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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:
miraxxx · 08/07/2025 22:30

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

Yes, as if chinese cuisine didn't taste good before the invention of MSG! MSG makes me feel ultra thirsty so I avoid it. I think it is a lazy cook's shortcut.

sandwichlover93 · 08/07/2025 22:30

soupyspoon · 08/07/2025 22:09

Rooted in racism, what on earth are you talking about. Lots of people try to avoid UPFs, not unusual and not rooted in anything.

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google it, it’s got nothing to do with UPFs.

Fringle · 08/07/2025 22:26

KittytheHare · 08/07/2025 22:00

@Fringle thanks for signposting that you made a “joke”. Let me know next time you attempt it.

Happy to. I’ll put “JOKE BELOW” above it. Then even you might spot it. At least I hope so.

fireplaceember · 08/07/2025 22:23

soupyspoon · 08/07/2025 22:09

Rooted in racism, what on earth are you talking about. Lots of people try to avoid UPFs, not unusual and not rooted in anything.

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This was years ago, nothing to do with people avoiding UPFs, it goes back to the whole chinese restaurant syndrome

DragonTrainor · 08/07/2025 22:09

Is it Ziangs? They have a really good YouTube and book

soupyspoon · 08/07/2025 22:09

sandwichlover93 · 08/07/2025 19:30

It’s not actually bad for you. It’s a rubbish lie that’s rooted in racism (not pinning this on you, I too only found this out a few years ago).

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Rooted in racism, what on earth are you talking about. Lots of people try to avoid UPFs, not unusual and not rooted in anything.

soupyspoon · 08/07/2025 22:08

ObliviousCoalmine · 08/07/2025 19:57

This is also absolute nonsense 😂😂

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Its a joke.

KittytheHare · 08/07/2025 22:00

@Fringle thanks for signposting that you made a “joke”. Let me know next time you attempt it.

ComtesseDeSpair · 08/07/2025 21:39

Sparkiest · 08/07/2025 20:02

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

That’s probably a xantham gum, cornstarch or rice flour thickener in the sauce. MSG looks and acts similarly to table salt: if you add it, it would typically be as a small pinch similar to adding table salt. It doesn’t have thickening properties.

Catladywithoutacat · 08/07/2025 21:02

Thought everyone knew this? Not good for you though I rather without

PracticallyPeapod · 08/07/2025 21:00

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

MSG in itself is not a UPF. Adding a small amount to healthy, homemade food doesn’t suddenly turn it into junk. That would be ridiculous.

JayJayEl · 08/07/2025 20:57

ComtesseDeSpair · 08/07/2025 17:37

It isn’t “bad” for you: it’s naturally occurring in many vegetables as well as developing in the process of making things like cheese and some processed meats. It’s just a sodium. Some people believe it gives them ill-effects, and some people may be more sensitive to it than others, but there’s no study evidence of it doing this in a widespread way when people haven’t been told or believe they’re consuming it.

ETA: when people describe what’s a bit controversially known as “Chinese restaurant syndrome”, it’s believed more likely that they’re sensitive to larger quantities of soy sauce than they usually have in their diet, or to spices they aren’t familiar with - Sichuan peppercorns in particular give a numbing, tingly effect that isn’t found in any other cuisine.

Edited
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I'm sure the sheer quantity of Chinese food people eat in one sitting play a part, too!

Madisnttheword · 08/07/2025 20:34

EnjoythemoneyJane · 08/07/2025 18:59

Apparently not. Don’t know the origin of the rumours of carcinogens etc, but I’ve seen loads of stuff more recently debunking that completely. It’s basically a seasoning & thickening agent, no worse than salt 🤷‍♀️

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The origins came from a cantonese-american scientist

Fringle · 08/07/2025 20:26

KittytheHare · 08/07/2025 20:15

Embarrassing

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Embarrassing is having no sense of irony.

👏

KittytheHare · 08/07/2025 20:15

Fringle · 08/07/2025 19:48

MSG is all chemicals.

Chemicals are bad. You don’t get chemicals in organic food. You just get natural substances.

You don’t get chemicals in nature. You just get things like carbohydrates, enzymes, sugars, esters, acids, alkalis, salts and proteins. Chemical-free!

Embarrassing

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…

Fringle · 08/07/2025 20:04

ObliviousCoalmine · 08/07/2025 19:57

This is also absolute nonsense 😂😂

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In what way?

Sparkiest · 08/07/2025 20:02

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

malmi · 08/07/2025 20:02

If you can’t find MSG then Aromat seasoning is mainly salt and MSG. Also Maggi liquid seasoning.

ForeverDelayedEpiphany · 08/07/2025 20:01

ObliviousCoalmine · 08/07/2025 19:57

This is also absolute nonsense 😂😂

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No, i actually agree that it's a synthetic chemical flavour.

HeadOfGregor · 08/07/2025 20:01

Fringle · 08/07/2025 19:48

MSG is all chemicals.

Chemicals are bad. You don’t get chemicals in organic food. You just get natural substances.

You don’t get chemicals in nature. You just get things like carbohydrates, enzymes, sugars, esters, acids, alkalis, salts and proteins. Chemical-free!

Indeed, chemicals in a natural organic banana

.. to want to share my Chinese 'fakeaway' tip with y'all
ForeverDelayedEpiphany · 08/07/2025 20:00

hoarahloux · 08/07/2025 19:26

Don't eat tomatoes then!

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I can eat tomatoes actually.

ObliviousCoalmine · 08/07/2025 19:57

Fringle · 08/07/2025 19:48

MSG is all chemicals.

Chemicals are bad. You don’t get chemicals in organic food. You just get natural substances.

You don’t get chemicals in nature. You just get things like carbohydrates, enzymes, sugars, esters, acids, alkalis, salts and proteins. Chemical-free!

This is also absolute nonsense 😂😂

Fringle · 08/07/2025 19:48

MSG is all chemicals.

Chemicals are bad. You don’t get chemicals in organic food. You just get natural substances.

You don’t get chemicals in nature. You just get things like carbohydrates, enzymes, sugars, esters, acids, alkalis, salts and proteins. Chemical-free!

idontknowwhattodo1990 · 08/07/2025 19:34

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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Amazing, thanks.