Chicken vs Soy Sauce for Stir-fries

Many consumers believe that monosodium glutamate (MSG) is a chemically synthesized substance with no nutritional value and can be harmful to health when consumed regularly.While stock cube is made primarily from chickenand not only has nutritional benefits, but is also considered safe. Thus, one often sees people avoid MSG in their cooking while freely adding stock cubes.

In fact, there is little difference between chicken stock and MSG.

Although most packaging of stock cubes claims to use "high-quality chicken" or "true high-quality chicken," it is not as we imagine - primarily composed of chicken, chicken bones, or concentrated extracts thereof for natural flavoring. Its main components are actually MSG (glutamic acid sodium) and salt. Approximately 40% of the content is MSG, with additional sugars, chicken or chicken bone powder, spices, inosine monophosphate, guanosine monophosphate, chicken essence flavoring, starch, etc., to make up the rest.

The strong umami taste of stock cubes mainly comes from the MSG. Furthermore, inosine and guanosine are enhancers that also have a flavoring effect. Together with glutamic acid sodium, they enhance the umami taste of the stock cube, making it smoother, richer, and more fragrant. The realistic chicken flavor in stock cubes mainly comes from the chicken and chicken bone powder extracted from fresh chickens and bones. Chicken essence flavorings can also strengthen the "chicken" flavor of the stock cube;starch is used to make it granular or powdery.

Nutritional content varies

Which one, MSG or stock cubes, has more nutritional value?

MSG is primarily extracted from rice and corn or molasses through microbial fermentation. Its main component is glutamic acid sodium, an amino acid that is a primary constituent of protein. While stock cubes have more complex components and thus contain a broader range of nutrients. In addition to glutamic acid sodium, they also contain various vitamins and minerals.

However, no matter how nutritious stock cubes are, they are still just condiments that cannot compare to fresh chicken meat in terms of nutrition.

Moreover, according to the Guangdong Consumer Committee's investigation, the protein content in different brands of stock cubes varies due to their varying amounts of chicken or bone powder. Regarding safety, similar to MSG

most people are wary of MSG because they fear it may produce certain carcinogenic substances.

However, the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization and the World Health Organization food additives experts consider MSG completely safe under normal circumstances. It can be consumed with peace of mind as long as it is not heated above 120°C, at which point the glutamic acid sodium will lose water to form pyroglutamic acid, potentially generating carcinogens. Since stock cubes also contain a certain amount of glutamic acid sodium, their safety is similar to that of MSG. Therefore, they should be used without prolonged high-temperature heating. Additionally, due to the approximately 10% salt content in stock cubes, the amount of salt added when cooking with them or making soups must be reduced accordingly.

Stock cubes also contain nucleotides, which are metabolized into uric acid. Patients with gout should consume them in moderation. Monosodium glutamate contains nucleotides, and the metabolic products of nucleotides are uric acid; therefore, gout patients should consume it in moderation.