MSG is an often misunderstood spice that should be utilized more frequently in cooking. Here's why MSG deserves a spot in your seasoning cabinet.

MSG is a white, odorless, crystalline powder commonly used as a food additive. In the food industry, it’s known as E621. It dissolves easily in water, separating into sodium and free glutamate.

And while MSG’s—or monosodium glutamate—viral moment may have put it back on everyone’s radar, the flavoring agent continues to be thrown under the bus for a variety of health issues.

From miracle powder to cultural scapegoat. By the 1950s, MSG was a staple of industrial kitchens and processed foods—from canned soups to frozen dinners—embedding itself in the architecture of ...

Start with a little. I say it all the time, and I’ll never stop. You can always add, but you can never take away.

Stir together MSG powder and water until well dissolved. Transfer mixture to a dasher bottle. MSG solution can be stored at room temperature for up to 1 month.

Ami first hears about MSG from a doctor on TV who warns about the flavor enhancer “poisoning America.” When she learns that her grandfather was the Japanese scientist who invented the ...

Pat both sides of chicken dry with paper towels. Drizzle underside of chicken with 1 tablespoon oil, and sprinkle with about 2 tablespoons spice mixture and 1 1/2 teaspoons lemon zest.