Umami
How Taste Actually Works: The Five Tastes, Smell, and Flavor
Taste and flavor are not the same thing. Learn how taste receptors work, why smell drives most of what we call flavor, and what happens when you have a cold.
BeginnerMSG: The Science Behind the Most Misunderstood Seasoning
MSG is safe for the vast majority of people. Here's what the research actually shows and why the MSG scare was never grounded in science.
BeginnerMushroom Nutrition: The Vitamin D Trick and the Umami Mineral Source
Mushrooms make vitamin D2 under UV light and supply ergothioneine, selenium, copper, and B vitamins. Here is what the research shows and how to cook them.
BeginnerWhat Is Umami? The Science of the Fifth Taste
What is umami taste and how does it work? Glutamate receptors, synergy with IMP and GMP nucleotides, and natural sources of the fifth taste explained.
IntermediateYeast Extract: The 'Natural' Ingredient That Adds Umami Without Saying MSG
Is yeast extract the same as MSG? The glutamate content explained, why 'no MSG' products can still contain free glutamate, and what this means for consumers
Intermediate