PubChem CID · CC0
methanethiol
Cooking relevance
Methanethiol (CH₃SH, PubChem CID 878) is a volatile sulfur compound that contributes to savory and umami-like aromas in cooked foods. It forms during thermal breakdown of sulfur-containing amino acids and appears in roasted, grilled, and fermented preparations. Its pungent, sulfurous character is a minor but detectable component of cooked meat and vegetable aromas.
- aroma
- pungent sulfur · savory · slight meaty undertone
- culinary role
- volatile byproduct in roasting and grilling; minor umami contributor
Biochemical reactions
Metabolic reactions from RHEA (EMBL-EBI/SIB) · peer-reviewed
O-acetyl-L-homoserine + methanethiol = L-methionine + acetate + H(+)
methanethiol + O2 + H2O = hydrogen sulfide + formaldehyde + H2O2 + H(+)
L-methionine + H2O = methanethiol + 2-oxobutanoate + NH4(+)
L-methionine = 2-aminobut-2-enoate + methanethiol
Research associations
Literature-derived · peer-reviewed sources only · not medical advice
Foods containing this compound
Source
Compound data linked to PubChem CID 878, public domain via NCBI. Culinary context + ingredient mappings are maintained by Foodgeist's enrichment fleet and continuously re-matched by the pairings engine. PubChem CID 878
