It may still be a ways off for most people but in the not too distant future we will be considering meal prepping with synthetic meats. Synthetic meats, also known as cultivated or lab-grown meats, are grown through a process called cellular agriculture. This approach has a few benefits over traditional proteins.
How synthetic meats are created
- Cell Collection: Scientists extract a small sample of muscle cells from an animal, typically through a biopsy, without significantly harming the animal.
- Cell Cultivation: These cells are placed in a nutrient-rich culture medium containing amino acids, vitamins, and growth factors that help them multiply.
- Scaffolding: The growing cells are placed on a scaffold or edible structure to help them develop into muscle fibers, mimicking the texture of real meat.
- Bioreactor Growth: The cells are transferred to a bioreactor, where they continue to grow and form muscle tissue in a controlled environment.
- Harvesting and Processing: Once fully developed, the meat is harvested, shaped, and processed into familiar products like burgers, nuggets, or steaks.
Nutritional Benefits of Lab-Grown Proteins
One of the major benefits of meal prepping with lab-grown meats is that the nutrients can be customized. Same amount of meat with more protein, healthy fats, and less calories and contaminants.
- Protein Optimization: Can have higher protein levels compared to traditional meats.
- Healthy Fats: lab-grown meats have reduced saturated fats while containing higher omega-3 fatty acids.
- Vitamins: Increase in essential vitamins and minerals such as B12, iron, and zinc.
- Lower Contaminants: Free from antibiotics, hormones, and potential ocean pollutants like mercury or microplastics found in seafood.
Cruelty Free & Sustainable Meats
Meal prepping with synthetic meats is also cruelty free. This is a big opportunity for vegetarians and vegans that refuse to eat animals to re-introduce meat based protein into their diets. Of course there are other considerations but at least the cruelty-free part is a big perk.
Sustainability is an issue with traditional meat and ranching. It takes a lot of land and energy while creating a ton of waste and greenhouse gases. Even small changes in environmental sustainability can have huge impacts on the world. Now lab-grown meats have their own energy and waste issues but more research is being done and this can potentially be addressed in new ways.
How to Meal Prep with Synthetic Meats
Lab-grown meats act and taste very similarly to traditional meats however there are some adaptations to maximize taste and nutritional value. Using high-heat searing can help create a more authentic crust. Marinades and spice rubs will improve flavor while providing an overall meal anyways.
Reality of Synthetic Meats
Realistically synthetic meats are years or decades off from being a daily thing for the general public. Scaling takes time but costs are the real issue. The cost of lab-grown meats is about 3-4 higher than traditional meat raising. That price has come down fast in the past decade though and the price could be made reasonable through scale.
Conclusion on Meal Prepping with Synthetic Meats
It’s probably going to be a hard pill to swallow for most people. Meat that is entirely lab-grown sounds science fiction or gross however for future generations, this could be a very normal thing. The health benefits are looking impressive but the long term impacts of lab-grown meats will take time to understand. Either way, synthetic meats in your grocery store are likely to be a thing within a matter of years.
