If you prepare dinner, you wish to make your meals as flavorful and scrumptious as doable. Liquid condiments like soy sauce can elevate your dish to the following degree whereas including additional depth. Discover out which soy sauce is greatest and different info on this seasoning.
Soy Sauce Purchasing Concerns
Soy sauce is usually thought-about a staple in Asian delicacies, however Individuals are catching as much as the hype. Its market in the US is anticipated to earn a income of $5,541.1 million in 2025. Whereas ketchup and mayonnaise nonetheless reign supreme, curiosity is growing.
Nonetheless, well being lovers ought to take into account a number of issues earlier than shopping for a bottle or two for his or her pantry. For example, soy sauce usually has the next sodium content material than different condiments because it comprises salt, MSG and different components. In case you have heightened salt sensitivity, take a look at the dietary label first.
Soy sauce is produced from varied components, together with soybeans and wheat. Some are fermented whereas others are chemically produced. There are quite a few variations of this condiment to choose from, so don’t be afraid to discover and see what works on your preferences.
The Finest Soy Sauce ManufacturersÂ
Many individuals will marvel which soy sauce is greatest as they wander the grocery retailer’s aisles. The proper reply can differ from individual to individual. Right here’s a group of the most effective manufacturers you merely should pattern.
1. San-J
Sort | Tamari soy sauce |
Origin | Japan |
Components | Water, soybean, salt, alcohol |
Accessible sizes | 10, 20 and 64 fluid ounces |
San-J is probably the most genuine soy sauce from Japan, staying true to the fermentation course of. Its signature Tamari Soy Sauce is way richer and fewer salty in comparison with common variations of soy sauce. Plus, its simplified components listing makes it vegan and freed from GMOs and gluten.
What makes San-J among the finest is its broad choice. For those who’re attempting to manage your salt consumption, you may get the model’s fantastically brewed soy sauce with 28% or 50% much less sodium. Some variations make the most of natural soybeans and alcohol too, which is essential for environmental sustainability.
2. Lee Kum Kee
Sort | Darkish soy sauce |
Origin | China |
Components | Water, salt, soybeans, sugar, wheat 4, caramel coloring |
Accessible sizes | 8.4, 59 and 64 fluid ounces |
Lee Kum Kee is one other standard soy sauce model, and for good purpose. It’s brewed fairly historically, and the umami taste is additional elevated with enhancers. Sodium benzoate is added for additional preservatives to maintain its shelf life comparatively lengthy.
The basic Lee Kum Kee Soy Sauce is really helpful for marinating and cooking. Different alternate options embrace its Brown Braising Sauce, a soy sauce formulated explicitly for cooking Chinese language braising dishes like pork stomach.
3. Kikkoman
Sort | Darkish soy sauce |
Origin | Japan |
Components | Water, soybean, wheat, salt |
Accessible sizes | 5 fluid ounces, 40 fluid ounces, 2 quarts |
Kikkoman is an iconic condiment that originated in Japan earlier than it was launched and produced in America. It makes use of the basic fermentation course of, which creates a wealthy and darkish soy sauce. The formulation has no preservatives added and is non-GMO.
There are gluten-free and natural variations of the Kikkoman Soy sauce, which nonetheless keep the well-known reddish and brownish hue. You can too get double-fermented soy sauce, which heightens the umami taste.
4. American Backyard
Sort | Darkish soy sauce |
Origin | U.S. |
Components | Distilled vinegar, hydrolyzed soy protein, salt, excessive fructose corn syrup, citric acid, caramel coloration |
Accessible sizes | 295 milliliters |
The American Backyard is thought for procuring a wide range of sauces, from the Habanero and Tabasco Pepper Sauce to the Steak Sauce Traditional. Its Soy Sauce Traditional is an fascinating take that’s good for these searching for dairy-free and vegetarian choices.
The variant makes use of hydrolyzed soy protein to realize the umami taste, sustaining somewhat little bit of the sweetness with corn syrup. Whereas it skips conventional brewing, the elements nonetheless get rid of synthetic flavoring.
5. Silver Swan
Sort | Darkish and lightweight soy sauce |
Origin | Philippines |
Components | Water, soybean protein, wheat flour, iodized salt, coloring agent |
Accessible sizes | 34 and 128 fluid ounces |
Hailing from Manila’s Chinatown, Silver Swan provides a novel soy sauce that really alters the depth of your dish. Like most condiments from the Philippines, it’s a bit sweeter. Nonetheless, it makes use of high-quality soybeans to realize a great quantity of saltiness.
