What is Burger King's Impossible Whopper made of?

November 12, 2025 •

4 min read

In 2019, the Impossible Whopper launched nationwide and became an instant sensation, but many customers still wonder: what is Burger King's Impossible Whopper made of? The patty, created by Impossible Foods, is a feat of food science, using a blend of soy and potato proteins, oils, and other key ingredients to mimic the taste and texture of a traditional beef burger.

Quick Summary

The Impossible Whopper's patty is made primarily from soy protein concentrate, coconut and sunflower oils, and heme derived from soy leghemoglobin. It's a plant-based alternative designed to mimic the flavor and texture of beef.

Key Points

Core Ingredients: The patty is primarily made from soy protein concentrate, coconut oil, and sunflower oil, which provide a meaty bite and realistic sizzle.
Heme for Flavor: A key component is soy leghemoglobin, produced via yeast fermentation, which creates the heme molecule that gives the burger its beef-like taste and color.
Not Vegan by Default: The standard Impossible Whopper is not vegan due to the egg-based mayonnaise and the shared grill, but it can be ordered vegan upon request.
Nutritional Profile: It has a similar calorie count to the original Whopper but with less cholesterol and no trans fat, though it is higher in sodium and carbohydrates.
Environmental Impact: The Impossible Burger is promoted as a more sustainable choice, using less land, water, and creating fewer emissions than a beef patty.

Deconstructing the Impossible Whopper Patty

The Impossible Whopper's signature patty, provided by Impossible Foods, is a product of modern food science, carefully engineered to replicate the experience of eating a traditional beef burger. The ingredients list is more complex than a typical homemade veggie patty, featuring several components that work together to create its meaty texture, flavor, and appearance.

The Core Ingredients

At its foundation, the Impossible patty is built on a base of water, soy protein concentrate, and various oils. The soy protein concentrate provides the bulk and bite, while coconut and sunflower oils are crucial for mimicking the sizzle and juiciness of a beef patty when cooked. Unlike other plant-based burgers that might rely on black beans or grains, the Impossible patty uses a more advanced combination of proteins to achieve a texture that is surprisingly similar to ground beef.

The 'Secret' Ingredient: Heme

The most unique component of the Impossible patty is heme, a molecule responsible for the signature meaty flavor and deep red color of beef. Impossible Foods creates its heme using a genetically modified yeast fermentation process, which produces soy leghemoglobin. When this plant-based heme is cooked, it adds a convincing, savory, beef-like aroma and taste, which is a major factor in the burger's popularity among both vegetarians and flexitarians.

Binders, Flavors, and Fortification

To hold the patty together and ensure it cooks properly, Impossible Foods uses binders like methylcellulose, a compound derived from plant cellulose. Other ingredients include yeast extract for savory flavor, cultured dextrose, and various vitamins and minerals such as B vitamins and zinc gluconate to provide nutritional value. This attention to detail in the ingredient list allows the Impossible patty to deliver a robust and satisfying experience that goes beyond a simple veggie burger.

Is the Impossible Whopper Vegan?

By default, the Burger King Impossible Whopper is not vegan due to the mayonnaise, which contains eggs. The patty itself is made from plant-based ingredients, but cross-contamination can also be a concern for strict vegans, as it is cooked on the same broiler as the meat patties. However, customers can request the burger without mayonnaise and ask for a separate, oven-cooked preparation to avoid cross-contact, making it a viable option for a vegan diet.

Impossible Whopper vs. Original Whopper: A Nutritional Comparison

For those curious about how the plant-based option stacks up against the original, here is a comparison of key nutritional facts:


Feature	Impossible Whopper	Original Whopper
Calories	~630 kcal	~660 kcal
Total Fat	34 g	40 g
Saturated Fat	11 g	12 g
Trans Fat	0 g	1.5 g
Cholesterol	10 mg	90 mg
Sodium	1080 mg	980 mg
Carbohydrates	58 g	49 g
Protein	25 g	28 g

As the table shows, the Impossible Whopper offers several advantages, including significantly less cholesterol and no trans fat. It also contains more fiber than the original. However, it does have a higher sodium and carbohydrate count. For many, the slightly lower calorie count and cholesterol-free nature are appealing benefits.

Production and Sustainability

The creation of the Impossible Whopper patty is a large-scale industrial process designed for mass consumption. Unlike a homemade patty, it is not a simple mix of beans and vegetables but a complex food product created through innovative techniques, including yeast fermentation to produce heme. From a sustainability standpoint, the Impossible Burger is often touted as a more environmentally friendly alternative to beef. According to a 2019 report, it uses significantly less land, less water, and creates fewer greenhouse gas emissions compared to a traditional beef patty.

The Rise of Plant-Based Fast Food

Burger King's introduction of the Impossible Whopper was a landmark moment, signaling a major shift in the fast-food industry. Its success demonstrated the significant consumer demand for plant-based alternatives, and many customers, including meat-eaters, embraced the option. This move paved the way for other chains to expand their plant-based offerings and has helped normalize meat alternatives as a mainstream choice.

Conclusion

The Burger King Impossible Whopper is a modern fast-food marvel, leveraging food technology to create a convincing plant-based alternative to the classic beef patty. Its ingredients list, centered on soy protein, coconut and sunflower oils, and genetically engineered heme, allows it to deliver a meaty experience without animal products. While the standard build is not vegan due to mayonnaise and shared cooking surfaces, its existence represents a significant step towards more sustainable and inclusive fast-food options. Understanding what is in this popular menu item highlights the ingenuity behind plant-based cuisine and helps consumers make informed choices.

For further information on Impossible Foods' products and their mission, you can visit their official website at Impossible Foods.

Frequently Asked Questions

No, the patty in the Impossible Whopper is not made of beef. It is a plant-based patty developed by Impossible Foods using soy protein concentrate and other plant-derived ingredients.

The ingredient that gives the patty its red color and meaty flavor is heme, which is created using soy leghemoglobin from a genetically modified yeast fermentation process.

By default, the Impossible Whopper is not vegan because it comes with mayonnaise, which contains eggs. It is also cooked on the same grill as meat products, but customers can request a separate preparation and no mayo.

The Impossible Whopper generally has slightly fewer calories, less fat, and significantly less cholesterol than the original beef Whopper, though it contains more sodium and carbohydrates.

Methylcellulose is a plant-derived chemical compound used as a thickener and binder to help hold the plant-based patty together and give it a firm texture.

Yes, the Impossible patty's main protein source is soy protein concentrate, and it also contains soy leghemoglobin.

Yes, Burger King states that customers can request the Impossible patty to be cooked separately in an oven or microwave to avoid cross-contamination with meat products.