Food and Beverage
Grilling Beef-Alternative Burgers: Safety Tips
Grill beef-alternative burgers safely by following cooking temperature guidelines and avoiding cross-contamination.

Memorial Day weekend is a time for grilling, and many Americans opt for beef alternative burgers. However, it’s important to keep in mind that the same cooking requirements for beef burgers won’t necessarily apply to black bean or other plant-based burgers.
Melissa Wright, director of the Food Producer Technical Assistance Program at Virginia Tech, recommends cooking beef burgers to an internal temperature of 160°F, while alternative burgers have different cooking temperatures.

Melissa Wright, director of the Food Producer Technical Assistance Program in the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences’ Department of Food Science and Technology at Virginia Tech
« Expert offers safety tips for grilling beef-alternative burgers on Memorial Day
“There are many alternative burger options, and knowing the correct internal temperature for each type is the best way to make sure your long weekend isn’t ruined by foodborne illness,” Wright said.
Wright’s recommended appropriate cooking temperatures for popular burger options include:
● Ground chicken or turkey – 165°F (74°C)
● ImpossibleTM burgers (soy protein) – 160°F (71°C), according to product packaging
● Beyond® burgers (pea protein) – 165°F (74°C), according to product packaging
● Morningstar Farms® burgers (chickpea protein) – 165°F (74°C), according to product packaging
● Black bean burgers – 165°F (74°C)
● Ground salmon – 145°F (63°C)
● Ground bison – 160°F (71°C)
● Ground elk – 145°F (63°C)
“Food continues to cook after being removed from the heat source, so it’s alright to remove your burger from the grill and check its internal temperature after a couple of minutes to avoid overcooking,” said Wright.
It’s important to avoid cross-contamination between raw proteins and ready-to-eat foods, and uncooked plant-based burgers should be included in this category when prepping to grill.
Additionally, beef-alternative meats are much leaner than beef, making it easy to overcook them if you’re used to grilling beef. Checking the internal temperature after removing the burger from the grill for a couple of minutes can help avoid overcooking.
Further reading:
More recipes: https://stmdailynews.com/category/food-and-beverage/recipes/
Food and Beverage
Blaze Pizza Launches ‘What’s Hot’ Monthly Value to Satisfy Pizza Lovers’ Cravings
June’s Craveable Value Features the Pepperoni Lover Pizza with More Than Double the Amount of Pepperoni
LOS ANGELES /PRNewswire/ — Blaze Pizza, the nation’s leading fast-casual pizza brand, is introducing a new “What’s Hot” monthly value special for pizza lovers to enjoy at participating locations nationwide. Inspired by the brand’s most popular menu items, guests can anticipate a new, featured pizza every month to satisfy their cravings at a great price. Beginning June 1, Blaze Pizza will offer the first of its “What’s Hot” promotions featuring the brand’s number-one-selling protein topping – pepperoni!
Blaze’s June special is the Pepperoni Lover Pizza, made with a heaping portion of 32 slices of savory pepperoni layered over mozzarella cheese on Blaze Pizza’s original 11-inch crust pizza for only $8.99*. Orders are available in-store, or for delivery via www.blazepizza.com and the Blaze Pizza app.
“Blaze’s ‘What’s Hot’ monthly value program marks the beginning of our commitment to guests to offer fresh and high-quality menu items at everyday affordable prices,” said Beto Guajardo, CEO of Blaze Pizza. “We know what our guests love, so we want to offer their favorites at a special discount every month.”
The “What’s Hot” monthly value initiative offers guests the chance to explore even more menu options each month while also saving money. Next month’s “What’s Hot” offer will feature Hawaiian Pizza, due to the tropical seasonality of pineapple and its popular combination with ham. Check back at a participating Blaze Pizza location or join Blaze Rewards to discover each month’s craveable value offer.
For more information, visit blazepizza.com. Follow Blaze Pizza on Instagram, Twitter, TikTok, and Facebook for the latest updates.
About Blaze Pizza
Founded in 2011, Blaze Pizza is the nation’s leading fast-casual pizza franchise concept with more than 330 restaurants across 38 states and six countries. Headquartered in Los Angeles, Blaze Pizza is committed to delivering a one-of-a-kind customer experience and unparalleled high-quality products. Known for its savory artisanal pizzas and customizable made-to-order menu, Blaze leads the industry in menu innovation and product excellence. The rapidly growing franchise has received numerous accolades including Entrepreneur’s Franchise 500, as well as #1 spots on Fast Casual’s Top 100 Movers and Shakers and Franchise Times’ Fast and Serious list. Visit blazepizza.com for additional information and stay connected @BlazePizza.
*Price and participation may vary.
SOURCE Blaze Pizza
Food and Beverage
Top 5 Must-Try Ice Cream Brands to Cool You Down This Summer

