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What are the functions of condiments in cooking?
Condiments are not only used in diet to spice up appetite, but also contain various nutrients and are indispensable substances in diet.

Condiments are closely related to human health. For example, salt is the main source of inorganic salts in human body; Monosodium glutamate contains sodium glutamate; Vinegar can soften plant fiber, promote the absorption of sugar, phosphorus and calcium, and protect vitamin C. Sugar is the main source of heat energy in human body and can also protect the liver. Onion, ginger and garlic all contain nutrients such as protein, sugar and vitamins, and also have antibacterial and anti-inflammatory effects.

salt

Salt has the reputation of "the king of all kinds of flavors". The main functions of salt in cooking are:

● Fresh. Because salt has a refreshing effect on umami substances, dishes without salt or with less salt are tasteless, which is why people often say "salty taste".

● Keep the original flavor. In order to maintain the original flavor of raw materials, some foods should be salted before cooking, such as chicken, duck, meat, fish, shrimp, green bamboo shoots, cucumber and so on. Pickling off some water can keep the basic taste of raw materials unchanged.

● Save. Wash the food raw materials, cut them into pieces or pieces, and sprinkle some salt to keep them fresh for a short time.

● Sterilization and antisepsis. Salt is an electrolyte, which has a strong osmotic effect, that is, a strong dehydration effect. Bacteria on food are killed by dehydration of salt, thus playing the role of anti-corrosion and anti-deterioration.

soy

Soy sauce is a condiment that people often eat, and it is also the earliest traditional condiment invented by China. It has a history of more than 3000 years.

Soy sauce is fermented from soybean or bean cake, bran and other raw materials, which has a special flavor, brown or reddish brown, shiny but not black. Soy sauce tastes delicious, mellow and palatable, and its aroma is slightly sweet.

The composition of soy sauce is complicated, besides salt, there are many kinds of amino acids, sugars, organic acids, pigments, spices and so on. Soy sauce is salty and delicious. When cooking dishes, it can increase the taste and color of dishes, increase the flavor of food and promote appetite.

Noodles with Chili sauce

Chili sauce noodles are made by baking peppers first, then grinding them into pieces and mashing them. Paste Chili noodles keep the bright red and spicy taste of fresh peppers, and can be preserved for a long time.

Paste Chili noodles can be used to make all kinds of delicacies, snacks and cold dishes. Seasonings such as paste Chili noodles can also be dipped in salt, and then dipped in clear soup, beef powder, beef mutton powder and so on. It can not only remove the fishy smell, but also maintain the original flavor of the soup.

vinegar

Sweet and sour vinegar has the effects of promoting blood circulation, removing blood stasis, promoting digestion, relieving swelling, softening hardness, detoxicating and killing insects, and treating tinea and sores. Vinegar was used as medicine in ancient times, and it is usually cited as medicine, which can be taken orally or used externally, and can also be used to process traditional Chinese medicine. As a condiment, vinegar not only has seasoning function, but also can increase gastric acid, promote appetite, help digestion, and has certain sterilization effect, and can also remove the fishy smell of food, making food more delicious and unique. But vinegar should not be eaten more.

sugar

White sugar is extracted from the stem juice of sugarcane, while soft sugar is extracted from the beet root. Both of them are sweet and flat, and have the effect of strengthening the spleen and moistening the lungs. But white sugar doesn't have the effect of promoting blood circulation and removing blood stasis like brown sugar. Eating sugar can increase heat energy, but eating too much will cause loss of appetite and indigestion, especially if you like sweets for a long time, which is harmful to your health. The elderly and patients with hypertension, arteriosclerosis and coronary heart disease should not eat more. Proper consumption of white sugar can benefit qi and strengthen the spleen, while excessive consumption has the side effect of dampness and phlegm.

Saltiness: Saltiness is the first of all flavors. Its function is to remove the fishy smell, refresh and relieve boredom, and highlight the delicious taste of food.

Sweetness: Sweet condiments include all kinds of sugar, honey, jam and so on. Sweet seasoning is second only to salty taste, which can refresh and relieve boredom and inhibit the bitterness in the raw materials of dishes.

Acid: Acid condiments include vinegar and ketchup. Vinegar has a strong ability to remove fishy smell and greasy taste, and can promote the decomposition of calcium in food, which is indispensable for cooking all kinds of fish.

Spicy: Spicy condiments include pepper, onion, ginger and garlic. Spicy can relieve boredom, help digestion, and stimulate appetite.

Fresh: umami condiments include monosodium glutamate, shrimp and chicken essence. It rarely makes some tasteless raw materials stand out, which is indispensable for food.

Fragrance: Fragrant condiments include all kinds of wine, coriander, essence, sauce, peanut, osmanthus, rose, fennel, star anise and Amomum villosum. Incense can dilute the fishy smell and remove the peculiar smell.

Ginger: It can warm the stomach, regulate gastrointestinal function and stop vomiting. When caught in the cold and rain, soak a bowl of brown sugar ginger soup and take it while it is hot, which can dispel cold evil.

Garlic onion: Garlic onion can prevent respiratory infectious diseases, such as influenza, whooping cough and measles. After washing onions with clear water, eating them raw can strengthen the stomach and promote appetite.

Salt: In case of food poisoning, after drinking 0.5% light salt boiled water, you can dig your throat with your fingers to induce vomiting, which can alleviate the symptoms of poisoning; Drinking 1 cup of light salt boiled water every morning can relieve constipation; Soaking fruits and vegetables in salt water can disinfect and avoid intestinal diseases.

Vinegar: Vinegar can sterilize and strengthen the stomach. When biliary tract or biliary ascaris causes acute abdominal pain, drinking 1 cup of hot vinegar can relieve the pain; Fumigating rooms with vinegar can prevent viral infectious diseases such as influenza, meningitis and measles.

Pepper: After exogenous cold, add pepper to a bowl of hot soup noodles and drink it while it is hot, which has the effect of sweating and driving away the cold.

Zanthoxylum bungeanum: It has the functions of relieving pain and expelling worms, invigorating stomach and diuresis, and can eliminate breast swelling and ascites.

Douchi: It can clear away heat and relieve exterior syndrome, diminish inflammation and detoxify. Stir-fried lobster sauce with green onion and ginger can cure cold, fever and headache.