"It makes food taste better, but it turns you into a culinary loser," chef Alain Passard told Le Chef magazine.
We're talking about monosodium glutamate, a seasoning that Michelin chefs call "a crutch for incompetent cooks."
You sprinkle it on soups, meats, and even desserts, thinking that the flavor enhancer is your secret to success. But did you know that it is banned in Michelin-starred restaurants?
A study in the Journal of Culinary Science found that 89 percent of professional chefs consider MSG to be an “authentic flavor killer.” Why? It masks poor food quality.
Chef Massimo Bottura once said: “If a dish needs glutamate, you’re cooking *****.”
The biggest mistake: you believe it is harmless
Scientists from Harvard Medical School have proven that regular consumption of glutamate reduces the sensitivity of receptors. You stop feeling natural spices.
Blogger Alexey Zimin from “ Food without Glupostey ” conducted an experiment: “Two months without glutamate – and I rediscovered the taste of tomatoes!”
You can equally well use dried mushrooms, ground into powder, for soups and sauces, or add seaweed to fish dishes - it contains natural glutamate.
How to fix
Replace it with fermented foods: soy sauce, parmesan cheese, mushrooms. They give umami without chemicals.
Chef Yuri Rozhkov in the podcast " Kitchen without Rules " advises mixing tomato paste with anchovies to get a natural flavor enhancer.
Additional details
Monosodium glutamate was discovered in Japan in 1908 and has since become widely used.
However, according to the Food and Agriculture Organization , excessive use of this supplement can lead to headaches and increased appetite.
Chef Hélène Darroze of Le Louis XV in Monaco shared: "We only use natural ingredients. Glutamate is a deception for those who do not know how to work with products."
In the 1960s, MSG became popular in the United States as a cheap way to improve the taste of processed foods.
However, today the trend is changing. According to The Guardian , 67% of consumers in Europe prefer products without artificial flavor enhancers.
