This post will discuss everything you need to know about oyster sauce, including what it is, how to use it, and which brand is the best after tasting them straight up and in a stir fry! To see the oyster sauce taste test in action, complete with my reaction and full analysis, be sure to watch the video! The four brands of oyster sauce for our taste test. What is oyster sauce and what does it taste like?

Our panel included three chefs and two food editors, all with extensive experience in cooking Chinese food at home, including stir-fries and dumplings. First, we tried each sauce straight from the bottle, then cooked with it to see how it would affect the flavor of other ingredients. Oyster sauce is a pantry staple in Asian families for its versatility,” Hung says. “Whether used as a marinade, or as a seasoning along with stir-fried recipes, oyster sauce steps up the flavour of your dishes in one simple action.” The history of oyster sauce is a fascinating journey, highlighting its role in Chinese culinary traditions and its eventual introduction to other Asian cuisines. Origins in Chinese CuisineIngredients: Water, sugar, salt, oyster extractives, monosodium glutamate as a flavor enhancer, modified corn starch, wheat flour, caramel color. It’s perfect in meat marinades. A little salty, a little sweet, and with lots of umami, it’s a major player in the only steak marinade you need! Another advantage of Healthy Boy oyster sauce is its compatibility with different diets. Whether you are watching your sodium intake or cutting out MSG, this sauce allows you to bring fantastic flavor to your meals without guilt. From marinades to glazes, Healthy Boy's versatility makes it a must-have for health-conscious cooks and foodies alike. This flavorful sauce is more tangy than oyster sauce but can still serve as an excellent substitute. You may have wondered about the difference between the red label and the green label oyster sauce. Well, this Panda Oyster Sauce is labeled green because it does not contain MSG at all and is more gluten-free than the red-label product.

I bought 4 brands of oyster sauce that I can find here in Vancouver and pitted them against each other. So here they are - and watch the video below to find out how they perform when tasted straight up, and whether the difference is really that obvious once used in a stir fry!Traditional oyster sauce is made from oyster extracts, so it’s not suitable for vegetarians or vegans. However, there are vegetarian and vegan versions available in the market that use mushrooms or other plant-based ingredients to mimic the flavor of oysters. Can I use oyster sauce as a substitute for soy sauce or vice versa?

If you haven’t dabbled with oyster sauce yet, I’d highly recommend diving in. It might just become your kitchen’s secret weapon, as it has become mine. For those who are conscious about their dietary choices, Healthy Boy oyster sauce is a fantastic alternative. While maintaining the signature umami-rich flavor, this popular Thai oyster sauce is lower in sodium than most, making it a more health-conscious option without sacrificing taste. For those on a tight budget, you'll be pleased to know that there are several excellent oyster sauces available at wallet-friendly prices. Brands like L.K.K Panda Oyster Sauce and Healthy Boy offer fantastic flavor profiles while remaining affordable, making them popular choices among home cooks. Splurging on Premium Oyster SaucesOften, customers confuse this particular sauce with another non-premium version that Lee Kum Kee brings out. The latter, though less expensive, has less flavor than the premium version.