Can you taste MSG? Some say most people can't - Blind taste testing MSG vs Salt

[@CreateVision]

MSG is in fact magic. Brings so much flavour out and makes things taste better. That’s why Pringles taste so good. They’re full of MSG. Once you pop, you can’t stop!!!!

[@vBDKv]

I eat this stuff daily, yeah it's probably not very good. But once in a while it's fine.

[@stephenholmes9386]

I remember the first time I cooked rice with MSG. I couldn't stop eating the rice out of the pan, the meatiest tasting rice I've ever had. Delicious

[@clarkay3049]

I had exactly the same experience 👌

[@vBDKv]

Slap on some Lauganma on those rice .. Damn near addictive :p

[@MandoHalrissian]

I put MSG on my keto cornflakes with soy milk latte dressing because this is the way . Come at me MSG hating trolls.

[@xcaptainflash2000]

It's amazing how many people will quite happily eat processed food without knowing what goes into it, but turn their nose up when you mention MSG. MSG has taken my Chinese Fakeaways To A Whole New Level

[@paulafowler5099]

Sadly, for a long time I thought MSG was not a natural product. I've rediscovered it in an Asian food store and am learning (from KZbinrs like you) on the benefits of using it to flavor my foods. Thank you for this video, I truly appreciate it.

[@jammyjohnny9819]

Before I discovered the wonderful Chin & Choo, I was anti MSG. Not by choice, but probably by peer pressure and bad and inaccurately outdated news. Chin opened my eyes to MSG and it is an amazing addition to any meal. I have actually cut salt right down to nearly nothing because I feel the MSG is actually better for me than salt. In moderation of course. Thank you Chin & Choo. It's time you got on the TV with your fantastic cooking and great sense of humour. Best wishes to all the family. Chat soon.

[@nitelite78]

It could well be better. MSG does contain sodium though. But my understanding is that the glutamate part of the MSG molecule is large compared to the sodium. So overall, by swapping salt for MSG you could be consuming a lot less sodium overall. Having said that, my understanding is that people only need to be concerned with sodium intake if they have high blood pressure. The human body has evolved with saline blood and so is well adapted to balance levels of sodium and other essential cell components like potassium. In this sense I think salt has an unfair reputation as much as MSG.

[@PSUK]

A friend of mine who was a professional agriculturist, used it in his cooking for practically all of his life. He very sadly passed away two weeks ago. Aged 109.

[@ChinChooReviews]

109!!! That’s a hell of an age and sorry for your loss

[@PSUK]

@@ChinChooReviews Thanks, he was loved by many. His great age says everything anybody needs to know about using MSG though doesn’t it?

[@robertgarrick9121]

I put msg in scrambled eggs for a family member who thought msg was tasteless . After they ate it they asked what I had used to flavour the eggs . So I told them and they were a little red faced but they now use msg themselves in cooking .

[@miss_america8643]

Thank you for this informative video! I just bought some! Super excited to try!!

[@ChinChooReviews]

😊😊😊

[@Sooz3112]

Great family effort. I agree with you, 100%. It's known as a 'flavour enhancer' too I think...which explains it all, it gives food a nicer, well rounded, fuller flavour...Until I started watching you guys, I had no idea why I couldn't replicate the Chinese takeaway foods....but since I've used your recipes and MSG - it's uncanny how alike they taste! My little one prefers mine to the takeaway - which is such a surprise and a compliment. Your Mum's hair looks lovely longer too. Thanks guys! x

[@suebell4624]

I've done.this test with my.kids and while they like the none msg they always taste the msg version and say its so much better I don't care what anyone says it definitely tastes better. Like salt (that is bad for you if you have too much)msg is not bad for you in moderation....eat msg people it will light up your life. Keep up the good work

[@Standaman100]

I think the name MSG or Monosodium Glutamate sounds a bit scary, but so would salt if we called it Sodium chloride

[@ChinChooReviews]

Yeah exactly

[@Standaman100]

@@ChinChooReviews The negative effects of eating too much salt are proven too

[@WTBMrGrey]

Ive started using MSG in non chinese dishes.

