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Original poster

.. to want to share my Chinese 'fakeaway' tip with y'all

162 replies

Sabire9 · 08/07/2025 17:13

DS bought me a very badly produced recipe book published by a TikTok chef. The guy's family own a Chinese takeaway and the book details how to reproduce your typical takeaway dishes.

I'm always doing stir fries at home, and they're never quite right. However, I've now found out how to recreate noodles with the elusive Chinese takeaway taste at home. Basically you have to USE MSG, and specifically you have to BROWN OFF THE MSG in the hot oil before adding your noodles. Makes all the difference and I'm going to save bucks.

You're welcome.

OP posts:
StMarie4me · 09/07/2025 18:58

Are you American?

JoBrandsCleaner · 09/07/2025 18:54

A bit of wok oil in stuff is good as well

MrsTerryPratchett · 09/07/2025 18:52

WiddlinDiddlin · 09/07/2025 18:47

Vs the salt from actual salt, soy sauce - and the sugars - and the oil - and the almost standard carb overload... you don't think that might be related?

Easy enough to test - put a sprinkle of MSG onto one of your normal meals made at home, if you get the same results (after an extra tasty dinner) then yes it is the msg. But get someone else to sprinkle it, and ask them not to tell you which meal that day contained the msg. Just to be sure.

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You’d need double blind. Get one of the kids to label salt A and MSG B and hand them to DH, who remembers which food has which. Only after the PP has symptoms is the way round revealed. Must be repeated several times.

WiddlinDiddlin · 09/07/2025 18:47

FlipFlopVibe · 09/07/2025 18:29

I feel so hungover after chinese, bloated, queasy, massively dehydrated like I’ve been out on the town all night. So not worth it as much as I do enjoy it at the time. I think MSG is the culprit as no other takeaway bothers me at all

Vs the salt from actual salt, soy sauce - and the sugars - and the oil - and the almost standard carb overload... you don't think that might be related?

Easy enough to test - put a sprinkle of MSG onto one of your normal meals made at home, if you get the same results (after an extra tasty dinner) then yes it is the msg. But get someone else to sprinkle it, and ask them not to tell you which meal that day contained the msg. Just to be sure.

ilovemyskunks · 09/07/2025 18:37

Sabire9 · 08/07/2025 17:13

DS bought me a very badly produced recipe book published by a TikTok chef. The guy's family own a Chinese takeaway and the book details how to reproduce your typical takeaway dishes.

I'm always doing stir fries at home, and they're never quite right. However, I've now found out how to recreate noodles with the elusive Chinese takeaway taste at home. Basically you have to USE MSG, and specifically you have to BROWN OFF THE MSG in the hot oil before adding your noodles. Makes all the difference and I'm going to save bucks.

You're welcome.

but what is the book?

FlipFlopVibe · 09/07/2025 18:29

I feel so hungover after chinese, bloated, queasy, massively dehydrated like I’ve been out on the town all night. So not worth it as much as I do enjoy it at the time. I think MSG is the culprit as no other takeaway bothers me at all

Audiprettier · 09/07/2025 18:16

ComtesseDeSpair · 08/07/2025 19:21

Different chemical compositions in the sodium family. Salt is sodium chloride. MSG is monosodiumglutamate - it’s the glutamate aspect of the composition which brings the umami. Disodium ribonucleotides are a close cousin of MSG, and commonly added to things like crisps, bouillon, stock, and seasoning mixes - and why things like stock cubes and chicken / beef flavour crisps and pot noodles etc can be vegetarian whilst tasting “meaty.”

Edited
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idontknowwhattodo1990 ...
Well you DID ask! 😂😂😂

SummerSneezing · 09/07/2025 16:26

If anyone has a failsafe recipe for chicken chow mein, I will love you forever…

MrsTerryPratchett · 09/07/2025 16:08

Swiftie1878 · 09/07/2025 16:02

😂 none, but enough anecdotal evidence to fill a book. You wouldn’t even believe the worst story I’ve heard from a sufferer that was directly linked to ingestion of MSG.

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Well I have one for the nocebo effect, which is what most of this is. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37843534/

The nocebo effect across health outcomes: A systematic review and meta-analysis - PubMed

The present review suggests nocebo effects can be reliably induced across somatic health outcomes, and interventions that target the effect of instructions will be of critical importance to reducing the occurrence of nocebo effects. (PsycInfo Database...

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37843534/

Swiftie1878 · 09/07/2025 16:02

MrsTerryPratchett · 09/07/2025 15:56

Double blind meta-studies please?

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😂 none, but enough anecdotal evidence to fill a book. You wouldn’t even believe the worst story I’ve heard from a sufferer that was directly linked to ingestion of MSG.

TreeDudette · 09/07/2025 16:00

Bananalanacake · 08/07/2025 18:13

Great, thanks, now tell us where to buy it.

If you have any oriental supermarkets or oriental takeaways with a small side shop they will sell it. I live in rural north wales and could buy MSG in my local (20 min drive in nearby small town) thai takeaway's mini shop or in the oriental "supermarket" in a nearby larger town.

MrsTerryPratchett · 09/07/2025 15:56

Swiftie1878 · 09/07/2025 15:52

Careful with MSG. It can affect people in different ways, sometimes physically (bloating, nausea, discomfort) sometimes mentally (irritability, hallucinations, mood swings).

Double blind meta-studies please?