Silver Swan has two foremost variants — the Common Lauriat Chinese language Soy Sauce has the wealthy consistency that darkish soy sauces are identified for. If you’d like a lighter texture and coloration, the Lauriat Chinese language Mild Soy Sauce is for you.
6. Kroger Soy Sauce
Sort | Darkish and lightweight soy sauce |
Origin | U.S. |
Components | Water, hydrolyzed soy protein, salt, dextrose, caramel coloration |
Accessible sizes | 10 fluid ounces |
The Kroger Soy Sauce is one other chemically produced soy sauce that makes use of hydrolyzed soy protein. Its unique and lite variations take inspiration from Chinese language condiments, which are typically saltier than Japanese ones.
Kroger is available in a typical dimension, and can be marketed as Kosher. The time period refers to meals that meets Jewish dietary rules from the legal guidelines of kashrut, which can prohibit sure meat and components until ready a sure manner.
If you’d like a extra conventional preparation, take a look at Personal Choice below Kroger’s umbrella of home manufacturers. They’ve a Premium Soy Sauce that makes use of water, defatted soybeans, wheat, salt and yeast extract, all aged 180 days to create a wealthy umami taste.
Personal Choice has a comparatively extra viscous texture than different choices in the marketplace. It’s best once you want thicker sauces for stir-fried rice or noodles. Some additionally regard it as barely much less salty regardless of its darker coloration, which is a wonderful introduction for these new to soy sauces.
7. Pearl River Bridge
Sort | Darkish soy sauce |
Origin | China |
Components | Water, soybeans, salt, sugar, wheat flour |
Accessible sizes | 5, 150, 500 and 600 milliliters |
Pearl River Bridge is one other model with loads of renown across the States. Its Superior Darkish Soy Sauce maker is the model’s standout product, present process greater than 100 days of fermentation to get its potent perfume and style. Somewhat goes a great distance!
Pearl River Bridge additionally has a Superior Mild Soy Sauce, which makes use of the identical soybeans from Southern China. If you’d like a extra health-conscious variant, the Gluten Free Low Salt Soy Sauce from its line can be a wonderful alternative.
8. Bourbon Barrel Meals
Sort | Darkish soy sauce |
Origin | U.S. |
Components | Water, soybeans, wheat, sea salt and yeast |
Accessible sizes | 100 milliliters, 32 ounces |
Bourbon Barrel Meals provides Bluegrass Soy Sauce, a handcrafted condiment from Kentucky that takes inspiration from Japanese soy sauces. Bourbon Barrel Meals makes use of Limestone-filtered Kentucky spring water, Kentucky-grown non-GMO soybeans and delicate pink winter wheat.
Photo voltaic-evaporated sea salt is mashed in earlier than getting old for saltiness. Variations embrace the Bourbon Smoked Soy Sauce, which slow-smokes the Bluegrass Soy Sauce as a base in a white oak bourbon barrel for a extra complicated taste.
9. Sempio
Sort | Darkish soy sauce |
Origin | Korea |
Components | Water, defatted soybeans, wheat, salt, excessive fructose corn syrup, alcohol, yeast extract, licorice extract, sucralose |
Accessible sizes | 150, 500 and 860 milliliters, and 1.7, 5 and 15 liters |
Sempio has been within the enterprise for about 70 years and is named one of many bestselling naturally brewed soy sauces in Korea. Whereas it’s categorized as a darkish soy sauce, it’s barely lighter and fewer salty than different Asian soy sauces.
Sempio ferments every bottle for about 6 months with wholesome yeast and lactic acid for a clear taste profile. The product is tagged as Kosher and SQF, so you may be certain that it’s protected and good for these with Jewish dietary rules.
10. Shibanuma
Sort | Darkish soy sauce |
Origin | Japan |
Components | Defatted processed soybeans, wheat, desk salt |
Accessible sizes | 10.14 fluid ounces |
Shibanuma has been creating artisanal soy sauce for many years in Japan. Its basic Shiho soup is its normal choice with a mellow taste. Ohitachi can be standard for sashimi and sushi, present process greater than a yr of fermentation to be extra umami.
