I know about all the rumors of Monosodium glutamate (MSG) being deadly and super unhealthy, etc but there is no actual evidence that supports these claims. The only thing to worry is the amount of sodium. Too much sodium (such as table salt, which contains sodium) is bad. However, some people do get headaches from it if they consume large amounts in a single meal. The headaches, however, are not harmful and the effects are not permanent. It has actually come to my attention that there is in fact no statistical evidence showing that people do have negative reactions towards MSG. The problem with testing MSG in a double-blind study is that it has a very unique taste that is very difficult, if not impossible to mask. In other words, the people who don't taste it were shown to not have any reaction vs. a small portion of those who did taste it [I]claimed[/I] to have a reaction.
Anyways, I recently got some MSG and the first thing I seasoned with it was a nice chuck steak.
I pan-fried the steak to a nice medium rare, and seasoned it with some pepper, onion powder, and some MSG.
The first bite I took of that steak was sheer bliss. It was possibly the best tasting steak I have ever eaten.
In fact, it was one of the best things I have ever tasted.
Also, there really needs to be a custom form for food and cooking if there is not one already (I tried searching "cooking" but it came up with nothing relevant).
[B]EDIT[/B]
I am tired of the sheer ignorance of many people who have posted in this thread.
Let's address some of the ignorant notions I have encountered while looking through this thread.
[B]MSG is a salt, therefore must taste like one.[/B]
Nope, this is wrong. Yes, it is a salt, but that is [B]only[/B] because it contains a sodium cation. It is scientific semantics. X chemical plus a sodium cation is generally called a salt.
MSG has the taste of glutamate. which is reported it has no taste by itself, however I myself perceive MSG to have a very meaty taste to it when eaten alone.
[B]MSG is unhealthy and will cause problems.[/B]
MSG is a salt form of glutamate. What is glutamate? It is a non-essential amino acid that plays a key role in cellular metabolism. Why is it called "non-essential?"
Well, simply because it is synthesized inside the body already, therefore there is no need to supplement your diet with an external source.
However, just about everything that is consumed contains natural glutamate. In fact, the average person will consume somewhere around 11 grams in a single day.
Adding a sodium cation will not automatically make glutamate a deadly killer. The sodium cation disassociates with the rest of the molecule, just like it does with table salt (NaCl), or any other salt for that mater, once it hits water. The sodium will then play many vital roles in the body.
[B]People can be sensitive/allergic to it[/B]
According to the American College of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology, there are no reported cases of people being allergic to glutamate. This is presumably because the moment any antibody forms against it, it will also attack the glutamate form, therefore killing the host. In other words, if you were allergic to monosodium glutamate, you will also be allergic to glutamate, and therefore die before you were born. MSG is safe for all ages, mainly because it is metabolized exactly the same way.
As for the people who are sensitive to it (such as those who claim to get headaches from consuming it), there have been multiple studies. Each one has turned up similar results.
MSG is very difficult to use in a double-blind study due to it's unique after-taste. In other words, people receiving it know they are, which skews the results. This causes a small portion of the ones who are receiving it to report headaches. Evidence suggests that is purely mental and there is little, if any metabolic reason for the headaches.
[B]MSG contains a lot of sodium.[/B]
Nope. In fact, it contains less sodium than an equal amount of salt. 13 percent of it's chemical makeup is sodium verses the 40 percent found in table salt. It is also used in lesser quantities, therefore reducing the amount of sodium in a given product about 20 to 40 percent. To me, this makes it safer and a healthier than table salt, however since they are both used in different ways, you can't exactly use them interchangeably.
[B]OK, if everything you said is true, then why are people so against it?[/B]
Because people are fucking idiots.
should have grilled that bitch on the barbecue
You said it tasted great.
But you forgot the fact of life:
Anything you enjoy or have fun with either:
gives you cancer, makes you socially unacceptable or kills you.
I think it is bad for you.
Won't stop me from trying it...
[QUOTE=Flamingo;16917185]should have grilled that bitch on the barbecue[/QUOTE]
I have a propane grill. It will end up tasting the same when compared to pan frying it with a gas stove.
[QUOTE=phill977;16917198]
But you forgot the fact of life:
Anything you enjoy or have fun with either:
gives you cancer, makes you socially unacceptable or kills you.
[/QUOTE]
100% correct.
