Soy meat

Meat-alternative products made from soy. Dried, retort and frozen types behave differently.

Types and uses

How you choose depends on the format. Dried soy meat keeps well and is cheap, but needs rehydrating and rinsing to clear the beany smell. Retort and frozen types come prepared and usually pre-seasoned, and win on convenience.

Shape matters too. Mince suits soboro and mapo dishes, blocks suit karaage and sweet-and-sour, fillets suit stir-frying.

What to check

Whether it is pre-seasoned or plain
Animal-derived extracts or egg white, if you are avoiding them
Added wheat gluten, if you are avoiding gluten
Protein content and salt