My lovely OS homecooked food is full of MSG! -what does it do to you?

Mup_2

Hi
Just a quick message and possibly something you already know about but it's news to me so I thought I'd post and we might be able to share ideas how to avoid this.

I have been making OS food from some great recipes here and online/magazine articles, buying and freezing bargains, planning etc
Anyway, seems our efforts to eat healthier home cooked food is being scuppered because stock cubes (knorr and oxo ones I have used) contain MSG. I never knew that until readin the list of ingredients on them while cooking batches of things yesterday.

Can anyone tell me what MSG does (why it's considered soooo bad) and any alternatives for stock cubes (we're veggie so don't eat meat/fish/chicken stock). Could 'make' a veggie one with veg water but could I freeze that?

Does anyone know of a commercial veggie stock without MSG?

Thanks and hope you can help with this,
Mup.

patchwork_cat

Hi

This seems useful
http://www.whatreallyworks.co.uk/start/qanda.asp?article_ID=777

miacat

Hi, Monosodium glutamate is really bad for you and is banned in some states of America! i buy Kallo stock cubes all natural ingradients in them from tesco's. the beef is not organic but all natural and the chicken and veg or organic.

katieowl_2

The best veggie stock is called MARIGOLD swiss vegetable Buillion. It is a loose powder in a tub, health food shop sell it, and so does our local TESCO. It's not particularly cheap but it is delicious, and you can make a hot soup drink in a cup with it too. My Health food shop sells a big tub which works out cheaper than the little ones. They do a lo salt one too.....

Regards

kate

Pink.

kallo organic vegetable stock cubes come in a variety of flavours including tomato and herb, french onion, mushroom and garlic and herb. They are available in most health food stores.

Pink

nabowla

I use Kallo organic stock cubes. They're only c.20p more expensive than Oxo but only contain natural ingredients (no MSG). Health benefits aside, the difference in taste is amazing. You should be able to find them on the same shelf as the Oxo cubes.

Ooops - cross posted with Pink Winged!!

[Deleted User]

I went to buy some knorr cubes last week but I read the label first and to my horror I also saw the MSG!!! I bought some organic kalo instead because they didn`t have marigold. Incidentally marigold is fantastic in soups etc. It always turns out lovely

Curry_Queen

If I eat food that contains MSG (esp Chinese take-away) I can noticably feel my heart rate and blood pressure increase and it makes me feel quite ill, not to mention developing a raging thirst, although I suspect that's more to do with a high salt content too :mad:

Fortunately, our local Chinese restaurant/take-away doesn't use MSG or any other artificial additives/flavourings in their food so I can now enjoy the occasional Chinese take-away again :j

Like miacat, I also use Kallo/Organic stock cubes if I haven't got any HM stock I can use.

niadoz

There is MSG in loads of foods. After eating chinese takeaway I notice that I have a dry mouth and palpatations. I asked my local chinese resteraunt which dishes had no MSG and they said that they could cook the meal without MSG. However they add an awful lot of other things ie meat tenderizing powder ect. I now use keloo yeast free cubes.

thriftlady_2

I second what Katieowl says about Marigold powder,probably more expensive than oxo but all natural and v.good.

If I want a more meaty taste for cottage pie etc I use Marmite(well,Tesco's yeast extract-exactly the same),there's no rubbish in marmite.I've just added some to some red lentils I was cooking for a flan.

You can't beat hm chicken stock for soups and risottos.

I've tried the Kallo cubes too and they are good,but again not as cheap as oxo.

I rely a lot on alcohol :blushing: for flavour enhancing-sherry for Chinesey style things and meat sauces,vermouth for risottos,chicken dishes(wherever white wine is called for).If I open a bottle of wine for cooking I'll end up drinking it all so vermouth and sherry are useful here-not so tempting for me! and they can stay in the cupboard once opened.
Those little cans of wine are good for cooking too.

Ronankfan

I too use the marigold powder and its lovely i buy mine from holland and barrett. I do try and make my own chicken stock from the sunday roast's bones!!!!