Impossible Meat vs Beyond Meat nutrition is close; Beyond runs lower in sat fat, and Impossible brings more fiber, with similar sodium.
Two boxes can look similar in the freezer case, yet the labels don’t read the same. This guide lines up 4-ounce servings, flags the label traps, and helps you pick the patty that fits your meals.
In this article, impossible meat vs beyond meat nutrition means the label numbers for a 4 oz serving, not marketing claims.
Numbers below use each brand’s published nutrition facts for a 4 oz (113 g) serving. Recipes can change, so use this as a label-reading skill.
| Nutrition Or Label Item | Impossible Beef (4 oz) | Beyond Burger (4 oz) |
|---|---|---|
| Calories | 230 | 230 |
| Protein | 19 g | 20 g |
| Total Fat | 13 g | 14 g |
| Saturated Fat | 6 g | 5 g |
| Cholesterol | 0 mg | 0 mg |
| Sodium | 370 mg | 390 mg |
| Total Carbs | 9 g | 7 g |
| Dietary Fiber | 5 g | 2 g |
| Iron | 4 mg | 4 mg |
| Main Protein Source | Soy | Pea |
| Common Fat Sources | Plant oils | Canola + coconut oil |
Impossible Meat Vs Beyond Meat Nutrition By Serving Size
Comparing plant-based burgers gets messy fast because the serving sizes on packages vary. Some Beyond products list a 4 oz patty, others list a 6 oz patty. Impossible often lists 4 oz for its ground-style product. If you compare “per patty” without checking grams, you can end up judging a bigger patty as “higher calorie” when it’s simply heavier.
For an apples-to-apples read, line up grams first. A 4 oz (113 g) serving is a clean match across both labels, so that’s the baseline used here. Once you pick a portion, you can scale the numbers up or down with quick math.
Calories And Protein: Closer Than Most People Expect
On calories, the matchup is a tie at 230 per 4 oz serving on the current published labels. Most calorie swings come from buns, cheese, sauces, and sides.
Protein is also close. Impossible lists 19 g per 4 oz, Beyond lists 20 g per 4 oz. If your goal is “hit a protein target,” either patty can do that job. Your topping choices can still swing your plate: add an egg, cheese, or a higher-protein bun and the meal changes fast.
What The Protein Source Can Mean
Protein grams are only part of the story. Impossible’s classic burger uses soy as its main protein source, while Beyond leans on pea protein. That matters most for two groups: people with a soy allergy, and people who try to limit soy for personal reasons. For everyone else, the taste and label details may matter more than the protein source itself.
Fat And Saturated Fat: The Real Label Split
This is where the labels start to separate. Total fat stays close, with Impossible at 13 g and Beyond at 14 g per 4 oz. Saturated fat shows a clearer gap: Impossible lists 6 g and Beyond lists 5 g per 4 oz on the published panels. That’s still a narrow spread, yet it adds up if you eat these often, stack patties, or add cheese.
If saturated fat is the number you watch, the faster win comes from the build, not the patty. Skip cheese, use mustard instead of mayo, add avocado slices, and you can drop saturated fat more than switching brands.
Why Both Can Be “Juicy” Without Beef Fat
Both brands use plant oils and binders to get a burger-like bite. A common pattern is pairing liquid oils with a more solid fat so the patty can sizzle and brown. Beyond’s ingredient list on its spec sheet includes expeller-pressed canola oil and refined coconut oil. Impossible’s published nutrition notes list similar calorie and fat ranges while keeping cholesterol at zero.
When you read the ingredients, treat them like a recipe: the earlier an oil appears, the more it shapes the fat profile. If you cook these in extra oil, you add fat on top of the label, so a dry pan or grill can keep the numbers closer to what you’re counting.
Sodium, Fiber, And Micronutrients: Where Small Differences Add Up
Sodium is the main “gotcha” for many people. On the current labels, Impossible lists 370 mg per 4 oz and Beyond lists 390 mg per 4 oz. That’s close, yet it can still push a meal up fast once you add pickles, cheese, ketchup, and fries.
Fiber is the bigger gap. Impossible lists 5 g per 4 oz, Beyond lists 2 g per 4 oz. If you’re trying to get more fiber without adding beans or whole grains to the plate, that difference shows up across the week.
Iron lands in a tie at 4 mg per 4 oz on both labels. If you care about iron, pair either burger with vitamin C foods—think bell peppers, tomatoes, or citrus—to help your body use it.
