in each patty. The addition of mushrooms also increases the fibre and antioxidant content of the burgers, providing additional plant-based benefits. The company's vice president of product innovation and development, Scott Uehlein, described the burger as delivering "the juicy, savory deliciousness you expect from a burger in a way that makes you feel like you're getting away with something".
In addition to being healthier, Sonic's blended mushroom-beef burgers are also more environmentally-friendly. Beef is a resource-intensive food with a large environmental footprint, requiring significant amounts of land, water, and energy for production. By replacing some of the beef with mushrooms, Sonic has reduced the strain on ecosystems and lowered greenhouse gas emissions associated with beef production. According to the World Resources Institute, if all 10 billion burgers consumed annually in the United States contained 30% mushrooms, it would reduce annual CO2 emissions by 10.5 million tons, save 83 billion gallons of water, and decrease the amount of global farmland needed.
The blended mushroom-beef burgers were met with positive feedback from customers, who appreciated the taste and lower calorie count. While some customers were initially hesitant about the addition of mushrooms, Sonic successfully marketed the burger as a delicious and juicy alternative to traditional beef burgers. The company focused on promoting the burger's flavour and the fact that it allowed consumers to "get away with" eating a cheeseburger without the usual guilt associated with consuming fast food.
Overall, Sonic's blended mushroom-beef burgers are a successful example of how small changes in ingredient ratios can have a significant impact on the health and environmental consequences of our food choices. By reducing the amount of beef and adding mushrooms, Sonic has created a burger that is both tasty and nutritious, while also being more sustainable and environmentally friendly. This innovative approach to fast food has the potential to positively influence the culinary world and set a new standard for sustainability in the industry.
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The blended burgers contain 70% beef and 30% mushroom
Sonic has introduced blended burgers to its menu, which contain 70% beef and 30% mushroom. The fast-food chain is the first to take a hybrid burger nationwide, with the roll-out coming after positive feedback from a trial of the burger in 2017. The burger, called the "Signature Slinger", has 30% of its beef content replaced by mushrooms, reducing the calories, cholesterol, saturated fat, and overall environmental footprint of the meal.
The blended burgers at Sonic are marketed as having "all the flavor with none of the guilt". The company's vice president of product innovation and development, Scott Uehlein, has described the burger as delivering the "juicy savory deliciousness you expect from a burger in a way that makes you feel like you're getting away with something". The addition of mushrooms makes the burgers healthier and more environmentally friendly, reducing the need for beef, which has a large environmental impact.
The blended burger concept is not unique to Sonic, with numerous other restaurants featuring them on their menus. Stanford University serves only blended burgers in its cafeterias, and Sodexo, a food service company, serves them in K-12 cafeterias. The burgers are also popular with consumers, who have responded well to the lower calorie count and the taste, which is still mostly like a traditional beef burger.
The introduction of blended burgers is part of a wider shift towards more sustainable and plant-based foods. The World Resources Institute has calculated that if all 10 billion burgers consumed in the US each year contained 30% mushrooms, it would reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 10.5 million tons, the same as removing 2 million cars from the road. This would also save 80 billion gallons of water and reduce the amount of land needed for factory farming.
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The mushroom content reduces calories, cholesterol and saturated fat
In 2018, Sonic Drive-In introduced blended mushroom-beef burgers to its menu, which contain roughly 70% beef and 30% mushroom. The mushroom content in these burgers helps to reduce calories, cholesterol, and saturated fat.
The addition of mushrooms to the beef patty allows for a lower-calorie burger without sacrificing flavour. The blended burger patty has been praised for its superior health benefits and sustainability. By including mushrooms, Sonic has been able to lower the fat content, sodium content, and overall calories of their burgers.
A joint study between UC Davis and the Culinary Institute of America found that cutting ground beef with mushrooms by up to 50% resulted in a product that was equally or more flavoursome than plain ground beef. This means that the amount of beef in a burger can be reduced without impacting its taste.
The mushroom content in the blended burgers also has environmental benefits. Beef is a resource-intensive food, and reducing the amount of beef in burgers can lower greenhouse emissions, save water, and revert land used for factory farming to more regenerative practices. According to the World Resources Institute, if all 10 billion burgers consumed in the US each year contained 30% mushrooms, it would reduce CO2 emissions by 10.5 million tons, the equivalent of removing 2 million cars from the road.
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The burgers are marketed as tasting like a regular burger, but juicier
Sonic Drive-In, a popular fast-food chain, has introduced blended mushroom-beef burgers at its 3,500-plus locations across the United States. The burger patty is made with 70% beef and 30% mushroom, with the mushroom content aimed at reducing calories, cholesterol, saturated fat, and environmental impact. The burgers are marketed as tasting like a regular burger, but juicier.
The blended burgers are part of Sonic's Signature Slingers range, which includes original and bacon burgers. The addition of mushrooms is said to boost the umami taste and moisture of the burgers while reducing the amount of beef needed. This makes the burgers healthier and more environmentally friendly, with a lower fat, sodium, and calorie content than traditional burgers.
According to Scott Uehlein, Sonic's vice president of product innovation and development, the Signature Slingers deliver "the juicy, savory deliciousness you expect from a burger in a way that makes you feel like you're getting away with something." The burgers have been marketed as a "cheeseburger that lets you get away with it," emphasising the idea that customers can enjoy the taste and flavour of a regular burger without the associated guilt.
While some customers have expressed concern over the addition of mushrooms, others have praised the burgers for their taste and environmental benefits. The blended burger concept has gained traction in various settings, including universities and school cafeterias, and is supported by organisations such as the World Resources Institute and the Mushroom Council.
The Signature Slingers range was initially tested in select locations in 2017, receiving positive feedback. Sonic has since expanded the offering to all its locations, becoming the first fast-food chain to take a hybrid burger nationwide. The company has focused its marketing on the taste and health benefits of the burgers, rather than their environmental impact, reflecting the priorities of its customer base.
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The blended burgers are known as 'Sonic Slingers'
The blended burgers at Sonic are known as Sonic Slingers. These burgers were unveiled at the 2017 Menus of Change Leadership Summit in Hyde Park, New York, and were launched to make the burgers healthier and more environmentally friendly. The blended burgers contain 70% beef and 25-30% mushrooms, which is intended to reduce the calories, cholesterol, saturated fat, and overall environmental footprint of the burgers.
The idea behind blending beef and mushrooms is to boost the umami taste, add moisture, and reduce the amount of beef needed. The Mushroom Council, an industry trade group, partnered with Sonic on the new hybrid burger. The blended burgers are marketed as having "all the flavor and none of the guilt". The addition of mushrooms also makes the burgers more nutritious, with added fiber and antioxidants.
Sonic is the first chain to take a hybrid burger nationwide across its 3,500-plus locations, although the concept of blended burgers is not unique to Sonic. Many other restaurants, universities, and cafeterias have also started to serve blended burgers. The blended burgers at Sonic are known as Sonic Slingers, and they come in two varieties: original and bacon.
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Frequently asked questions
No, Sonic has a blended burger made with 25-30% mushrooms.
The blended burger is called the Signature Slinger.
The Signature Slinger has less fat and fewer calories than a traditional burger. It is also more environmentally friendly.
The burger consists of 100% pure beef, mushrooms, and seasonings.
The Signature Slinger has about 350 calories.
