Flavor enhancers, go!

[d9t2s523]

What does everybody think of these? Accent, yeast extract, MSG, etc.. Either in rubs or injections. What is every bodies take on these. I walk past them every time I am at the grocery store pick it up, look at it and put it back. I am kind of a naturalist, and love letting the taste of the meat with a rub or injection work with it.

I read out that that they help achieve umami, and definitely have had Que with enhancers used in them at the local BBQ joints. Then I have read that MSG can give people head aches.

What does everybody have to say about them. Pros, cons and shoot!
Thanks in advance for all the comments, and advice.

 

[gr0uch0]

What does everybody think of these? Accent, yeast extract, MSG, etc.. Either in rubs or injections. What is every bodies take on these. I walk past them every time I am at the grocery store pick it up, look at it and put it back. I am kind of a naturalist, and love letting the taste of the meat with a rub or injection work with it.

I read out that that they help achieve umami, and definitely have had Que with enhancers used in them at the local BBQ joints. Then I have read that MSG can give people head aches.

What does everybody have to say about them. Pros, cons and shoot!
Thanks in advance for all the comments, and advice.

You go farther than I do, by picking it up and looking at it and then putting it back.  I don't even break stride.  My $0.02

 

[joe black]

Exactly right on. Im not putting any of that stuff on my meat. I'll smoke it asked first.

 

[crankybuzzard]

I don't use them much. I have an old recipe that calls for accent, but I haven't used it the last couple of times.

 

[firemanjon]

Never tried em...my meats taste just fine without

 

[d9t2s523]

Awesome, I never used them on any of my cooks, or any of my cooking. Smoke, grill, anything. I have great turn outs and wasn't sure if I was missing out on something. Thanks so far for all the comments, I want to hear the debate from somebody that swears by them.

 

[crankybuzzard]

Thanks so far for all the comments, I want to hear the debate from somebody that swears by them.

You probably won't find many, if any, here.

 

[d9t2s523]

Right on! Thanks all for talking me off the ledge of possible poison. Lol

 

[mr t 59874]

I personally use Accent, primarily when cooking Asian recipes. It does enhance the flavors of fish, poultry, pork, and beef. It also allows me to cut back on the salt content that would normally be used; a little bit goes a long way. Note though, we do not suffer from the side effects that some do, or worry about, nor is it used on smoked or grilled foods, mainly in sauces and stir fries.

T 

 

[chef jimmyj]

MSG is more than a hundred years old and used by millions of people added to every bite of food that goes in their mouth. MSG a form Glutamic Acid...A NATURALLY OCCURRING AMINO ACID and building block of protein, can be extracted from foods with high concentrations like Kombu Seaweed, through breaking down protein by cooking like when browning meat or through fermentation. Glutamic Acid aka Glutamate is found in every living thing that we eat. Humans recognize Glutamate as necessary to life and crave it from Birth.Yes BIRTH! Human Breast Milk contains 22mg/100g, same as eggs and just slightly lower than beef, fish and chicken. Just a taste and a minutes old Baby latches on and can't get enough and how many would say, " STOP you are feeding your baby MSG! ". While there are people who have sensitivity the media attack of the late 60's and 70's and paranoid health nuts of today have demonized MSG to the point that a majority think it's bad. Just not true. Some studies have shown that many peoples " issues " with MSG are psychosomatic and can be brought on by being told a MSG FREE food they ate contained MSG. MSG is natural, safe for most to consume, tastes great, and truly enhances the flavor of food.

Now add the Ribonucleotide extracts Disodium Inosinate and Disodium Guanylate aka I&G, found in Shiitake Mushrooms and meats, and you Super Activate the flavor enhancing effect of MSG. I have both MSG and I&G in my arsenal and have played with and used them extensively. Check your labels, most ready to eat foods contain both MSG and I&G.

Any of you MSG sensitive eating Chinese Food because the menu says " No added MSG "? Guess again...The main ingredients, Soy Sauce, Oyster Sauce, Hoisin Sauce, Fermented Yellow and Black Beans and the Ancient Chinese Secret ingredient Chicken Powder (dry chicken soup base), all contain Glutamates that are chemically indistinguishable from MSG and the Chicken Powder contains both MSG and I&G directly...Adding additional MSG just adds more flavor. Like dipping a ripe sweet Strawberry in Sugar. 

Check out these Videos for a non-scientific test that is amusing...JJ

Foodnetwork Food Detectives Part 1 and 2...





http://www.fda.gov/Food/IngredientsPackagingLabeling/FoodAdditivesIngredients/ucm328728.htm

http://www.msgfacts.com/nutrition/food-and-nutrition.aspx

http://www.vrg.org/blog/2011/03/21/...guanylate-are-all-vegetable-flavor-enhancers/ 

 

[DanMcG]

Great info JJ, Do you have a source for the I&G in processed form, or do you just use the mushrooms?

 

[firemanjon]

Great info

 

[SmokinAl]

Thank you JJ!

Al

 

[d9t2s523]

Very nice break down. Thank you. I have recently looked at my food labels and have found MSG in all of them from yellow rice, to Doritos. But have you dabbled with yeast extract at all? I have been hearing that this also helps achieve umami. I have done tons of reasearch on it all. And you have almost a 50-50 split on doers and do noters. But this has been a great turn out.

 

[mr t 59874]

 
I personally use Accent, primarily when cooking Asian recipes. It does enhance the flavors of fish, poultry, pork, and beef. It also allows me to cut back on the salt content that would normally be used; a little bit goes a long way. Note though, we do not suffer from the side effects that some do, or worry about, nor is it used on smoked or grilled foods, mainly in sauces and stir fries.

T 

Thank you JJ, I was walking on tippy toes, but you took the bull by the horns.

Thanks again,

T

 

[chef jimmyj]

Great info JJ, Do you have a source for the I&G in processed form, or do you just use the mushrooms?

Yes, the Ingredient Store carries I &G. Shiitake Powder is available from many spice distributors.

Very nice break down. Thank you. I have recently looked at my food labels and have found MSG in all of them from yellow rice, to Doritos. But have you dabbled with yeast extract at all? I have been hearing that this also helps achieve umami. I have done tons of reasearch on it all. And you have almost a 50-50 split on doers and do noters. But this has been a great turn out.

Yes. But I sourced it as samples from food additive manufacturers. Best description would be a less refined version of MSG with similar flavor enhancing but more mild and subtle...JJ

 

[dwdunlap]

Thank you Jimmy for clearing up the MSG controversy. I have saved your information to share with family and others.

I have read before on the safety of MSG but you you cleared up how how impracticable avoiding  Accent really is. We'll never sway some but your information will help most of us enjoy the better flavor.

Thanks   DW

 

[ab canuck]

Thx. For the great info, That makes a whole lot of sense. Now I won't be hesitant to use it in the future....

 

[sundown farms]

Fake Food Science Exposed!!!  I have wanted to try Accent for a long time but decided I ingest enough risky stuff already. Are there any rules of thumb on using it in lieu of salt or other ingredients in recipes that do not call for it? 

 

[nopigleftbehind]

Jimmy J! You da Man!!! Hey can you come to my house and explain all that to my wife!!! HAHA.