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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:
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.

AffIt · 08/07/2025 17:38

Wallabyone · 08/07/2025 17:25

What actually is MSG? I know it’s generally regarded as being very bad for you, but I don’t actually know what it is…
(I know-I will Google now…)

It's not bad for you - MSG (monosodium glutamate) is basically a synthetic compound that replicates the umami taste in foods such as mushrooms, tomatoes, soy sauce etc.

A vanishingly few people are genuinely sensitive to this (and presumably don't eat tomatoes or mushrooms either), but 'Chinese Restaurant Syndrome' has essentially been debunked as the bad and somewhat racist science it is.

The Rotten Science Behind the MSG Scare | Science History Institute

https://share.google/j7qCIma9zNOD1t97S

*Edited for bad linky

ComtesseDeSpair · 08/07/2025 17:37

Wallabyone · 08/07/2025 17:25

What actually is MSG? I know it’s generally regarded as being very bad for you, but I don’t actually know what it is…
(I know-I will Google now…)

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.

DiscoDancingDoris · 08/07/2025 17:36

Peanut oil too for stir fries

AtomicBlondeRose · 08/07/2025 17:36

My best tip is that sweet and sour sauce is super easy to make and tastes better than a takeaway!

Mix together ketchup, the juice from a tin of pineapple, soy sauce, brown sugar and a bit of rice wine if you have it. Heat up and then thicken with cornflour and water. Add the tinned pineapple chunks and heat through. Adjust the proportions to suit your tastes.

ComtesseDeSpair · 08/07/2025 17:33

MSG is the bomb. I put it on everything I’d usually use salt for, it makes everything taste even more like the foodstuff it’s meant to be.

Also, for Chinese home cookery - shaoxing wine. It has that very particular umami quality and taste and smell that’s really hard to recreate with anything else.

Redheadedstepchild · 08/07/2025 17:29

Also, "velvet" your meat. Mix together baking soda and water into a slurry and marinate the chicken/beef/whatever strips in it for a bit. (No longer than half an hour) Then rinse it off.

For that really tender texture.

Wallabyone · 08/07/2025 17:25

What actually is MSG? I know it’s generally regarded as being very bad for you, but I don’t actually know what it is…
(I know-I will Google now…)

DancingLions · 08/07/2025 17:23

I'm a bit surprised people don't know this already. I thought it was well known that they use MSG in Chinese food. But yes I always add some to mine.

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.

Dangermoo · 08/07/2025 17:21

Ta x

parakeet · 08/07/2025 17:19

thanks!