[QUOTE=phill977;16917198]You said it tasted great.
But you forgot the fact of life:
Anything you enjoy or have fun with either:
gives you cancer, makes you socially unacceptable or kills you.
I think it is bad for you.
Won't stop me from trying it...[/QUOTE]
Sigh. It's true :/
In fact, the mere act of breathing in oxygen slowly destroys your body from the inside out (free radicals).
Oxygen itself, even when paired with itself is also pretty harmful to the body.
Kind of ironic in a way.
[QUOTE=Master117;16917248]Sigh. It's true :/
In fact, the mere act of breathing in oxygen slowly destroys your body from the inside out (free radicals).
Oxygen itself, even when paired with itself is also pretty harmful to the body.
Kind of ironic in a way.[/QUOTE]
:suicide:
I want some steak now.
I silently hoped it would be a misspelled thread for cooking with Solid Snake.
:saddowns:
[QUOTE=Master117;16917248]Sigh. It's true :/
In fact, the mere act of breathing in oxygen slowly destroys your body from the inside out (free radicals).
Oxygen itself, even when paired with itself is also pretty harmful to the body.
Kind of ironic in a way.[/QUOTE]
Someone once told me we'd age much less quickly if we didn't breathe oxygen. The only problem is we'd die. What a conundrum.
[QUOTE=Master117;16917203]I have a propane grill.[/QUOTE]
I'm proud of you, boy.
[img]http://media.jsonline.com/images/28007159_hank-hill.jpg[/img]
Dumb Question: Does MSG make just about anything taste better? Or just salty things.
For example, you couldn't melt chocolate and add MSG to make it taste better right?
[QUOTE=cmanatlan;16917565]Dumb Question: Does MSG make just about anything taste better? Or just salty things.
For example, you couldn't melt chocolate and add MSG to make it taste better right?[/QUOTE]
[QUOTE=Master117;16917146]The only thing to worry is the amount of sodium.[/QUOTE]
MSG contains a lot of sodium and therefore tastes salty. Would salt make any food taste good? How does chocolate taste with salt added? I think you can figure this out.
enjoy your kidney stones
[QUOTE=b4nny;16917597]MSG contains a lot of sodium and therefore tastes salty. Would salt make any food taste good? How does chocolate taste with salt added? I think you can figure this out.[/QUOTE]
Ok, question 2: Should you use it instead of salt when cooking? Or in conjunction with salt.
Damnit, I thought this was going to be a thread about cooking with guns...
[QUOTE=b4nny;16917597]MSG contains a lot of sodium and therefore tastes salty. Would salt make any food taste good? How does chocolate taste with salt added? I think you can figure this out.[/QUOTE]
MSG alone has a very meaty taste to it. It tastes completely different than table salt. It is however, chemically speaking, a salt; it is a salt based from glutamic acid.
I would personally try to avoid to use it in conjunction with table salt due to it's already high sodium content, however many processed foods and packaged foods use them in conjunction.
Too much sodium in a diet can lead to many problems, from less severe such as muscle cramps and possibly dizziness to the more severe such as high blood pressure, hardened arteries and sometimes an electrolyte imbalance which can be lethal.
But then again, sodium is not the only substance in food that you can "overdose" on. Many vitamins and minerals also can produce lethal effects if you have too much in one sitting.
What I am trying to say is that there is nothing to worry about when using MSG as long as you use it in moderation.
Also, chocolate does have salt in it. In fact, every baked good you eat has salt in it. Besides acting as a texture enhancer for the dough, leveling out the chemical reactions from the yeast in the dough leading to a more consistent leveling, allowing a longer shelf life (for moist pastries at least), etc. It also helps enhance the sweet flavor due to it's contrast to sweetness.
I don't see why people are rating me disagree in the OP, I am an amateur chef, albeit still learning, I do know a good deal about food products and cooking.
hey guys, remember the "cooking with semen" thread?
:buttertroll::gizz:
[QUOTE=cmanatlan;16917440]Someone once told me we'd age much less quickly if we didn't breathe oxygen. The only problem is we'd die. What a conundrum.[/QUOTE]
Yes it's true! oxidation leads to death at some point
[QUOTE=Fugiti;16920041]hey guys, remember the "cooking with semen" thread?
:buttertroll::gizz:[/QUOTE]
This thread?