Summer is just around the corner, and there is no better way to beat the heat than with a delicious scoop of ice cream! With so many brands to choose from, it can be overwhelming to decide on the perfect flavor and brand for your summer treat. In this post, we’ll be discussing the five best ice cream brands that are sure to cool you down and satisfy your sweet tooth.
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Ben & Jerry’s
Ben & Jerry’s is a classic brand that has been around since 1978. They are known for their unique and creative flavors such as Cherry Garcia and Half Baked. Not only are their flavors delicious, they are also known for using high-quality and fair-trade ingredients. -
Haagen-Dazs
Haagen-Dazs is another popular brand that has been around for over 50 years. Their ice cream is made with only the finest ingredients and is known for its rich and creamy texture. With classic flavors like Vanilla and Chocolate, as well as unique ones such as Green Tea and Honey Salted Caramel Almond, there is something for everyone. -
Jeni’s
Jeni’s is a newer brand that has quickly gained popularity for their unique and innovative flavors. They use natural, whole ingredients and their ice cream contains no synthetic flavorings or dyes. Their signature flavor is Salty Caramel, but they also have flavors like Brown Butter Almond Brittle and Raspberry Rose. -
Talenti
Talenti is a gelato brand that originated in Italy and has since become popular worldwide. Their gelato is made in small batches with fresh, natural ingredients. They have classic flavors like Vanilla Bean and Chocolate, but also have unique options such as Sea Salt Caramel and Pumpkin Pie. -
Graeter’s
Graeter’s is a family-owned brand that has been around for over 150 years. They are known for their “French Pot” process, which allows them to make small batches of ice cream that have a rich and creamy texture. Their signature flavor is Black Raspberry Chocolate Chip, but they also have flavors such as Buckeye Blitz and Bourbon Pecan Chocolate Chip.







No matter what brand you choose, you can’t go wrong with a delicious scoop of ice cream on a hot summer day. Whether you’re in the mood for a classic flavor or feeling adventurous and want to try something new, these five brands.
For more food related articles, please visit our Food and Drink section. There, you’ll find a wide variety of articles covering everything from recipes to restaurant reviews. Whether you’re a foodie or just looking for some new culinary inspiration, our Food and Drink section has something for everyone. So why not check it out and see what delicious dishes await? https://stmdailynews.com/category/food-and-beverage/
Food and Beverage
Organic for All! Clean Juice Introduces Value Menu to Celebrate Summer
$6 Summer Value Menu Features Fresh New Flavors Across Several Menu Categories for a Limited Time
CHARLOTTE, N.C. /PRNewswire/ — Clean Juice®, the first and only USDA-certified organic juice and food bar franchise, announced today its latest menu innovation with its $6 Summer Value Menu to commemorate the season. With the guest as its focal point, the brand’s latest seasonal innovation ensures that each new menu item looks and tastes great while delivering a healthy, nutrient-packed, and accessible organic meal option for all. The seasonal limited time offering features seven products, four of which are new, for under $6.


“At Clean Juice, we believe that healthy, nourishing food should be accessible to everyone, and it should taste good, too,” said Landon Eckles, CEO of Clean Juice. “Our $6 Organic Summer menu line-up offers new guests a way to try our organic smoothies, juices, and food items at a price that won’t break the bank. For 100 Days of Summer, our guests can enjoy a limited-edition menu featuring summer-forward items, each for $6!”
Clean Juice aims to reach more guests with all organic food offerings at a lower price point without lowering the nutritional integrity that built the award-winning brand across 33 states and 130+ stores operating nationwide.
The $6 Summer campaign includes an all-organic lineup of new products, including:
- The Hot Pink Summer One (Fresh Juice) features organic lemon and pineapple juice blended with coconut water and dragon fruit and served over ice
- The Blueberry Lemonade One (Refresher) features organic lemon and apple juice blended with coconut water, honey and blueberries
- The Sunburst One (Smoothie) features organic apple juice blended with coconut water, strawberries, banana and honey
- The Cheese Melt – a toasted wrap with cheddar cheese, feta cheese, and hummus
Returning to Clean Juice for the $6 Summer Value Menu includes:
- The Iced Latte One (launched during Menu Madness in March ’23) – is a cold-brew coffee blended with almond milk, dates, maple syrup and vanilla. Served over ice & topped with cinnamon
- The Mocha One (launched during Menu Madness in March ’23) – a cold brew blended with almond milk, dates, maple syrup, vanilla and cacao. Served over ice & topped with cacao nibs
Popular Toast added to Value Menu including:
- The Almond Butter Toast (available at participating stores) – is a protein-packed toast made with organic almond butter, banana, honey and hemp seeds served on sprouted grain bread
Recently named #33 by Fast Casual in its Top 100 Movers and Shakers brands, Clean Juice continues to put guests first when creating new menu items that meet a high standard of health offerings, flavor profile, and visual integrity that represents the brand’s core values.
Clean Juice recently completed its first-ever “Menu Madness” promotion, with eight items competing for the guest favorite in a “secret menu,” available on the app and online. The competition focused on fresh-made juice concoctions as the base for smoothies, designed to present further health benefits and great flavors. The winner was the Mango Sunrise One, a two-tone refresher that features a mango-pineapple base with a strawberry topper.
About Clean Juice®
Landon and Kat Eckles started Clean Juice® in 2016 as the first USDA-certified organic juice and food bar franchise focused on sharing the importance of an organic, plant-based diet. Rooted in the “healthy body and a strong spirit” (3 John 1:2) scripture, Clean Juice® offers only organic cold-pressed juices, smoothies, wraps, sandwiches, açaí bowls, toasts, salads, and other healthy foods in a warm and welcoming retail experience. Professional athlete and philanthropist Tim Tebow became a Franchise Partner after opening his first store in Jacksonville, FL, and is also the first Clean Juice national ambassador. There are more than 130 stores open and operating, with another 70+ in development. For more information about Clean Juice®, its leadership team, core values, and franchising opportunities, please visit www.cleanjuice.com or www.cleanjuicefranchising.com.
SOURCE Clean Juice
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