Fab b

[beam boys bbq]

I have mixed thoughts on MSG to use or not to use it
i didn't use it last year and my scours were all over the place
this year we are - we will see
york

[kickassbbq]

I don't see any need to use flavor enhancers that have CHEMICALS in them to get my meat to taste good.
I buy good quality meat, know how to smoke it with a good basic rub and Whala, I got good tasting BBQ.
That chit makes my heart BEAT faster than a Striped Arsed Zebra in about 2 seconds.
Can't be that good for ya.
Just my opinion. Go ahead, poison people!!!!!!
Just kidding.
Smoke On!!!!!!

[Jeff_in_KC]

I'm inclined to try something a bit different this year. Used Doc's Big Cow injection and added Fab B to it last year. Maybe I just use the injection and add MSG to it this year... who knows? There were times when Andy and I thought it dried out briskets. But maybe that was us using it as an excuse for our screw ups! LOL!

[Sledneck]

According to a a very prominent pitmaster that was at the kingsford event in NYC last monday, fab tastes to artificial and does not like it.

[MilitantSquatter]

Originally Posted by Sledneck

According to a a very prominent pitmaster that was at the kingsford event in NYC last monday, fab tastes to artificial and does not like it.

Steve's correct... The three of us had an interesting conversation on the subject.

With the likelyhood of FAB products not being readily available right now, it's gonna be interesting to see how some teams adjust who rely on FAB products, but may not have had to think about an an effective backup. I'm sure a number of the top teams who do use FAB products will still be able to be at the top of their game becasue they don't need to rely on it and will have a solid backup plan.

With that said, I do have a sizeable order pending just like others here, but I've already begun planning my alternatives and reviewing other injections / marinades I've used or wanted to try.

[drbbq]

Originally Posted by kickassbbq

I don't see any need to use flavor enhancers that have CHEMICALS in them to get my meat to taste good.
I buy good quality meat, know how to smoke it with a good basic rub and Whala, I got good tasting BBQ.
That chit makes my heart BEAT faster than a Striped Arsed Zebra in about 2 seconds.
Can't be that good for ya.
Just my opinion. Go ahead, poison people!!!!!!
Just kidding.
Smoke On!!!!!!

MSG isn't a chemical. It's made from beets and other natural products. They just gave it a bad name and people don't bother to learn about it.

[big brother smoke]

I am undecided on MSG. But here is some facts

[Bentley]

I have used FAB B 3 times. The frist two I did not let it set long enough and in my opinion did not use enough, had stains. Last time I used it I injected about 32 oz. into a 12lb. packer. I thought it came out good. I don't know if I used so much of it that I made the entire brisket brown, but I could not see any discoloration. Some say it makes the meat to salty, I did not find that but I like a lot of salt! I have about 1/2 a bag left and will be using it at the BBQ N' at the Autry in April. The judges will be the true indicator in my mind. My goal for 2007 is a top 10 in Brisket, did I mention I suck at cooking brisket, so anything will help mine!

[MilitantSquatter]

Originally Posted by drbbq

MSG isn't a chemical. It's made from beets and other natural products. They just gave it a bad name and people don't bother to learn about it.

Doc - I'm not anti-MSG as I've used FAB (but I don't go out of my way to use MSG etc. when cooking at home) so I'm not disagreeing, but please correct me if I am wrong..

While L-glutamic acid (MSG) can be found naturally in the some foods and be found within the cells of the body when our bodies digestive process beaks down the acids which the body then processes, in the limited reading I've done, MSG, as used for most foods as an additive, is a chemical as it is replicated in a factory, where is acids are broken down by various processes including hydrolization, autolyzation, fermentation etc) and then refined to the final substance. This amino acid (D-glutamic acid)is slightly different structure than what is found in natually occuring L-glutamic acid. This is potentially why so manly claim or experience (where factual or not) that MSG is foods poses reactions, health problems etc.

[thirdeye]

We don’t hear much about glutamic acid, which our body produces in small amounts and is also found is certain foods. When protein containing glutamic acid is broken down by cooking, fermentation or ripening - it becomes glutamate. Things that are not very common to us like seaweed broths or certain fish sauces contain glutamates. Soy sauces, Wooster and tomato sauces contain glutamates, that’s why we reach for them as marinades or condiments. But the substances with more glutamate than any other natural food are ripe cheeses like Parmesan. If you think about it, Parmesan (even in small amounts) wakes up just about any dish it is used on. I use it along with Romano cheese in one of my Italian sausages for this very reason at the rate of 1 Tablespoon per pound of meat. After cooking you can’t see it or actually taste it, but the sausages taste better with it. This works for meatloaf too.

Vinny, I thought that MSG was refined and bonded with salt to make a crystal convenient for use and measuring??

[drbbq]

Originally Posted by MilitantSquatter

Doc - I'm not anti-MSG as I've used FAB (but I don't go out of my way to use MSG etc. when cooking at home) so I'm not disagreeing, but please correct me if I am wrong..

While L-glutamic acid (MSG) can be found naturally in the some foods and be found within the cells of the body when our bodies digestive process beaks down the acids which the body then processes, in the limited reading I've done, MSG, as used for most foods as an additive, is a chemical as it is replicated in a factory, where is acids are broken down by various processes including hydrolization, autolyzation, fermentation etc) and then refined to the final substance. This amino acid (D-glutamic acid)is slightly different structure than what is found in natually occuring L-glutamic acid. This is potentially why so manly claim or experience (where factual or not) that MSG is foods poses reactions, health problems etc.

You're a little out of my league with all those big words so unless you cut and pasted that, you know way more about it than I do, but Joe Ames knows a lot about it and he told me that most msg that is added to food is made from beets.

[MilitantSquatter]

That's about as much as I know as well Doc !!!

I'm not even close to being a food scientist, and I don't really understand the details of what the processes actually mean but I did some reading up on it last year when the ingredients of FAB were discussed here in depth and from what I can gather there is natural and processed forms of what we know of MSG..

So, enough about the science .... aside from some of the alternatives mentioned from Lawry's mix etc. for those that use FAB and can't get a shipment, are you gonna use a more basic recipe with ingredients found in a regular supermarket ?? That's what I'm leaning toward...

[drbbq]

But if it's processed from beets I wouldn't consider it a chemical.

The ingredient that I like best in the fab b is the phosphates. None of the broth/stock things will replace that, but I think I've got a trick up my sleeve so look for some news soon.

[Dovid]

Y'all have only been talking about what is called MSG on the ingredient list. But there are many ingredients which are called by other names.

For example, Hydolyzed Soy Protein.

If any judge is sensitive to MSG they will probably score differently than others, if they are able to write after tasting it.

Here is a link which can help.

msgmyth.com Look under hidname

Just a little rambling.

Dovid
Chicago

[ique]

Originally Posted by kickassbbq

I don't see any need to use flavor enhancers that have CHEMICALS in them to get my meat to taste good.

Do you ever eat processed cold cuts like bologna, or hot dogs? Same stuff is in cold cuts/hot dogs: MSG, Hydrolyzed proteins, phosphates.

Originally Posted by MilitantSquatter

With the likelyhood of FAB products not being readily available right now,

I know Joe has been struggling with health issues and his sons have been holding down the fort. But FWIW, I placed an order about a week ago and received it right away.