To double-check the latest numbers, read the brand pages directly: Impossible Foods nutrition details and the Beyond Burger nutrition facts sheet.
Ingredients And Allergens: The Part Labels Don’t Summarize
Nutrition panels tell you what you’re eating. Ingredient lists tell you how the patty gets there. That “meaty” bite comes from binders, flavors, and fats working together.
Common Ingredients You’ll See
- Protein isolates (soy or pea) for structure and chew.
- Methylcellulose as a binder that firms up when heated.
- Natural flavors to push the “grilled” profile.
- Color systems like beet juice to help the raw patty look meat-like.
Allergen risk is the practical takeaway. Impossible’s main protein is soy, so it won’t fit a soy-free diet. Beyond is soy-free on the spec sheet, yet it still contains pea protein, which can matter for people with legume allergies. If you have a diagnosed allergy, read the package each time you buy because brands can revise suppliers and formulations.
Cooking Changes The Numbers You Care About
The label is a starting point, not a scoreboard for the final burger on your plate. Cooking method shifts what stays in the patty and what drains away. Pan-searing can leave more fat in the food if you cook in added oil. Grilling can let some fat drip off, though you can still add fat back with butter, cheese, or oily sauces.
Label Reading Moves That Keep You Honest
- Check if the nutrition facts are for “raw” or “cooked” weight on the package.
- Count oils, butter, and mayo as separate items, not “part of the patty.”
If you cook both patties the same way, the label comparison stays fair. Switch methods between brands and you might blame the product for what the pan added.
Which One Fits Your Goal: A Straight Pick System
If you’ve been googling impossible meat vs beyond meat nutrition to make a quick pick, start with the two label areas that change the feel of a weekly diet: saturated fat and fiber, plus any allergy needs. Here’s a simple way to choose without overthinking it.
Pick Impossible If
- You want more fiber per serving without changing your sides.
- You like a slightly richer “beefy” flavor and don’t mind soy.
Pick Beyond If
- You avoid soy and want a pea-based patty.
- You’re watching saturated fat and want the lower label number.
Impossible Vs Beyond Meat Nutrition In Real Meals
A burger rarely gets eaten naked on a plate. The add-ons can swing calories, sodium, and saturated fat faster than the patty choice. Treat the patty as your base, then decide which “extras” are worth it.
Build A Lower-Sodium Burger
- Use sliced tomato, lettuce, and onion for crunch without salty add-ons.
- Swap pickles for cucumbers when you want the snap without brine.
- Use mustard, salsa, or hot sauce instead of salty burger sauce blends.
Build A Higher-Fiber Plate
- Choose a whole-grain bun or wrap it in lettuce.
- Add beans as a side: black beans, lentils, or chickpeas.
- Load on roasted veggies or a crunchy slaw.
| Your Priority | What To Check On The Label | Quick Move At Home |
|---|---|---|
| Lower saturated fat | Saturated fat grams per serving | Skip cheese; use avocado or hummus |
| Lower sodium | Milligrams sodium per serving | Go light on pickles, sauces, and cheese |
| More fiber | Dietary fiber grams | Add beans or whole grains on the side |
| Higher protein meal | Protein grams plus meal add-ons | Add an egg or Greek yogurt sauce |
| Allergy fit | Soy, pea, and other allergen notes | Read the package every purchase |
Store Aisle Checklist You Can Use In Two Minutes
When you’re shopping, you don’t need to memorize every macro. You need a fast scan that keeps you from buying the wrong item for your goal. Save this as a quick mental list.
That’s it.
Step 1: Match Serving Size
Find the grams. If one package lists 113 g and the other lists 170 g, you’re not comparing equal portions.
Step 2: Scan Three Numbers
- Calories per serving
- Saturated fat grams
- Sodium milligrams
Step 3: Check The “Deal Breakers” Line
Look for allergens, then glance at fiber. If you’re building more whole foods into your week, fiber is an easy win to track.
One Last Reality Check Before You Pick A Winner
Both patties can fit a balanced diet, and both can turn into a calorie bomb if you drown them in cheese, mayo, and salty sides. If you eat plant-based burgers once in a while, choose the one you enjoy and build the rest of the plate with vegetables and whole grains. If you eat them often, the small label gaps—fiber, saturated fat, sodium—start to matter more, so match the patty to the goal you care about most.
