The research was conducted by scientists from the Faculty of Food Science and Nutrition at the University of Life Sciences in Poznań. The result of years of work and a grant they received from the National Centre for Research and Development was the creation of meat substitutes—specifically sausages, burgers, and gyros—from potatoes.
Poznań scientists invented sausages made from potatoes. "A typical hotdog sausage"
Dr. Przemysław Kowalczewski, head of the team, shared the results in an interview with Radio Poznań. He discussed the use of potato proteins, which have a good amino acid profile but are difficult to process, which is why they are not commonly used. Their disadvantages include a potato-like smell and a gray color. Extra work was needed to mitigate these traits, such as mixing the proteins with others. Additionally, the researchers ensured that their products contained healthy proportions of fatty acids.
The scientist also revealed what the potato sausages look and taste like. "A typical hotdog sausage (...) it smells nice like a sausage, looks like a sausage, it's beautiful and pink, and it even behaves the same on those rollers when we grill it," he assured. Consumer tests were also conducted, confirming that the sausage tastes like meat.
At the moment, it is unclear when the potato sausages and other products created by the Poznań scientists will hit the market. According to Radio Poznań, discussions are underway with companies that could bring them to stores.