[@JohnnyMarvin]

I like at 0:22 when you say thank you. That smile is one of the best 'you D!ck heads!' I've ever seen.

[@ChinChooReviews]

Hahah no lie, I cut it out but I say “dick head” straight after :)

[@Astro148]

MSG is amazing stuff, It makes all the difference to a dish, I offered some of my MSG to my sister to try in her cooking a while ago and she declined my offer saying she would not eat MSG, my immediate reaction was to say to her ”but sis, you put loads of oxo cubes in your stews and oxo’s contain MSG” hahaha, most people eat MSG without even realizing it so it is definitely to do with the psychology of it.

[@lindarobertson8505]

I can't eat rice (or any other chinese takeaway dish I cook) without msg now, it makes a huge difference in taste. In fact msg makes everything taste better 😉 😊

[@ChinChooReviews]

yeah massive difference!

[@isyt1]

Agreed. I’ll even add it to things like bolognese, especially if I’m making it for guests

[@badbug69]

Great review, very interesting.

[@aspunkyyacker6850]

Cracking videos, any particular brand off msg which is your favourite to use?

[@ChinChooReviews]

Msg is msg but we sell ajinamoto on our webstore www.chinandchoo.com/shop 😊

[@nikkibedford47]

Good work guys!

[@ethanallenby7919]

Can I ask do you use msg instead of salt or use half and half thanks in advance

[@ChinChooReviews]

About half and half

[@N00ds1974]

Cottage pie with MSG is amazing, my Dad is genuinley disappointed if it's not in it.

[@ChinChooReviews]

Anything savoury it works with

[@firmbutton6485]

I see MSG as something that amplifies savoury foods. Good for any simple and delicate foods especialy.

[@steve323f]

Love MSG, hate the negativity around dated and made up lies about MSG. It's amazing what a little bit of research and education can teach you. 👌👌👌

[@graemeaustralia221]

I have a very large rice cooker and sometimes make a big batch of rice with 4 cups in the rice cooker gives a lot , I use 6 eggs , 2 big spoons of Salt , 1 Big spoon of chicken powder , 1 big spoon of sugar, what would you suggest if I added MSG and how much and how much less salt, thanks

[@ChinChooReviews]

Ok so I’d omit the sugar (but some people like the sweetness) and I’d used 1 big salt and 1 big MSG hope that helps

[@ChinChooReviews]

You should check out our main channel @ziangsfoodworkshop

[@likjhnfkjsbn]

Great job! I posted a much more poorly conducted/edited video of this experiment back in ~2015. I just checked around to see if anyone else had properly re-created it since. Bravo! Other experiments on YT were poorly controlled but you guys did freaking great. ❤

[@Sooz3112]

Ps, Your Dad is like my husband...eats to 'stay alive' and that's it...Myself and my little one - we enjoy food, we love our spices, our seasonings etc...My husband wouldn't bat an eyelid if his food never had any flavour or seasoning added to it...as he also thinks that it's just 'fuel'....lol x

[@destinationmobileone5476]

I was a shop keeper for two years. Was homeless so had a fold down bed in the back. I literally ate egg fried rice every night cheapest item on the menu , the Chinese was right next door. Its just NOT the same with salt, the difference between them is like gold and brass

[@Daniel-nv4fc]

I did this a few weeks ago as I had ran out of MSG, my wife hated the rice as it was pure salt taste and was one of the anti msg people before I introduced her to it!

[@user-zm9ox3de3l]

Hell yeah! Thanks for doing this video. Just started cooking with MSG and it makes a huge difference.

[@milkydude3100]

So do you add msg while cooking or mix it in like a topping after?

[@ChinChooReviews]

Check out Main channel Ziangs food workshop for how to use

[@wojciechgrudzinski6699]

Can you do a video on how to make Chinese BBQ sauce? The salty sweet and aromatic kind from Chinese takeaways.

