Tofurky facts for kids
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Tofurky plant-based sausage
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Tofurky is a popular brand name for vegan food products. It is known for its turkey replacement, which is also called "tofurkey." This food is made from a mix of wheat protein and organic tofu. The Tofurky brand first came out in 1995.
Tofurky is a special name owned by Turtle Island Foods. This company is located in Hood River, Oregon, in the United States. Turtle Island Foods now uses the Tofurky name for many of its meat-free foods. These include deli slices, sausages, jerky, tempeh, burgers, and franks. All Tofurky products are completely vegan. This means they contain no animal products. Most Tofurky items are also kosher-certified. The name "Tofurky" is a fun mix of "tofu" and "turkey." It sounds a bit like "faux turkey," which means "fake turkey."
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How Tofurky Started
Seth Tibbott became a vegetarian when he was in college. He started the company Turtle Island Foods in 1980. The very first Tofurky roast was created with help from a food company in Portland, Oregon. This company was called The Higher Taste. The Tofurky brand officially began selling its products in 1995.
Where to Find Tofurky
You can find the Tofurky roast in health food grocery stores. Sometimes, it might be harder to find in certain areas. When you buy it, it comes in a box. Inside, there is a small, solid roast. It is wrapped tightly and shaped like a rounded loaf. The roast is already filled with mushrooms, herbs, and wild rice.
You can buy the roast by itself. Or, you can get it as part of a whole meal. This meal often includes cranberry-apple-potato dumplings, gravy, and "wishstix." These "wishstix" are made from Tofurky Jurky, which is a meat-free jerky. The Whole Foods store chain is a big seller of Tofurky products. Many vegetarians choose Tofurky as a meat alternative. They might avoid turkey for personal or ethical reasons. Tofurky products do not contain any turkey or other meat.
Tofurky and Your Health
You can find information online to compare Tofurky's nutrition to meat products. This lets you check things like sodium, fat, cholesterol, and protein. The company does not use trans fat in its products. Tofurky also has no cholesterol because it is 100% vegan.
Turtle Island Foods has said that it no longer uses certain types of soy products. They now only use soybeans that are not GMO. Since the roast is vegan, it is good for people with egg or milk allergies. However, if you are allergic to soy or wheat gluten, Tofurky might not be a good choice for you. This is because most meat alternatives use these ingredients.
Cooking Tofurky
The Tofurky roast comes already stuffed. Its ends are sealed to keep the stuffing inside. If the roast is thawed, it cooks in about one hour and fifteen minutes. If it is frozen, it will take about three hours and fifteen minutes to cook. The product has a smooth texture, which makes it easy to slice.
Tofurky is made from seitan and soy. It was created to feel like meat when you eat it. The vegetable-based flavors are meant to taste like traditional Thanksgiving food. To make it even more like meat, the creators designed the roast to tear off at a forty-five-degree angle along its grain.
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