most Chinese restaurants advertise their food being "MSG free". so what do they use instead ?

Answer 1

Moose spit?

Answer 2

Jen, MSG doesn't give you the runs, it makes you tired and loopy. I experienced the same problem that you have the last 2 times I ate Chinese food. I won't eat it any more, no matter how cheap or convenient. My Dad has severe allergies to MSG and it makes him tired, gives him headaches, etc., but never the runs. When they came to visit me in November, I called all of my favorite restaurants and asked them to check their kitchens for ingredients containing MSG. Some refused, others were happy to do it. MSG, or Accent, is a common ingredient in Asian cooking. Just stay away from those restaurants altogether.

Answer 3

I can't speak for all Chinese restaurants, however the one I worked for told people who were concerned about MSG that we didn't use it, regardless of the fact that we had a massive container of it in the kitchen at all times. As far as restaurants that actually don't use it, I imagine they probably just use other seasonings appropriate to the food.

Answer 4

they may not use MSG which usually comes in a crystal form, but there are other powders they use [naturally they have chinese names] but taste just as salty as MSG. Salt is the main problem with chinese cooking now, I always ask for a dish to be cooked with 1/2 the amount of salt

Answer 5

MSG made the food more flavorful. Taking it out did not really change the recipe. They just adjusted the seasoning and the cooking sauces to heighten the flavor more naturally.

I have been experimenting with cooking chinese food and the secret ingredient as far as I have found is Oyster sauce.

Answer 6

The seasoning they used to use contained MSG. They have discontinued use of MSG when sales declined and replaced the formula with MSG free products.

Answer 7

originally in the past...they use herbs,spices,condiments to make the food taste superb...but since the intervention of msg,most of the spices and condiments are relied on the accompaniment of msg,it also allows cooking to be faster and served in a shorter time...but quite recently,since the health issue starts to come out...the cooks are cooking the traditional way which means slower and served in a longer waiting time

Answer 8

The usual, soy sauce, fish sauce, salt, sugar, etc. depending on the type of cooking. Without MSG the flavor is still there, just not heightened artificially.

Answer 9

Since MSG is proccessed from sugar canes, the healthiest substitute is sugar. But don't use too much sugar when deep frying coz the it turns black (caramel-ish)

or, they usually use meat stock or chicken stock. By boiling the meat until the water turns brown.

Answer 10

MSG is a "flavour enhancer", and not an actual foodstuff, so when they cease using MSG, they dont need to replace it with anything-- except maybe a better recipe.

Answer 11

people worry about MSG in Chinese food, but have you checked the labels on your salad dressings, canned foods, etc. Mono Sodium Glutamate is in a ton of the foods we eat right in our own homes.