‘I tried the crumbly McDonald’s vegan McPlant and it’s cheese that’s the winner’

McDonald’s has finally launched a meat-free burger that gives plant-based Brits the opportunity to tuck into the famous burger brand’s food.

Until now, the only option for non-meat eaters at the burger chain was the veggie dippers which could be served in a deluxe burger, a wrap or alone.

But, all vegetarians and vegans know they didn’t hit the spot when you wanted a tasty burger.

Luckily, we got our hands on the brand new McPlant to see whether it’s worth buying after the launch on September 29.

And, we’re pretty sure the dish – which took a whopping three years to create – will rival the Gregg’s vegan sausage roll…

The impressive McPlant features a vegan sesame bun, mustard, ketchup, vegan sauce, fresh onion, pickles, lettuce, tomato and vegan cheese. It is cooked separately from other McDonald’s burgers and sandwiches using dedicated utensils.

Unlike some other plant-based offerings, the McPlant is fully accredited as vegan by the Vegetarian Society to ensure it meets the highest vegan standards.

It comes in at 429 calories, compared to 518 for a beef quarter pounder with cheese.

The McPlant will be available in 10 restaurants in Coventry from 29 September as an initial roll out before 250 stores start selling the item in October.

Now that we know all of the details it’s time to get to the important part – what does it taste like?

McPlant: The Taste Test

I was lucky enough to be one of the first people in the UK to try the brand new vegan McPlant burger and I have to say I was pleasantly surprised.

McDonald’s has put a lot of work into making the burger closely resemble one of its famous cheeseburgers.

The sesame bun is just like one of their normal ones with a slightly sweet taste and soft mouth feel.

As all of the salad is vegan anyway that tastes no different from the usual. Although, personally I’d add more pickles.

When you bite into the McPlant you’re greeted by a familiar feel and taste, however, the Beyond Meat vegan patty does have a very slightly different texture from a regular beef patty. It’s a very close match, but the burger is slightly less tough and feels softer when you chew.

The patty is just as thin as the ones in the usual burger and tastes remarkably similar, but I would say it has a very slightly less strong savoury and umami taste. It also crumbles a tiny bit more. Even with this, it’s uncannily similar to regular beef.

The sauces included are ketchup (the usual kind), mustard (also the same as normal) and vegan burger sauce. The latter tastes a little bit like mayo, but not quite. I actually couldn’t really distinguish the burger sauce when I bit into the burger, but maybe it adds to the overall flavour.

Now, here’s where things get serious. Vegan cheese can royally ruin a good vegan or veggie burger. I hate pretty much every vegan cheese on the market – they’re thick, coat your teeth and taste like oil and feet.

However, the McDonald’s cheese slice… tastes good! This is the only vegan cheese I have ever eaten that closely resembles the texture and flavour of real cheese.

It’s almost indistinguishable from the regular McDonald’s cheese slices with the only change being that it’s not quite as melty. I am in love. I wish they would sell them in packs in the supermarket.

Now, don’t get me wrong – it’s still an American cheese slice and not a fancy brie or camembert. But, my gosh, it is a cracking substitute.

Overall, the burger is almost identical to a regular McDonald’s cheeseburger with just a slightly different texture (very minimal). I would say you could feed this burger to the most staunch carnivore and they would not realise it was vegan if you didn’t tell them.

Plus, don’t forget that the McPlant, like most of McDonald’s offerings, is completely customisable.

So, if you want to load up on pickles, remove the mustard or add extra cheese then you can!

I’ll be ordering the McPlant every time I go to McDonald’s now and, as a vegetarian, I’m relieved the American chain has finally opened its doors to the plant-based community.

You could say I’m lovin’ it…

Would you try the McPlant? Tell us in the comments…