[@ChinChooReviews]

Already done check out main channel Ziangs food works shop and look for spare rib recipe, it’s the liquid left over from making them that is bbq sauce

[@alisonhindle9235]

Great video! I wouldn’t be without MSG now. 😊

[@rowluxillusion5235]

MSG is wonderful stuff I use it in most dishes, Made burgers last night, no salt just MSG and pepper, they were insanely good.

[@DjJDtech]

oh mate burgers seasoned with MSG are the one, I have a little jar of burger seasoning I knocked which is equal parts salt, black pepper and MSG. I want to try it on steak next

[@rowluxillusion5235]

@@DjJDtech it works well but I find it's best to season the steak after cooking with a fine grind of salt and msg, rather than before cooking.

[@zyxwfish]

I bought msg for the first time today. Made some scrambled eggs with it and it tasted quite good. I had this idea for years msg was bad for you but no longer believe that.

[@JockGit64]

Huge MSG Fan since discovering you guys on KZbin. #MSGMASSIVE!

[@ChinChooReviews]

😂😂😂

[@nitelite78]

I wonder if different people taste MSG differently. Bit like how some people hate coriander and say it tastes like soap. I once got my sister to taste MSG and the first thing she said was that it "just tastes like salt". I know that MSG is partly sodium so that might make people initially think it's salty. But for me when I first tasted it on its own the difference was stark. It's magical stuff. Magic Special Granules.

[@67ManiK67]

MSG - Magic Seasoning of God. Nuff said.

[@gordonbishop1981]

MSG is PFM Pure Fn Magic !!

[@phordy]

Love your videos . I love to cook with MSG, I really appreciate the enhanced flavour, the added yumminess. However,the taste test would be better using guinea pigs. I'll gladly volunteer

[@ChinChooReviews]

100% agreed the plan was to go out and ask strangers but we thought with Covid, we will just wait and do a part 2

[@phordy]

@@ChinChooReviews yeah valid point, how could I forget about covid? Very responsible of you. I'll still happily volunteer in the future though

[@DjJDtech]

I use MSG quite a bit in my own cooking, and I have to say it definitely does cause me the most insane insomnia, like ten times worse than caffeine, almost like a mild amphetamine. This means I have to be careful not to eat it too late. Interestingly I also get the same effect from Parmesan cheese which is naturally high in glutimates, although its not quite as bad as when I add pure MSG to food. I was discussing this with my best friend who said he always wondered why he couldnt get to sleep after a Chinese takeaway. This makes me think MSG related insomnia could be quite common, but people put it down to something else

[@ChinChooReviews]

I’ve never heard of this before, off to do more search on this affect :)

[@ChinChooReviews]

Just consulted my mate who’s a neurologist at St bards hospital in London and that SODIUM has tenuous links with insomnia that are yet to be proven, but have been researched. Rather that it can lead to palpitations related to insomnia, hypertension etc, however foods high in msg normally have high sodium levels anyway. He’s not saying that your wrong, but as a neurologist the sodium is more likely culprit.

[@DjJDtech]

@@ChinChooReviews definitely not the sodium, I eat quite a lot of salt in most meals, in fact I normally put a bit less salt when using MSG as it increases the perceived saltiness. And like I say I get it to a certain extent after eating other foods high in glutamates, one of the main culprits being Italian meatballs, I put a ton of Parmesan in the meatballs then a load on top. I only made the link when I started using MSG myself to recreate takeaway food at home. To start of with I went quite heavy with it and would literally lie in bed staring at the ceiling until 3 or 4 in the morning. Cutting back helped, but even a quarter of a teaspoon makes it hard for me to sleep. Googling it does seem to find similar accounts in others. So I'm guessing some of us must just be sensitive to glutamates: thankuscience.com/?p=64

[@ChinChooReviews]

I sent him that article and he said there is no science backing anything said there, and no references sites, he’s good at his job at batts is the number 1 hospital in the uk and he’s a nerouglist there, this sort of thing is his field, but like he said maybe more research needs to be done

[@DjJDtech]