[url]http://www.facepunch.com/showthread.php?t=646113&highlight=cooking+with+seamen[/url]
I'm going to agree with OP, MSG is great, I haven't tried it except that it's in the funky Chinese food we have here. I do put salt on my steak so OP, you're a genius, where did you buy it, I thought you needed a food license to use it or maybe I'm just retarded. Poeple that are giving you X's and the possible box, they're just dumbass nutritionists that think everyone should eat celery sticks and a glass of skim milk for dinner.
MSG is for people too lazy to cook good food or too stupid.
[QUOTE=breakyourfac;16920145]I'm going to agree with OP, MSG is great, I haven't tried it except that it's in the funky Chinese food we have here. I do put salt on my steak so OP, you're a genius, where did you buy it, I thought you needed a food license to use it or maybe I'm just retarded. Poeple that are giving you X's and the possible box, they're just dumbass nutritionists that think everyone should eat celery sticks and a glass of skim milk for dinner.[/QUOTE]
There is a product called "Accent" which is MSG. You can find it in the spices section of the supermarket.
It looks like this
[img]http://dl.getdropbox.com/u/99577/msg.jpg[/img]
It does in fact have 60 percent sodium than salt, by volume that is. Both table salt and MSG only contain one sodium atom per molecule, however table salt is a smaller molecule. In other words, one mole of table salt is 58.44 grams vs. 169.111 grams. This means that one mole of MSG contains the same amount of sodium as one mole of table salt.
[QUOTE=Master117;16920263]There is a product called "Accent" which is MSG. You can find it in the spices section of the supermarket.
It looks like this
[img]http://dl.getdropbox.com/u/99577/msg.jpg[/img]
It does in fact have 60 percent sodium than salt, by volume that is. Both table salt and MSG only contain one sodium atom per molecule, however table salt is a smaller molecule. In other words, one mole of table salt is 58.44 grams vs. 169.111 grams. This means that one mole of MSG contains the same amount of sodium as one mole of table salt.[/QUOTE]
Alright, I'm gonna buy that and get on that shit, my families steak needs more salt.
[QUOTE=breakyourfac;16920286]Alright, I'm gonna buy that and get on that shit, my families steak needs more salt.[/QUOTE]
I sometimes cook steak with a dry rub as well. Dry rubs are fucking amazing.
Be cautions though, some foods don't work with MSG. It may be me, but it does not work well on fish, such as salmon.
What happens if you put MSG on Shit?
[QUOTE=b4nny;16917597]MSG contains a lot of sodium and therefore tastes salty. Would salt make any food taste good? How does chocolate taste with salt added? I think you can figure this out.[/QUOTE]
Actually, chocolate with salt does taste good. Ever have those chocolate covered pretzels? MSG isn't really salty though, it's umami.
[editline]06:27AM[/editline]
[QUOTE=Master117;16920263]There is a product called "Accent" which is MSG. You can find it in the spices section of the supermarket.
It looks like this
[img]http://dl.getdropbox.com/u/99577/msg.jpg[/img]
It does in fact have 60 percent sodium than salt, by volume that is. Both table salt and MSG only contain one sodium atom per molecule, however table salt is a smaller molecule. In other words, one mole of table salt is 58.44 grams vs. 169.111 grams. This means that one mole of MSG contains the same amount of sodium as one mole of table salt.[/QUOTE]
Yes. I need this. I didn't know you could buy MSG.
[QUOTE=Shadaez;16920558]Actually, chocolate with salt does taste good. Ever have those chocolate covered pretzels? MSG isn't really salty though, it's umami.[/QUOTE]
Umami, surely you mean Unagi
[img]http://a.imagehost.org/0044/Copia_de_Unagi.jpg[/img]
[QUOTE=marcin1337;16920231]MSG is for people too lazy to cook good food or too stupid.[/QUOTE]
You're dumb.
[editline]06:28AM[/editline]
[QUOTE=radioactive;16920582]Umami, surely you mean Unagi
[img]http://a.imagehost.org/0044/Copia_de_Unagi.jpg[/img][/QUOTE]
[url]http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Umami[/url]
[QUOTE=Shadaez;16920587]You're dumb.
[editline]06:28AM[/editline]
[url]http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Umami[/url][/QUOTE]
No, Unagi
[img]http://www.friendsgeneration.com/saison6/617-05.jpg[/img]
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