Swiftie1878 · 09/07/2025 15:52

Careful with MSG. It can affect people in different ways, sometimes physically (bloating, nausea, discomfort) sometimes mentally (irritability, hallucinations, mood swings).

MrsTerryPratchett · 09/07/2025 15:50

Valeriekat · 09/07/2025 15:44

See my update, in the 80s/90s people were worried that there was a cancer link and people were using it in food without listing it as an ingredient. Some people are sensitive and have a reaction to it which is why good restaurants stopped using it.

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‘Some people’ are sensitive to all manner of things, from egg to seafood. Good restaurants don’t stop using any ingredient anyone is sensitive to. They’d be serving plain water. It’s not widespread. Just like MSG. MOST people who say they are sensitive and report symptoms don’t have them if it’s double blind. It’s a nocebo effect and a racist one at that.

Valeriekat · 09/07/2025 15:44

Valeriekat · 09/07/2025 07:47

Or at least that is how it was in the 80s

See my update, in the 80s/90s people were worried that there was a cancer link and people were using it in food without listing it as an ingredient. Some people are sensitive and have a reaction to it which is why good restaurants stopped using it.

LostFuse · 09/07/2025 14:13

hillyandsteep · 08/07/2025 17:21

MSG just fills you up that’s why they use it in all you can eat because it expands in your stomach so you feel full quickly.

rubbish

Original poster
Sabire9 · 09/07/2025 13:43

"Doesn’t mean it’s not bad for you."

No - but the science suggests that MSG isn't dangerous or harmful in the quantities it's found at in food.

OP posts:
Original poster
Sabire9 · 09/07/2025 13:41

user101101 · 09/07/2025 10:56

The whole problem with UPFs, including any kind of artificial flavours, not just MSG, is that it screws up your brain messaging. It makes you think you’re getting more (vitamins or whatever) than you’re actually getting, but your stomach is left wondering where those nutrients actually are and makes you eat more. Hence you end up overeating. This kind of unfulfilling eating can lead to addiction. Think about it, would you eat as much without it?

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The dish I made had loads, and loads of vegetables in it. Nearly raw, crunchy vegetables. Carrots, greens, onions, beansprouts.

Are you suggesting that putting msg in my food made it less nutritious or less 'fulfilling'?

OP posts:
declutteringmymind · 09/07/2025 11:19

Thanks for these. Can wait to try these tips out.

TheWelshposter · 09/07/2025 11:14

ForeverDelayedEpiphany · 08/07/2025 18:09

MSG isn't something I can eat. The glutamate molecules part of it makes my movement disorder symptoms worse, and i think it's something that once gave me the so-called "Chinese restaurant syndrome" after eating a lot of it at a Chinese restaurant (Funnily enough lol 😆).

I felt dreadful, really unwell, and had awful palpitations, felt like I was burning up inside, and became very restless and panicky. I had to pace around outside before I could feel better.

I hate the stuff 😒 I think it's a bit controversial, but some studies supposedly say it's a bit neurotoxic.

I don't have symptoms as bad as this but the morning after eating MSG I always feel slightly hungover. Dehydrated and with a strange taste in my mouth!

user101101 · 09/07/2025 11:08

user101101 · 09/07/2025 10:59

Yes the whole MSG thing probably did start with a bit of racism. Only cos the other artificial crap in our food didn’t get picked up as much. Doesn’t mean it’s not bad for you. Of course it’s up to everyone to choose how much they want to ingest in the end. Yes it makes food yummy.

Also, people eating what they’re not used to can lead to upset stomachs anyhow. So i think the whole racism thing is a bit overblown these days

user101101 · 09/07/2025 10:59

Yes the whole MSG thing probably did start with a bit of racism. Only cos the other artificial crap in our food didn’t get picked up as much. Doesn’t mean it’s not bad for you. Of course it’s up to everyone to choose how much they want to ingest in the end. Yes it makes food yummy.

user101101 · 09/07/2025 10:56

Sabire9 · 09/07/2025 08:03

You add a quarter to a half a teaspoon to a dish. It's a seasoning. Like salt - also 'ultra processed' and sugar - also used as a seasoning.

Where UFP's are a problem is when they constitute a high percentage of your calorie intake, not where tiny amounts are used as seasoning. Adding a pinch of flavouring to a food doesn't make the whole dish 'ultra processed'.

Show quote history

The whole problem with UPFs, including any kind of artificial flavours, not just MSG, is that it screws up your brain messaging. It makes you think you’re getting more (vitamins or whatever) than you’re actually getting, but your stomach is left wondering where those nutrients actually are and makes you eat more. Hence you end up overeating. This kind of unfulfilling eating can lead to addiction. Think about it, would you eat as much without it?

SociableAtWork · 09/07/2025 09:14

@Sabire9 - I’m so pleased you posted this, thank you! My stir fry dishes have always been really disappointing, so your tip and all the other info on here has been an eye-opener.

Wehavenotlongtolove · 09/07/2025 09:08

Madisnttheword · 08/07/2025 20:34

The origins came from a cantonese-american scientist

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Theres a really interesting episode on This American Life about the origins of Chinese Restaurant Syndrome. It was started as a bet between Dr A and Dr B that Dr A couldn’t get an article published in a medical journal. Dr A assumed the identity of a real Chinese-American doctor (without his knowledge or consent) and made the story about MSG up. The article was published and it’s snowballed from there. www.thisamericanlife.org/668/the-long-fuse

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