Banquet Boneless Pork Rib

June 16, 2006 | Reviewer: Nicole

Price: $1.00 (sale, of course)
Serving: 1 meal, 10 oz.
Calories: 370
Fat: 28%, 18g
Sodium: 31%, 750mg
Protein: 16g
Carbs: 12%, 37g
Fiber: 24%, 6g

Banquet says: Barbecue Sauce and Rib Shaped Patty with Mashed Potatoes and Corn

Nicole says: As always, Banquet’s mashed potatoes are starchy, buttery, and reasonably smooth and creamy. The corn ended up a bit overcooked, but it was still flavorful, though a bit dry. The boneless pork rib “SHAPED MEAT PATTY” was smothered in plenty of rib sauce. The texture was very strange. Lean, grainy. Like fake meat.

Being an omnivore, I always look at the vegetarian fake meat at the store with disdain. I may have to second guess this, though I’ve yet to decide. What is less appropriate: non-meat shaped into meat, or meat shaped into another style of meat? Please vote in the comments section.

Overall this meal was not bad, though I’d prefer Salisbury Steak any day - the texture is much more natural, at least to me. Nothing in this meal tasted bad. It was a bit small as the $1 sale Banquet meals always are, but aside from the freaky texture, absolutely edible.

P.S. Abi was offered a bite but refused to taste the shaped meat patty out of fear.

comments

12 Responses to “Banquet Boneless Pork Rib”

Abi on June 16th, 2006

That was disgust, not fright. Also, “absolutely edible” and “nothing in this meal tasted bad” are damnations of faint praise.
Rylan on June 16th, 2006

I say meat shaped into other meat cuz Im really used to non-meat in cold-cut form, being a vegetarian. But I’m not against anyone else eating meat, for the record
Brian on June 16th, 2006

Saw the link via Abi’s page on DC Blogger MeetUp. Great idea.

I eat quite a lot of microwave meals, so I’m not a snob or anything, but these Banquet things are pretty horrible, in my esteemed opinion.

I just bought 10 of them for $10, but I haven’t had the BBQ ribs yet. Hopefully they’ll be the diamond in the rough.
Ace N. on June 18th, 2006

If you just put the rib-shaped pork in a roll or something, it makes for a decent sandwich. You’ll be less disturbed by the firm/chewy texture.

I have a fondness for the chicken nuggets(dipped in ketchup), stemming from my childhood. The chicken-fried “steak” and “Turkey” meals are pretty good as well.

Come to think of it, all of my favorite Banquet meals are re-shaped meat products. Maybe I’m less picky than most eaters.
Nicole on June 19th, 2006

Ace:

Good call on the “chicken-fried” “steak.” My review of that item will be up in a few days.
LauraFries.com on June 19th, 2006

I used to think that fake anything was gross when it came to food. If it’s not real, why eat it? But as I’ve learned more and more about food production, I’m realizing that there are relatively few foods that are actually real per se. So if everything you’re eating is processed in a factory, then why not eat the fake meat version, which at least has the benefit of being less damaging on the environment.

Sorry, that came out serious. I’m no hippie - I totally ate a hot dog this weekend.
Heather on June 20th, 2006

I love that your name, written on the box, is visible in this picture. Have people been snatching your $1 meat-like frozen edible things?
Nicole on June 20th, 2006

Marking food enables our ever efficient office manager to make sure that rotting old food is not clogging our fridge and freezer.
John on July 25th, 2006

The Mc Rib is back! this thing tasted just like a mc rib, so if like mc ribs, you will love this meal! But if you hate them, then this is not the meal for you. I just with the meat thing was bigger
charlie on January 13th, 2007

This is one of my favorite, and there is plenty of sauce so you don’t have to worry about running out midway through the meal. this is a 4 star for me
Will on January 19th, 2007

tastes like a McRib
Flara on March 25th, 2007

Weird but tasty. Two thumbs up from myself.