Meet the McPlant, The Plant-Based Burger McDonald’s Is Finally Testing in the U.S.
Flexitarians, the wait is nearly over.
Photo courtesy of McDonald's
Flexitarians, some exciting news! McDonald’s is taking a big step toward adding a plant-based burger to its U.S. menus.
Yes, yes — what took it so long?!
The fast-food giant has announced it will begin testing its new McPlant Burger in the U.S. starting November 3.
Initially, the McPlant will be available in eight U.S. markets — in four states — while supplies last and for a limited time only. Those test markets are Irving and Carrollton, Texas; Cedar Falls, Iowa; Jennings and Lake Charles, Louisiana; and El Segundo and Manhattan Beach, California.
The U.S. test follows the McPlant’s introduction this year in several overseas markets, including Sweden, Denmark, the Netherlands, Austria and, most recently, the U.K., where it was tested in 10 restaurants in late September, has expanded to more than 250 this week, and is expected to roll out by 2022.
McDonald’s partnered with Beyond Meat to develop the McPlant Burger, which it said in a news release is “exclusive to McDonald’s and made from plant-based ingredients like peas, rice and potatoes.”
The burger will be served with tomato, lettuce, pickles, onions, ketchup, mayo, mustard and American cheese on a sesame seed bun and will evoke “the iconic taste of a McDonald’s burger,” the company said.
Vegetarians and vegans should note that, although the burger itself is plant based, the U.S. version will be served with non-plant-based fixings (cheese, mayonnaise). Customers can request that those or any other ingredients be kept off their burger; however, the burgers will be cooked on the same grills as McDonald’s eggs, burgers and other meat-based menu items.
McDonald’s, which has trailed other fast food chains, including Burger King and White Castle, in introducing a plant-based patty to its regular burger lineup, says it has launched this current test to help it “understand how offering a burger with a plant-based patty impacts the kitchens in our restaurants.”
As for when Americans not in the eight test markets will be able to order a McPlant along with — or instead of — their Big Macs and Quarter Pounders, McDonald’s said it would provide information about expanded availability following the test in due time.
“We can't share that secret sauce just yet,” it coyly noted.
In other words, for many of us, the McWait continues, but hopefully not for long.
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