So lets talk about MSG, What is it? Is it safe to eat? What should I put it in?

Monosodium glutamate or Msg for short, is natural occurring compound found in various ingredients from tomatoes to mushrooms and a variety cheeses. MSG is made though a fermenting process similar to yogurt of vinegar making. Where you take a natural glucose/carbohydrate source (example: molasses cassava, sugar cane) and introduce specific microorganisms to it. Those microbes break down and change the glucose to glutamic acid or glutamate; Glutamic acid is one of the most prevalent amino acid found in meats, cheeses, vegetables and even breast milk, yes human breast milk. Then the glutamic acid is purified with sodium to create MSG. The MSG is then dried into a fine crystal powder.

So why did I think MSG was bad for me?

In 1968 a man wrote a letter that was published in the "New England journal or medicine", this letter documented his recent trip to a Chinese restaurant and how he promptly got a headache and felt fatigued. He claimed that the only ingredients he didn't regularly eat was "MSG" and "rice vinegar". once this letter was published hoards of people came forward claiming anything from a slight headache to a extreme fever. All these people claimed that the Chinese food was the cause. This paired with the all ready growing xenophobia towards towards the Asian comminutes in the 1970s was in short much of the blame for MSG's downfall. Many corporations pulled msg from there products in fear of loosing profits. The term "Chinese restaurant syndrome" was coined for peoples various illness. But multiple studies have proven that there are zero negative side affects to humans. And just to be clear there is zero evidence today that msg has negative side affects. There are however a few studies to say that MSG might help cure dementia. It is entirely possible for someone to have an intolerance to msg but you would also be intolerant to its natural found counterpart. So if it's just Asian food you're reacting to and not the various other fruits and meats that msg is in, then it may be a cause to look somewhere else. My flavor isn't your scape goat. In the same way that so many people suddenly have an "allergy" or intolerance to gluten, the fear of msg is outdated. You choose what you want in your body but I'm not about to limit my seasoning cabinet.

So what should I put it in??

MSG is the fifth flavor bud aka Umami. Umami is in the same family of Salty, Sweet, Sour and Bitter. Its the flavor of richness, primary savory forward, earthy, and almost meaty. So anything you want to enhance with a richer more rounded flavor should be seasoned with Umami. You want to have the best dish at thanksgiving? Use msg. Don't know where to start? I got you. In this kitchen we're making anything from vanilla cake and everything bagels with MSG!!!