@@ChinChooReviews I found this, pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/11171654/, I believe they injected glutamate directly into a part of the rats brains. If I'm reading it correctly, smaller doses increased REM sleep, while larger dosed completely blocked REM sleep causing the rats to stay awake. Obviously injecting glutamate directly into a rats brain isn't the same as a person eating MSG, but I'd say it certainly supports the hypothesis of glutamates effecting sleep. I totally understand people disregarding anecdotal evidence, but when there is a consistency among what is essentially widespread anecdotal evidence then I think it would be unscientific to ignore it completely. I really cant stress enough how pronounced the effect is that I get after adding MSG to food, it's definitely not placebo. If your friend wants someone to scan for research purposes let me know LOL

[@WeAreThePeople1690]

Dont know why everyone moans about it, if you dont want it ask for it to be left out. Just like onion or seafood or anything you dont like. Too many people moan for the sake of moaning nowadays.

[@tay7366]

I can’t taste it but I put it in anyway if the recipe says to

[@Welshwarrior85]

I got MSG at home, but I never know how much to use - is there a rule of thumb?

[@ChinChooReviews]

yeah use with salt in a 1:1 ratio

[@Welshwarrior85]

@@ChinChooReviews use WITH salt? I thought it was instead of salt! I’m very much a newbie as you can tell 😂 thank you very much for the information

[@its_an_oman]

@@Welshwarrior85 think they meant in the same amount... so if you'd normally use a teaspoon of salt..use a teaspoon of MSG instead

[@Welshwarrior85]

@@its_an_oman ohhhhhh I see! Thanks Paul

[@MrLGDUK]

@@Welshwarrior85 If something would normally be flavoured with 1tsp of salt, I'd do about 2/3tsp of each. Salt, by weight, has three times as much sodium as MSG, so that's still ingesting a little less sodium than normal and it will taste loads better.

[@psycosavage05]

MSG is terrible. It ruined my life. I tried it one time and I was disgusted. I was disgusted that it’s not used in more dishes. I started adding it to everything. Every dinner I make, I put MSG in it. I keep running out and I have to buy more. I don’t even remember what food tastes like without MSG. I went to talk to my girlfriend about and it, and when I barely touched her, she fell apart. She was MSG the whole time. Be careful with MSG, you won’t be able to eat anything without it ever again.

[@Leathersladekitchen]

Was it ‘Sorted’, if so, I watched that the other day and thought it was bollards….

[@ChinChooReviews]

Yes that’s it!

[@professionalidiots101]

The Generic parts have me confused as you are part Dad and part Mum. However on another note, I always make my own burgers using a stand mixer. Whenever I make burgers the first Pattie is always cooked as a sample for taste. One time we all thought it was nice, but lacking in something..... Then I remembered that I hadn't added the MSG, back to the stand mixer the burger mix went. Into the stand mixer went a teaspoon of MSG. Now the burgers were amazing..... Even if I do say so myself 👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻

[@ChinChooReviews]

That’s the point, as I’m both I should be able to have the bias, will take to long to type, better explained as a diagram

[@Leathersladekitchen]

You may want to do Soy Sauce, that seems to be a bone of contention at the moment

[@ChinChooReviews]

Yeah I will :)

[@ryanricardo]

👍

[@JohnDoe-dx7bu]

Wow! would love to see MSG vs Unami Paste 🤔

[@n1msu]

No need to justify the unique taste, or umami etc to me, it explains why lots of celery is used in food as it's rich in glutamate, I bought a small bag of it once and would use a few sprinkles whilst cooking chicken. It's exactly the same as salt in my opinion and also from a food scientist from the Uni I studied at (Reading) although sprinkling MSG like salt isn't going to do it justice like if you did with sodium chloride.

[@SteinGauslaaStrindhaug]

Hmmm...Maybe I really don't have an umami receptor on my tongue then... Because to me celery tastes almost nothing only slightly soapy (in a bad way, not a good way like cilantro; I love the soapy taste and aroma of cilantro), and it only have a mild slightly unpleasant aquarium algae like smell, and a weird crunchy and stringy texture. I never understood why so people keep adding that useless vegetable in so many things. Especially when it's finely chopped and boiled it no longer adds any texture (which is good because I don't like it's texture much anyway) and it no longer tastes soapy, but it still has that faint unpleasant algae aroma. I just assumed some people liked that algae aroma. But you're saying people like it for it's supposed umami flavour? Is that why they keep putting it in bloody mary cocktails? I've heard that tomatoes supposedly also has umami flavour, though I've never felt that tomatoes tastes particularly like meat in any way either.

