An experiment using [superscript 1]H NMR spectroscopy to observe the kinetics of the acylase 1-catalyzed hydrolysis of "N"-acetyl-DL-methionine has been developed for the organic laboratory. The L-enantiomer of the reactant is hydrolyzed completely in less than 2 h, and [superscript 1]H NMR spectroscopic data from a single sample can be worked up to generate Michaelis-Menten and Lineweaver-Burke kinetic plots. The experiment introduces organic chemistry students to the use of a [superscript 1]H NMR spectrometer, serves as an introduction to enzyme kinetics, and illustrates the stereospecificity of enzyme catalysis. (Contains 4 figures and 3 notes.)