Monosodium Glutamate

HappyIdiotTalk

I've been reading up on this stuff and am now convinced there is nothing wrong with it, it is safe. All the big governments have tested it and classed it safe, the Chinese and Japanese have been using it for near 100 years without ill effects, and all the studies have found no side effects, despite the anocdotal evidence to the contrary.

So keeping an open mind I want to give it a try as it helps the fifth taste (umami ), just as sugar does sweet and salt does to most stuff.

So can you buy it in the big supermarkets or is it something you generally can only get from Chinese supermarkets?

Penelope_Penguin

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HappyIdiotTalk

Oh thanks, didn't know about this board.

anniemf2508

we got ours from an african shop but i'm guessing itis more likely to be found in a chinese supermarket

lumpy_bum

whats it do?

randomtask_2

it's a flavour enhancer, often used as additional seasoning agent

davetrousers

lumpy_bum wrote: »

whats it do?

Makes you thirsty

To the OP be aware that many foods you possibly already eat will contain it (its E number is E621 - takes up less space on an ingredients label!) Many crisp flavours contain it as do cup a soups.

To me it's a cheap cynical way of flavouring food. But it's up to you.

HappyIdiotTalk

@lumpy_bum from what I've read we have five types of taste, sweet, sour, bitter, acid (bitter) and umami (or the savory taste). Each of these tastes cant be constructed by combining the other tastes in any way.

Umami was only discovered/identified recently in around 1910 or something like that. And MSG enhances the umami taste. Its also said to improve the mouth feel of food. Some food already contain glutamates, commonly potatoes and tomatoes (two of my favourate foods as it happens). But MSG is refined in factories and its got a very bad reputation. But as I've already suggested, I've done a bit of internet research, and read about it in books, and the message seems to be that its completely safe, even for babies!

I'm therefore going to give it a try and see for myself.

HappyIdiotTalk

davetrousers wrote: »

Makes you thirsty

To the OP be aware that many foods you possibly already eat will contain it (its E number is E621 - takes up less space on an ingredients label!) Many crisp flavours contain it as do cup a soups.

To me it's a cheap cynical way of flavouring food. But it's up to you.

I think thats part of its problem, its new and its used to improve the flavour of cheap low quality foods such as crisps and cup a soups in order to disguise or hide the otherwise poor flavour.

But thats no reason not to use it to further improve otherwise good quality ingredients and food in my opinion. I'm not afraid of using a bit of salt, so why not explore MSG too? I dont buy processed foods, and cook meals from scratch with the best raw ingredients I can get (I'm even growing my own), so this is not to make rubbish food taste good, its about making already good food sing in the mouth! I really love my food, and I think I have better taste than anyone I know. But if I can improve my own cooking further, I'm all for it.

Bongedone

I too have it on my shopping list. It is sold in the Chinese supermarket in the same bags as they sell the herbs and spices. It is a white powder. Just need to pass a Chinese supermarket now.

el_gringo_3

Most 'international supermarkets' sell it in bags, chinese or otherwise.

To be honest I find I can't tell the difference in home cooked food with it in or not. What I do like is the rest of the flavour enhancer range by the same brand (rajah) especially the chicken and lemon one.