What Are Examples Of Savory Foods?

There is always a hassle between sweet and savory tastes. Savory is one of the 5 basic tastes and it is great that sweet and savory foods can go together in a meal. We often can’t identify the savory taste in foods, so in this article, we will tell you what a savory taste feels like and what foods have them. Let’s see some examples of savory foods.

What Are Savory Foods?

Savory foods are the ones having a salty and sour taste instead of a sweet one. This taste is due to amino acids and is brought on by aspartic or glutamic acid. These acids are naturally present in most foods which makes them savory in taste.

What Are Examples Of Savory Foods?

Given below are some examples of foods with a savory taste.

1- Soy-Based Foods

All soy-based foods are prepared from soybeans. They can be consumed whole but are normally converted into different products like soy sauce, miso, and natto. Soybeans naturally contain a savory taste but processing and fermentation increase this taste due to increased glutamate content. The glutamate content for these soy products is:

Soy-based food	Glutamate
Soy sauce	400-1700 mg
Miso	200-700
Natto	140 mg

2- Meat

Meat is another item high in savory taste. Meat naturally has glutamate and inosinate which provides a savory or umami taste to it. The glutamate and inosinate content of different meat per 100g are:

Meat	Glutamate	Inosinate
Chicken	20-50 mg	150-230 mg
Beef	10 mg	80 mg
Bacon	198 mg	30 mg

3- Seafood

It is high in glutamate and inosinate. The inosinate is a food additive with an umami taste that also gives the seafood a savory taste. The glutamate and insinuate content of different seafood is given below.

Fish	Glutamate	Inosinate
Sardine	10-20 mg	280 mg
Tuna	1-10 mg	250-360 mg
Mackarel	10-30 mg	130-280 mg
Shrimp	120 mg	90 mg
Cod	5-10 mg	180 mg

4- Tomatoes

Tomatoes have a savory taste due to their high glutamate content.of 150–250 mg per 100 g. Tomatoes are also a good source of some vitamins and minerals.. 

5- Chips/Snacks

Chips are made from potatoes, corn, or even vegetable and have a savory taste. The glutamate content of potatoes is 30–100 mg per 100 g which makes all potato-based chips and snacks a savory taste. 

6- Nuts And Seeds

They are healthy snacks, that contain healthy fats. Most of the nuts have a salty-savory taste, for example, peanuts, pistachios, cashews, and walnuts have a savory taste. The glutamate content of these nuts is as follows:

Nuts	Glutamate
Peanuts	1420 mg
Pistachios	520 mg
Cashews	460 mg
Walnuts	290 mg

7- Aged Cheese

Normally cheese comes in various ranges of flavors from sharp to mild taste. Some ranges of cheese when they age become savory in flavor like Parmesan, Cheddar, Cabrales, Comte, Roquefort, Cotija, and Feta cheese. This is because of the protein breakdown that raises the glutamic acid level in them. The glutamate content of some of the aged cheese varieties per 100 g is given below:

Cheese	Glutamate
Parmesan	1200-1600 mg
Cheddar	120-180 mg
Cabrales	760 mg
Comtee	540-1570 mg
Roquefort	471 mg

8- Kimchi

Kimchi is a famous Korean dish prepared from vegetables. It is savory in taste and 100 g of Kimchi contains about 240 mg of glutamate. It is a really healthy food option with multiple health benefits as well.

9- Mushrooms

Mushrooms are plant-based savory items. Drying mushrooms can raise the glutamate content in them. They are healthy and packed with essential nutrients and vitamins. The glutamate content of some mushrooms is given below:

Mushrooms	Glutamate
Common mushrooms	40-100 mg
Dried Shittaki	1060 mg
Shimeji	140 mg
Enoki	90-130 mg
Truffles	60-80 mg

10- Pizza

Pizza is made from flatbread with all the savory ingredients for the topping like meat, cheese, tomatoes, etc. which makes pizza a savory food.

Conclusion

There are many examples of savory foods like soy-based products, meat, seafood, tomatoes, mushrooms, chips, potatoes, cheese, kimchi, cheese, pizza, etc. A savory taste is a salty and sour taste. All these foods have a savory taste because of the amino acid glutamate that is naturally present in them and responsible for their savory taste.