[@joannewilson8747]

Love the t shirt 👍

[@fruitloopuk1238]

Gotta love msg and the msg massive ❤❤

[@oglet999]

Your mum is amazing..xx

[@daze1945]

Let's not forget that MSG is also vegan. Not sure if that's a good thing or not! I wonder why MSG comes in bags when the Police say it's MSG in a bottle? 🤓 I can tell the difference and too much MSG is metallic and not so nice so a little goes a long way. 🥳

[@ChinChooReviews]

I think that this proves 99% of people can and that the huge KZbin channel that did the experiment did it so poorly

[@stephen129]

@@ChinChooReviews I presume you're talking about sorted, if so I couldn't believe they didn't think it made a difference. I've cooked with MSG for 15 years and it definitely makes a difference.

[@silentd76]

As you know I love #MSGMASSIVE and without msg in my chow mein its bland. In regards to the test the chef did he used beef. I wish I could find it again but in a scientific paper it said that MSG doesn't have any effect with red meats(beef) only white, it was something to do with the msg taste closes relates to the protein in beef(I think), so if the chef had used white meat he would of discovered it does make a bigger difference. What do you think chin & choo?. Personally I think msg still adds an extra flavour to beef

[@ChinChooReviews]

It does I taste tested it on tiktok, it makes super steak

[@spabbit]

Love MSG! #MSGMASSIVE ❤️❤️❤️

[@aelthric]

You are a lucky young man having such a nice family and such a beautiful young lady as a fiance 👍😃👍 Regarding the MSG test those other guys don't know what they are talking about, if you put too much MSG on food it has a metalic taste which some people like but it tastes totally different from salt. I guess their taste buds must have been killed off if they couldn't tell the difference... Kepp up the good work 👍😃👍

[@ChinChooReviews]

Thank you and you are 100% correct 🙂

[@lindahannan4287]

Omg you look so stressed as you were explaining 😫 you making me feel stressed 😫 x

[@themayorreturns8686]

My local chippy changed owners this year and the fried rice is the palest, saddest, most tragic looking thing I've ever seen. I think they've cut out MSG and soy sauce and 😭 why?

[@fishin11]

What was happening in this video was a little disgusting. First time watching your videos. If your all family here fine, but we don’t do this in my family, friends, or anyone. To taste the food, still have food on the spoon, drop some that’s still on spoon back into the bowl and spoon up some more, continue tasting the food, then do this again, then have other people taste and use the same bowl was a little disgusting. I do taste off other peoples plates like with we go to a restaurant etc, but I/we use clean utensils and only do it once, unless, that person says, would you like more, and if I/we do, it’s a clean utensil again. I/we just don’t think that person likes us to use our dirty utensil over and over again on their food or plate. At home in our family things are different and could happen but we still don’t leave food on the spoon to get more or drop back onto the plate. Sorry for the negative, but I say it the way I saw it.

[@andyPeyret]

Not sure I understood the justification for the amount of salt? I can understand the matching the amount of Na+ being relevant but if that's that you did it wasn't obvious to me Chin. It struck me that all you proved is that if you make the rice (nearly) overly salty then it's not preferred.

[@ChinChooReviews]

It equivalent mass, if I didn’t have that some smart ass who doesn’t know would say but I used less salt, even in the video I say it was a ridiculous amount and rectified it for the 2nd test

[@andyPeyret]

@@ChinChooReviews I guess so, but then we see lots of these internet beliefs down to lack of any recollection of even the basic science people learnt at school. The trouble here is the salty taste is from the sodium ion, and table salt is (23/58) nearly 40% sodium (well sort of, it depends on how hydrated it is). MSG is (23/169) under 14% sodium.