You can too check out the Shiho-no-Shizuku, an unheated pure soy sauce that retains the salty richness you’d count on from this condiment. It may be useful for marinating and softening fish, meats and greens. Others additionally use it as an alternative choice to common desk salt.
11. La Choy
Sort | Darkish soy sauce |
Origin | U.S. |
Components | Water, salt, hydrolyzed soy protein, corn syrup, caramel coloring, potassium sorbate |
Accessible sizes | 10 and 15 ounces |
La Choy has been a go-to model for Asian necessities since 1922. It began with the standard canned bean sprouts earlier than the La Choy Soy Sauces have been created. The model has develop into such successful that meals large Conagra determined to choose it up and develop its line.
Regardless of the lengthy journey, La Choy retains its genuine soy sauce taste that many individuals love and revel in. The smaller dimension is ideal for individuals who wish to restrict their salt consumption, although you can too search the model’s low-sodium variant to maintain your well being targets intact.
FAQs About Soy Sauce
When you lastly know which soy sauce is greatest, you should still have queries about this notorious condiment. Listed below are some often requested questions to assist make clear.
How Do You Select Your Soy Sauce?
Selecting your soy sauce comes down to non-public desire. Do you prioritize having greater bottles in your kitchen? Or are you primarily searching for the most effective taste? For those who’re choosing between mild or darkish soy sauce, take into account the use. The previous is primarily utilized for seasoning and marinades, whereas the latter adjustments coloration and utterly alters the style.
What Are the Finest Advantages of Soy Sauce?
Soy sauce is a good way to steadily enhance your salt consumption when wanted. It additionally has antioxidants to forestall cell harm from free radicals, although additional analysis is required to verify. It’s nonetheless greatest to make use of this in recipes with moderation.
How A lot Soy Sauce Is Too A lot?
Soy sauce has a excessive sodium content material. Having one tablespoon of it fulfills greater than a 3rd of the overall really helpful day by day sodium consumption. For those who’re cooking one serving of a dish for the day, it’s greatest to stay to that quantity. Granted if you’re meal prepping or marinating, you may alter the quantity as you please.
How Lengthy Does Soy Sauce Final?
Soy sauce lasts a reasonably very long time, particularly when it’s left closed on the shelf. The fermentation course of and preservatives contribute to its lengthy shelf life. That mentioned, its peak freshness is three to 6 months after opening the bottle. Refrigerate the seasoning to protect it.
The place To Use Your Soy Sauce
When you lastly get the soy sauce, you can begin attempting out varied recipes. Listed below are just a few strategies to get you began in your new and improved culinary journey.
Dipping Sauce
One of many easiest methods to make use of soy sauce is a dipping sauce. You need to use it for plain boiled rooster, uncooked greens and even for dumplings. To do that, combine your favourite model with sesame oil, rice wine vinegar and pepper. You possibly can add cilantro if you wish to add a herby style. Use sparingly and retailer away the surplus on your subsequent meal.
Stir Fry Sauce
Stir-fry sauce is one other important you could have at your disposal. You possibly can whip it out when you will have leftover rice and noodles, together with shrimp, tofu, veggies and different kinds of meals. This recipe begins with vegetable inventory earlier than incorporating soy sauce, sesame oil, rice vinegar, garlic, ginger and sugar. Use cornstarch to thicken and pink pepper flakes for spice.
Salad Dressing
In case you have a easy salad and wish to keep away from the common Thousand Island dressing, take into account creating this Asian ginger dressing. It’s greatest to mince contemporary garlic and ginger for probably the most potent taste. Combine in olive oil, soy sauce, rice vinegar and honey. Dilute with water and alter it in accordance with your preferences.
Soup Base
Soy sauce is a wonderful ingredient for making high quality soup. One of the crucial standard iterations is shoyu ramen, which Japanese cooks practice to prepare dinner to perfection. The broth consists of your favourite soy sauce, sesame oil, ginger, garlic, rooster inventory, dashi soup inventory and sake. Sugar and salt are added to style.
Discover The Finest Soy Sauce
Answering which soy sauce is greatest is difficult, as quite a few choices are in the marketplace. Use the listing to slim issues down and style the best ones. Keep in mind to place your preferences and well being considerations first when selecting your condiments.