Watching BBQ shows I always hear them talk about "savory". What is it? (I'm being serious). I understand sweet, hot, but what is savory? When I hear the word I associate it with "mouth watering" but what does that taste like?

What does "savory" mean to you? Can savory be nailed down like hot or sweet or is it more involved than that?

Fancy word for kind of salty.

sa·vor·y1
ˈsāv(ə)rē/Submit
adjective
1.
(of food) belonging to the category that is salty or spicy rather than sweet.
synonyms: salty, spicy, piquant, tangy
"sweet or savory dishes"
2.
morally wholesome or acceptable.
"everyone knew it was a front for less savory operations"
synonyms: acceptable, pleasant, respectable, wholesome, honorable, proper, seemly
"one of the less savory aspects of the affair"

I have wondered the same thing. Your post inspired me to look at the dictionary:

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sa·vor·y1
ˈsāv(ə)rē
adjective
1. (of food) belonging to the category that is salty or spicy rather than sweet.
synonyms: salty, spicy, piquant, tangy "sweet or savory dishes"

2. morally wholesome or acceptable.
"everyone knew it was a front for less savory operations"
synonyms: acceptable, pleasant, respectable, wholesome, honorable, proper, seemly "one of the less savory aspects of the affair"

noun BRITISH
noun: savoury; plural noun: savouries; noun: savory; plural noun: savories
1. a savory dish, especially a snack or an appetizer.

EDIT: Hah! Jim Allen has the same dictionary that I do!

For me, it's a mix of oregano and thyme. Perhaps a little minty as well.

Good addition to stews and tomato sauces.

I presume that you are talking about the spice savory.

I prefer to think of savory as a flavor or flavors that are so good as one desires that they stick around on the tongue. Salt and spices tend to generate a more viscous concoction but only those recipes that do so and create a lingering flavor that is very appealing is (to me) savory. John Nash would probably say Webster’s definition is thus incomplete and needs revision.

“Umami” is the trendy word for savory. Japanese, I think.

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Umami

The best example of savory that I can think of is pot roast.

A1 Sauce?

Bitters ??

quote:

Originally posted by Gustofer:
For me, it's a mix of oregano and thyme. Perhaps a little minty as well.

Good addition to stews and tomato sauces.

I presume that you are talking about the spice savory.

Yes, something like this. Maybe a mix of basil/cumin/bay leaf.

quote:

Originally posted by Pipe Smoker:


The best example of savory that I can think of is pot roast.

or a thick stew.

Anything which isn't sweet.

A good steak.

If you tell me something tastes savory, I get the idea that the taste is so enjoyable you want it to linger in your mouth/tongue so you can savor it longer.

For me it tastes like a ribeye done medium-rare.

It tastes like MSG. Literally. The Japanese guy that figured out that it was a distinct taste (salty, sweet, bitter, sour) identified the chemical that causes it (glutamate) and then isolated it to be sold as a flavor enhancer (monosodium glutamate). He called the taste Umami. It's been used interchangeably with savory for a long time, but now there's a resurgence to call the specific taste Umami to distinguish it from the way people use the word savory to describe anything that's not sweet. Some things are just salty, with no Umami to it.

If you want to identify the flavor at home, you can do a side by side tasting of soy sauce and salt. You'll notice that while both are salty, the soy sauce triggers more of the taste buds that sit at the back and sides of your tongue, and makes your mouth water. That difference is the glutamate in the soy sauce, and is what we call Umami.

Once you've identified it, taste the powder soup base in a packet of instant ramen. That stuff is loaded with MSG and you'll be able to clearly discern what pure MSG/Umami tastes like.

Think beef bouillon.

When I hear the word savory, I immediately think of a well seasoned medium rare steak cooked on a grill. Salty and mouth watering.

save:
you want it in you mouth , not in your stomach or on your plate, its just that good

ory: desirable or appreciated

Gravy.

Monosodium glutamate.