The Blend

The Blend™ at Foodservice

From major chains to independents, chefs know that “blended” means “better.”

Why The Blend™

Created in conjunction with the Culinary Institute of America’s Healthy Menus Collaborative, The Blend™ is helping chefs reimagine menus to make the overall eating out experience better. Chefs from Colleges & Universities, fine dining and chef-driven restaurants, chains, healthcare and K-12 are creating more mindful menu items and making a statement with The Blend™. Meat manufacturers in foodservice and retail have embraced The Blend™. Top Chefs have noted the power of The Blend™. Trends analysts have lauded The Blend™ as a way to appeal to more-informed, more-socially responsible diners.

Blending is a menu strategy used with any type of ground meat in burgers, tacos, meatballs, chili, sloppy joes, meatloaf and more. You can even blend with any popular plant-based products to reduce calories, saturated fat, sodium and even cost.

View The Blend Research

Key Benefits

Better Flavor
Juicier Texture
More sustainable
More Nutritious
Lower Calories
Lower Fat and Saturated Fat
Reduced Sodium and Cholesterol
Better Holding
More Creativity and Differentiation

4 oz of medium ground beef has 376 calories.
This can be reduced by up to 65% with The Blend™.

Burgers, meatloaf & meatballs blended with 30% mushrooms =

270 CALORIES*

that’s a savings of
28% per serving.

30% less fat & cholesterol and 28% less sodium in The Blend™, on average.

Tacos & burritos blended with 40% mushrooms =

235 CALORIES*

that’s a savings of
37% per serving.

40% less fat & cholesterol and 38%less sodium in The Blend™, on average.

Chili & pasta sauce blended with 70% mushrooms =

130 CALORIES*

that’s a savings of
65% per serving.

70% less fat & cholesterol and 66%less sodium in The Blend™, on average.

Sustainability

Mushrooms are considered to be one of the most sustainably produced foods in the United States. Mushroom production uses less water and energy, requires less space, and is gentle on the planet.

Learn More About Mushroom Sustainability

Flavor

Studies have explored the flavor-enhancing properties of mushrooms and found that blending finely chopped mushrooms with ground meat enhances flavor and nutrition.

See How Mushrooms Boost Flavor
See All Recipes

“From a chef’s perspective, mushrooms are a culinary gift, offering more creative potential and versatility than just about any other vegetable. They add flavor, texture, and enhance the overall visual appeal of whatever food they are paired with. And in doing so, they increase the inherent level of “cravability” of the dish. When done correctly, this can make the difference between the ordinary and the extraordinary.”
Bob OkuraExecutive Chef, The Cheesecake Factory
“As a chef, I love using fresh ingredients to create delicious and memorable meals for my guests, friends and family. For this reason, I choose to use mushrooms when cooking not only for their delicious flavor, but also because I feel that I have a responsibility to preserve our food source by incorporating sustainable ingredients like mushrooms. I am a blenditarian because blending mushrooms with wagyu beef allows me to create a healthy, delicious and sustainable burger.”
Chef Amir Hajimaleki Oasthouse Kitchen + Bar
“The blended burger is the wave of the future. With more hungry people entering the world every day, there needs to be a way to provide food that is healthy, sustainable and delicious to an ever-growing population. By incorporating the abundant mushroom with a crowd favorite animal-derived protein, umami characteristics are instantly elevated as is the overall moisture content and holding ability. Fat is cut by at least 30% and several health benefits enter into the mix simply by adding mushrooms. Most importantly, the blended burger tastes great and is good for you! Simply put, the Blended Burger Project™ embodies healthy, sustainable and delicious in perfect balance and we wanted to be a part of this ground breaking movement.”
Anthony Jung University Club and Restaurant, UMASS

Press Releases

Find our past and present press releases distributed by the Mushroom Council.

See All Releases