Msg

[QSis]

I love msg!

It perks up flavors so that people say "Wow, this is the best (for ex.) American Chop Suey I've ever had!" and not know why.

There's a favorite sour cream and mayo dip with fresh herbs that calls for MSG - without it, the dip is very flat.

Good stuff, if your body can handle it!

Lee

 

[jabbur]

Wow all those food products have msg in them? And here, I did not think that I could afford it. Why is that small bottle on the spice rack so expensive? I have used it so sparingly over the years because of the price. And just to think, I could have just scraped off a couple of doritos!

It might be cheaper by the 5 gal bucket! Just like most things, buying in bulk brings down the price.

 

[GB]

And here, I did not think that I could afford it. Why is that small bottle on the spice rack so expensive? I have used it so sparingly over the years because of the price.

I am not sure where you are shopping, but you might want to find another store. MSG is very inexpensive. Check out Penzys. They have a 4oz. jar for $2.49. That is enough to last you about 6-12 months.

 

[jennyema]

I don't buy straight MSG but i do put a pinch of Sazon Goya into many things. It has other seasonings but is mostly MSG.

 

[tsi88kid]

I heard msg makes you thirsty is that true?

 

[GB]

I can't speak for anyone else, but it makes me thirsty. It is a salt after all so that is to be expected.

 

[Hungry]

All you ever wanted to know about MSG.
Monosodium glutamate - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Funny, when I first GOGLED this, "MSG" I got Madison Square Garden.

I use to use this all the time, but it got pulled from the shelves for some reason. From the Wikipedia write up it appears to have no more side effects than most of your precription medicines.

I am going to see if I can find it in the stores again. Like GB said, it is a "great" flavor enhancer.

 

[lulu]

What do you do about using it on food you are sharing with guests? So many people are opposed to eating it I would be worried to use it in that context. I had never heard about MSG in a positive light pre DC but would consider experimenting....

yes, it makes me horrendously thirsty...we refer to that post chinese meal dry mouth as the "dry horrors" in my house.

 

[GB]

Depending on who the guests are I will either use it and not mention it or I will not use it at all. The reason I have no problem not mentioning it is that I do not give a list of every other ingredient in my dishes either. I certainly will not lie about it though. If they ask or mention it I will be completely honest.

Im my experiences, Most people who think they are sensative to it relly are not and just have that in their heads. I have had numerous people eat my food that had MSG and tell me that they are allergic to it (at a different time), but when I ask if they were affected when they ate my meal they say no. As a matter of fact, when that sitution has come up before not a single person has ever said yes.

 

[Michelemarie]

GB - you are so knowledgeable! Impressive! Thanks for the info!

 

[GB]

I know a little about a lot of things (which can get me into trouble sometimes). Most of which I learned here at DC

 

[Andy M.]

You can get MSG from Penzey's

It's also available as Accent in the supermarket.

 

[eatsOats]

I only have one recipe that uses MSG (Accent) and it's a dry rub for baby-back ribs. Very good!

 

[LMJ]

UMAMI!!!

Why that restaurant will suffer without MSG:
Umami - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

 

[LMJ]

Why is that small bottle on the spice rack so expensive?

The McCormick cartel. They want you to believe herbs and spices are rare, exotic and expensive. Aside from saffron, which is a unique case, herbs and spices are today cheap and plentiful.

The DeBeers of the supermarket, only they aren't actually able to control availability. So it's all just based on the hope that you won't ever find a co-op that sells bulk herbs and spices by the pound for what a little jar that's been sitting on the shelf for a year or more at the chain supermarket costs.

And the bulk stuff is ALWAYS fresher.

 

[kitchenelf]

Depending on who the guests are I will either use it and not mention it or I will not use it at all. The reason I have no problem not mentioning it is that I do not give a list of every other ingredient in my dishes either. I certainly will not lie about it though. If they ask or mention it I will be completely honest.

Im my experiences, Most people who think they are sensative to it relly are not and just have that in their heads. I have had numerous people eat my food that had MSG and tell me that they are allergic to it (at a different time), but when I ask if they were affected when they ate my meal they say no. As a matter of fact, when that sitution has come up before not a single person has ever said yes.

And I think the over use of it at a lot of Chinese restaurants has given it a bad name. A restaurant that was infamous for using it I finally broke down and went to one time. MSG, that I know of, had never bothered me before. Before I could get back to work my lips had swelled. I think it was so heavily used that it DID affect me and the person I went to lunch with. My lips were swelled but dang, his lips got huge, around his eyes swelled, and he got all blotchy. The key, IMHO, is not to over use it.

 

[Chief Longwind Of The North]

It was already stated, but could be easily missed. Accent brand flavor enhancer is pure MSG. And yes, I have no problems with using it. But I tend to purchase my spices from a restaurant supply store at a much better price.

Seeeeeya; Goodweed of the North

 

[jedichef]

Ever heard of the japanese word, "umami"? It means 'meaty' or 'savory'. This is considered one of the 5 tastes. It responds to glutamates, and is responsible for the sensation of savoriness in foods. Which is why foods treated with MSG or "ajinomoto" have a tendency to taste more 'rounded' or fuller. MSG can cause migraines in certain people, just like the nub of peanuts can give certain people migraines. It happens to a small percentage of people but should not deter anyone from using any ingredient. As with everything, due diligence is key.