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AIBU?

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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:
PickAChew · 09/07/2025 08:38

A lot of people here seem to be confusing MSG with maltodextrin, which is used as a thickener and to add "mouth feel".

Weepixie · 09/07/2025 08:21

AffIt · 08/07/2025 18:35

Then that is your subjective opinion and you're very welcome to it, but science says you're wrong.

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Honestly, without sounding rude - I’m not really interested in what science has to say about it as I know that at 67 years old I have had problems with MSG since I was about 8 and first started eating Chinese food. I know it’s not soya sauce as I can eat food with soya sauce in it and be okay.

And interestingly enough my now adult son who’s severely autistic also has problems with it.

Scientists can come up with their opinion on anything they like but unless they have tested their theory on every single person in the world they can’t speak for everyone and say MSG doesn’t make people feel unwell.

Original poster
Sabire9 · 09/07/2025 08:13

macrowave · 09/07/2025 03:11

Adding MSG = normal.

Browning MSG = wtf? Unnecessary. It's like salt, use it in the same way in your cooking.

Except I browned it, and it gave my noodles a very distinctive and delicious flavour, as recommended by this chef https://www.tiktok.com/@ziangsfoodworkshop?lang=en

TikTok - Make Your Day

https://www.tiktok.com/@ziangsfoodworkshop?lang=en

OP posts:
Original poster
Sabire9 · 09/07/2025 08:07

Valeriekat · 09/07/2025 07:44

And MSG is really not very good for you and is banned as a food additive in many countries.

This is not true. It's not 'banned in many countries' - it's just not used in baby food and there's usually a labelling requirement. There's no good evidence that it's 'really not very good for you'.

OP posts:
Original poster
Sabire9 · 09/07/2025 08:06

Sparkiest · 08/07/2025 20:02

I find food with MSG quite gloopy and unpleasant. Definitely not something I’d add in.

It's a flavour enhancer. It doesn't change the texture of the food any more than adding small amounts of salt or sugar does. Chinese takeaways use thickener in their sauces - mainly potato starch. If there's too much this can make a sauce 'gloopy'.

OP posts:
Original poster
Sabire9 · 09/07/2025 08:03

user101101 · 08/07/2025 20:07

MSG is a UPF. So takes away the point of home cooking. You don’t need MSG to make tasty Chinese food. Just the use quality ingredients soy sauce, rice wine, sesame oil, ginger, sugar etc. oh and some serious wok technique if you’re up to it 😉

I’m Chinese…

Edited

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'.

OP posts:
Original poster
Sabire9 · 09/07/2025 07:58

Seagullsandsausagerolls · 09/07/2025 03:31

I've both and love them. Second one is my favourite. Third one apparently due soon.

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Yes! I love him, and his catch phrase 'and a teaspoon of fucking msg'. 😂

OP posts:
myplace · 09/07/2025 07:55

Roasted sesame oil is the other must use ingredient. It transforms homemade Chinese. I tend to sprinkle some on at the end rather than cooking with it.

I have MSG, must give it a go again.

Original poster
Sabire9 · 09/07/2025 07:52

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.

That's not true. MSG is just a glutamate salt, it doesn't 'expand' in the stomach. It's a naturally occurring compound - it's in tomatoes, cheese and mushrooms.

OP posts:
Valeriekat · 09/07/2025 07:47

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

Valeriekat · 09/07/2025 07:44

And MSG is really not very good for you and is banned as a food additive in many countries.

Valeriekat · 09/07/2025 07:42

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.

You don't know what MSG is do you?

EasternEcho · 09/07/2025 05:36

In a pinch one can use a tiny bit of Marmite instead of MSG. The yeast in Marmite has naturally occuring glutamates. It has the umami flavour, It also adds a salty, fermented note, which mimics the effect of soy sauce, fermented bean paste, or oyster sauce often used in Chinese cooking. Might be a good option for those who fear using straight MSG.

efeslight · 09/07/2025 05:33

The tips for softening meat I will try, thanks

Zanatdy · 09/07/2025 05:20

It’s good in fried rice too, same method.

CherryRipe1 · 09/07/2025 04:48

@LancashireButterPie Thanks, duly noted, didn't cross my mind that it could be anaphylaxis. A family friend has a similar reaction to bacon, his GP did sod all & fobbed him off so better warn him to push things.

LancashireButterPie · 09/07/2025 04:18

CherryRipe1 · 09/07/2025 02:22

I love Chinese food but something/s in it can trigger migraine and a raging thirst. Parmesan, Stilton, Walnuts, chocolate, Smoked Mackerel or haddock trigger my migraine too. My daughters lips resemble Pete Burns/Katy price after some Chinese dishes but we can't work out the trigger. I'm going to buy some msg now as our local South Asian supermarket sells it & see how we go with it. I'm dieting and hungry, visions & smells of Chinatown food now evoked by this thread!

If your DDs are swelling to that extent, you need to take her to the GP for allergy testing.
Allergy testing is not something you experiment with at home. Anaphylaxis can be fatal.

Seagullsandsausagerolls · 09/07/2025 03:31

userlotsanumbers · 08/07/2025 17:46

Chin Taylor's book? How badly produced? Not worth buying or...? He's been all over my tiktok, that chap.

I've both and love them. Second one is my favourite. Third one apparently due soon.

macrowave · 09/07/2025 03:11

Adding MSG = normal.

Browning MSG = wtf? Unnecessary. It's like salt, use it in the same way in your cooking.

WiddlinDiddlin · 09/07/2025 03:07

Pinkrabitt · 08/07/2025 23:49

Its bad for you if you are coeliac or have a gluten intolerance!

It also gives me palpitations so I avoid it.

Some people are sensitive to it or allergic to it.

It's not known to cause reactions purely based on gluten, as (if it is made from wheat, it may not be) any gluten is completely hydrolysed by the manufacturing process. So unless someone with a gluten sensitivity or a coeliac is also sensitive to/allergic to msg itself, it is safe for them to eat, it is considered a gluten free product.

WiddlinDiddlin · 09/07/2025 02:59

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.

No it doesn't 'just' fill you up - msg is a salt (to be accurate, a sodium salt of glutamic acid, an amino acid found naturally in many foods), its a lot stronger than table salt, its a flavour enhancer, increasing the umami flavours that are typically associated with high protein foods.

This can mean (but not for everyone) that it makes you feel satiated quicker than if you didn't use MSG. It doesn't actually fill you up though and this doesn't work on everyone, for some people it will encourage them to eat more!

It is used in chinese cooking because it is a flavour enhancer, nothing more and nothing to do with all you can eat.

fireplaceember · 09/07/2025 02:51

Isitreallysohard · 09/07/2025 02:50

I thought MSG was really bad for you and that's why most places specify they don't use it

No it’s because people thought they reacted to MSG so places advertised they didn’t use it

Isitreallysohard · 09/07/2025 02:50

I thought MSG was really bad for you and that's why most places specify they don't use it

Christmasbear1 · 09/07/2025 02:44

Fringle · 08/07/2025 20:26

Embarrassing is having no sense of irony.

👏

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Water is a chemical

TourdeFrance2025 · 09/07/2025 02:39

Sorry @Sabire9 but that's very 'old news', but it's a controversial ingredient.