Is it true that MSG makes food tastier? This is the Chemist

Monosodium glutamate (MSG) is believed to add delicious taste to every food. Through experiments conducted by Kimiasutra, MSG has the opposite fact. Monosodium glutamate or MSG in Indonesia is also better known as micin. Micin is believed to be a flavoring and is relied on to make dishes taste better.

This myth, which has taken root in society, has become an interesting discussion topic raised by Kimia Sutra. As a chemist, Harry Nazarudin or who is familiarly called Kang Harnaz accompanied by Irvan Kartawiria guided the conversation about MSG facts. So far, MSG has been a fermented product that has always been the scapegoat for several complaints that arise after consuming food. An itchy throat, dizziness, nausea, and several other symptoms are said to come from consuming MSG or mecin. According to other circulating beliefs, the more micin you use, the more delicious the food will be. The discussion which took place at Almond Zucchini, South Jakarta (27/9) thoroughly explored various myths believed by the Indonesian MSG and Glutamic Acid Factory Association (P2MI).

During the discussion, Harnaz and Irvan provided three glasses of water that had been mixed with certain components. Glass A is filled with salt water, glass B is filled with sugar water, and glass C is filled with MSG water. Harnaz and Irvan prove that MSG, if consumed alone without other flavorings, will not be as delicious as is often discussed. In fact, MSG only functions as a flavor enhancer for foods that already have their own taste. All participants in the room took part in the experiment together. First, glass A is mixed with glass C, which tastes similar to chicken stock. Then glass B is mixed with glass C to make the taste more balanced. Meanwhile, glass C which only contains MSG solution, if tasted separately, has a distinctive umami taste.

After conducting experiments by mixing solutions, Harnaz and Irvan also invited the discussion participants to prove the belief that the more MSG the more delicious the food will taste.

"Now we will prove whether it is true that the more MSG the more delicious the food is? On the table there is a glass containing broth into which MSG powder will slowly be added, here we draw a curve to see how much MSG tastes delicious and the taste starts to decrease," Harnaz said. In the first and second additions, the delicious savory taste of the broth begins to increase. Harnaz continued to guide the participants to add a spoonful of MSG to the pudding and taste each time it was added. We felt the peak of deliciousness after the fourth spoonful. But entering the fifth spoon, the taste started to go wrong. There is a savory taste that is too piercing and leaves a bitter aftertaste at the base of the tongue. Through experiments carried out with discussion participants, Harnaz and Irvan proved that more MSG does not mean the food will be tastier. MSG must be used according to the recommended dosage and not excessively.

Editor : Diah Afrilian
Read detikfood's article, "Is it true that MSG makes food tastier? Here's a chemist's explanation" in full https://food.detik.com/berita-boga/d-6963598/benarkah-msg-bikin-makanan-lebih-enak-ini-penjelasan-ahli-kimia.