Will MSG improve taste of a food for someone who dislikes the food itself or will it make it worse?
Let's consider a situation where someone dislikes a taste of, let's say, broccoli (or some other food), and MSG is added to that product during the cooking process to improve the taste. Will the taste actually become more pleasant for the person who dislikes broccoli, or will it make the taste even more unbearable (by making it more pronounced)?
Best Answer
MSG has a flavor itself; it tastes of "umami", the savory, meaty flavor. This is because it's made of glutemic acid (or glutamate), with a little sodium (less than salt). Glutamates are the compounds responsible for the basic umami taste, and they are found in high concentrations in kelp, cheeses, soy sauce, and oyster sauce.
To the best of my knowledge, it's not like salt, which is said to enhance existing flavors; this would be more like cooking broccoli in bacon grease to impart a bacony flavor to the broccoli. Therefore, it depends heavily on the existing flavor profile of the food in question and the taste preferences of the person involved. If the person likes broccoli dunked in soy sauce, it might be worth a try.
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Quick Answer about "Will MSG improve taste of a food for someone who dislikes the food itself or will it make it worse?"
If you use MSG by itself it does nothing to enhance the flavor of food. MSG is used with a vehicle like vinegar, soy sauce, lemon, or some acid to combine and mix together to add another layer of flavor.Does MSG really make food taste better?
MSG boosts the flavor of foods by stimulating taste receptors and has been shown in research studies to increase the acceptance of particular flavors. Adding MSG to foods results in an umami taste, which is characterized as savory and meaty ( 4 ).What does MSG taste like by itself?
When placed on the tongue by itself, MSG tastes like a mild salt without any unique quality. This is because MSG doesn't have any distinct flavor, so it doesn't change the taste of food; rather, it adds a round and rich mouthfeel designated \u201cumami,\u201d or the fifth taste.What foods does MSG make better?
MSG (also known as monosodium glutamate or umami seasoning) does its best work when used with savory foods. These include foods that are protein-based (so meats, poultry, eggs and vegetable dishes). Other foods that can benefit from the umami taste of MSG are gravies, sauces and dressings.Is MSG worse than salt?
Here's the good news: MSG contains two-thirds less the amount of sodium compared to table salt, so if you're looking to lower your sodium intake, reaching for MSG to flavor your food can help you eat less sodium.What is MSG, and is it actually bad for you? - Sarah E. Tracy
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Answer 2
MSG, as a rule, will not make a vegetable like broccoli or some other food that someone does not like, make them like it magically. It marinates, tenderizes and helps give some depth to meat.
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