[@ChinChooReviews]

Yeah I know, but you have to go as slow as the slowest person on the internet, I don’t have the time to argue.

[@t2dab936]

i sniff lines of msg

[@metrobar3367]

It dose raise insulin levels apparently..

[@ChinChooReviews]

That’s not an MSG effect, that’s a SODIUM effect, as there’s a small amount of evidence between high sodium intake and increased insulin resistance, so’s salt is actually worse for it as it has a higher sodium level

[@andyPeyret]

Amino acids (/proteins) do. Glutamate being an amino acid. (see for example care.diabetesjournals.org/content/26/3/625 )

[@ChinChooReviews]

Doesn’t state what amino acids, at a micro level like one protein can kill you and another can aid in repair, sending this off the my mate who’s a neurologist at st batts and see what’s he say, as this Is very interesting

[@metrobar3367]

@@andyPeyret proteins do ? Explain the keto diet then which is designed to keep insulin low.

[@andyPeyret]

@@metrobar3367 How far did you get with the link I provided? Did any of it make sense?

[@OOTB]

Blocking people for their views? Imagine if they did that to those who disagreed with the whole "msg is bad" research you wouldn't be able to make this video or use it now no doubt. Don't block just debate, let people make their own minds but make a case so powerful its hard to ignore

[@ChinChooReviews]

I debate everyday, like everyday, for hours, i do not have the time to keep doing it, no ones mind ever chances and with out fail it always descends into childish name calling. I have far better things to do then argue with people that came in with no plan to change it, I’ve been a YT now for 4 years, Im board of narrow minded people that aren’t willing to learn and just NEED to have a pointless day, well done hope you feel better. I don’t think you can grasp how often it happens, 4-5 times a day… a day… done, look back I’ve left anti msg comments up, because there not attacking me. 99% always are nasty. So I don’t really care if I block them

[@OOTB]

@Chin & Choo Reviews I understand. It's tiring, it's sometimes pointless, but we need people like you to keep fighting when you are able, when you have the energy. You create great content and you are hopefully having the success you want but it comes with a responsibility to challenge thinking. Blocking, banning and cancelling is a slippery slope because soon enough its your views that are banned and your channel that is blocked. All that aside your videos are great and love how well you get on with your mum. Thank you both for the tips and advice :) Keep going mate

[@snorlax9506]

msg is bad

[@ChinChooReviews]

No it’s not, it’s been proven so safe that there are psychological studies on why people like you still believe the myths when the scientific and medical community say it’s safe. Long story short is your listen to “fake experts” using out dated research that was poorly executed

[@lhatekikes]

@@ChinChooReviews there's has been studies on MSG

[@zeez9053]

I would rather avoid the stuff Thank you very much

[@ChinChooReviews]

its just so ignorant to carry on believing that, to the point its funny, like flat earth

[@spudarmy2555]

The funny thing is you most likely consume it every day without even knowing.

[@zeez9053]

Chin & Choo Reviews I know the argument that the body makes it naturally or so.But if you think it’s ok I’m not gonna argue with you as chinese food is the best in the World ! Wouldn’t pass a meal with it in👍

[@ChinChooReviews]

If only everyone on the internet was more like you, very refreshing to see someone that’s not committed to being mean :)

[@zeez9053]

That’s bit big bother that you will block people for their msg views !

[@ChinChooReviews]

because they're wrong

[@MrLGDUK]

Given that most negative MSG views have been built on a foundation of racist propaganda, it's not unreasonable to just not want to hear it. Btw, I'm not saying that people fearful of, or concerned about MSG are racists, just that the massive push to convince the public to avoid it was very much racist. The trouble is, when it comes to health, if someone tells you something will do you harm, and you live with that belief for decades, it's hard to then come around to the reality that you fell for lies, that it's harmless to put it in your food and just makes it delicious.

[@zeez9053]

Chin & Choo Reviews ok sorry I believe you ! A meal with it in tastes good I must agree. I look forward to more great videos from you both !