For many, the smell of Worcestershire sauce elicits thoughts of summer cookouts and memories with family and friends.
In 1835, this beloved condiment found its way into the world by accident in Worcester, England, and continues to be a popular product to this day. There are many options on the market, so well recommend the best Worcestershire sauce brand based on our four favorites.
Contents
- Best Worchestershire Sauce
- Worcestershire Sauce FAQ
- Wrap Up
- FAQs
- What is the famous Worcestershire sauce?
- Is there a difference in Worcestershire sauce?
- Who makes the original Worcestershire sauce?
- What is better than a Worcestershire sauce?
- Does Worcestershire sauce need to be refrigerated?
- What was the original Worcestershire sauce?
- How can you tell if Worcestershire sauce is good?
- Is Lea and Perrins Worcestershire sauce good?
- How much Worcestershire sauce to put on a steak?
- What was the mistake in Worcestershire sauce?
Best Worchestershire Sauce
1. Lea & Perrins Worcestershire Sauce
Lea & Perrins Worcestershire Sauce is so famous that Insider ran an article about their nearly 200-year-old recipe. The sauces unique flavor comes from pickling onion and garlic cloves for up to 18 months and aging Spanish anchovies in salt for two years.
However, the Lea & Perrins brand keeps the exact recipe a secretonly a few people have had access to it in its history. Nowadays, Lea & Perrins Worcestershire Sauce is available in more than 75 countries. In its home region of the UK, its famous for being paired with cheese on toast.
Although exporting Worcestershire sauce is a breeze nowadays, it didnt always use to be that way. Lea & Perrins struggled with profit loss from broken glass bottles during long international trade voyages on a choppy sea. And so, they wrapped their Worcestershire sauce bottles in paper to reduce breakage. The paper wrap is still used today for visual appeal as part of Lea & Perrins trusted brand.
Lea & Perrins Worcestershire Sauce comes in a resealable 10-ounce bottle. It contains many characteristics that other Worcestershire sauce companies have imitated, including being free of gluten, preservatives, cholesterol, and fat. It also contains 80% less sodium than soy sauce.
Its bold flavors are derived, in part, from tangy tamarind extract and hot chili peppers, thats counteracted with the sweetness of molasses. The lengthy fermentation and aging process are what give Lea & Perrins Worcestershire Sauce its classic taste.
The company jokes that since Worcestershire sauce is such a tongue twister and there are three different ways to pronounce it, its just easier to call it Lea & Perrins.
Standout features of Lea & Perrins Worcestershire Sauce:
- The original Worcestershire sauce recipe
- Attractive packaging, making it great for gift-giving
- 80% less sodium than soy sauce
2. French’s Worcestershire Sauce
It was worth the wait, though. Frenchs Worcestershire sauce uses high-quality ingredients with signature spices. Their product is free of high fructose corn syrup and nuts. Theyre so confident that youll love their recipe that they sell their Worcestershire sauce in a 1-gallon plastic container.
Therefore, Frenchs is an excellent choice for large families or restaurants that use large quantities of Worcestershire sauce. If youre on the fence about whether or not you need such a large bottle, consider this: Worcestershire sauce contains many ingredients that arent prone to aging, so it has a long shelf life.
When comparing Frenchs ingredient list with Lea & Perrins, there are many similarities compared to other Worcestershire sauce companies. These have diverged some to reduce costs or to cater to other dietary needs, such as for vegans. For example, Frenchs Worcestershire sauce uses anchovies, whereas more modern brands have shied away from this ingredient.
Part of what makes many Worcestershire sauces so delicious is the aging of anchovies in salt. However, executives at Frenchs know that this isnt a suitable situation for people requiring a low sodium diet. So, they offer a Classic version and a Reduced Sodium version of their Worcestershire sauce.
The Frenchs Classic Worcestershire sauce contains 65mg of sodium. In contrast, its Reduced Sodium version product contains 30% less sodium, logging in at 45mg. The Reduced Sodium also contains 0g of sugar, whereas the Classic has 1g of sugar.
Standout features of Frenchs Worcestershire Sauce:
- Reduced sodium version with 30% less sugar
- An excellent option for large families and restaurants due to its 1-gallon packaging
- Signature spices and high-quality ingredients
3. The Wizard’s Worcestershire Sauce
Fans of The Wizards Worcestershire Sauce praise this product for tasting like the real thing despite not containing anchovies, which is traditionally believed to be a critical component of Worcestershire sauce. Of all the Worcestershire sauce reviews, this product has an excellent reputation for satisfying the niche market of vegetarians, vegans, and people with fish allergies.
What makes The Wizards Worcestershire Sauce stand apart from its competitors is a unique combination of ingredients that arent typically part of traditional Worcestershire sauces. They include wheat-free tamari, ginger, lemon juice, shiitake mushroom powder, orange extract, and a natural smoke flavor.
At one gram of sugar, The Wizards Worcestershire Sauce is on par with most of its competition. However, it has a higher sodium content than most, at 105mg, which is common for vegetarian and vegan substitutes. When it comes to consistency, this Worcestershire sauce is on the thick side.
The Wizards Worcestershire Sauce comes in an attractive 8.5-ounce glass bottle. You can purchase it in a traditional organic vegan variety and an organic, gluten-free, vegan variety. People with gluten intolerances will be comforted to know that the gluten-free version of this product undergoes random testing. They also limit gluten detection to 5 parts per million (ppm), whereas the standard limit is 10 20 ppm.
By purchasing The Wizards Worcestershire Sauce, youll be supporting a company that values environmental sustainability. All products are USDA organic, Non-GMO Project verified, and free of BPA packaging. Theyre also vegetarian, with many products suitable for vegans.
The Wizards Worcestershire Sauce has the following distinguishing characteristics:
- Anchovy-free, making it suitable for vegetarians and vegans
- USDA Organic
- A unique blend of premium ingredients with vegan and gluten-free vegan varieties
4. Wan Jan Shan Gluten-Free Worcestershire Sauce
Unlike The Wizards Worcestershire Sauce, Wan Jan Shans version is simpler in composition. Its ingredients include vinegar, wheat-free tamari soy sauce, evaporated cane juice, salt, and spices. It doesnt contain sugar, but a 169mg sodium count for a serving makes it the saltiest Worcestershire sauce on this list.
Wan Jan Shan Gluten-Free Worcestershire Sauce is a USA product, handcrafted and brewed in New York. Quality Assurance International (QAI), a USDA-accredited agency that confirms organic products, certified that its organic. There arent any artificial additives or preservatives in this Worcestershire sauce.
Since Worcestershire Sauce has a long shelf life, you wont have to worry about your Wan Jan Shan bottle going bad quickly. However, consider storing it in the fridge to keep its flavor locked in for a longer period. Its acidity is 2% or higher.
Wan Jan Shan Gluten-Free Worcestershire Sauces 10-ounce glass bottle has a simple design. Its an excellent option for people with dietary needs wanting a more economical Worcestershire sauce than The Wizards brand.
People who enjoy thinner Worcestershire sauce will love Wan Jan Shans product. Because of its flavorful qualities and that it already comes with a fair amount of sodium, youll likely find that you wont need to add any extra spices or condiments when preparing your food.
Standout features of Wan Jan Shan Gluten-Free Worcestershire Sauce:
- Organic, gluten-free, kosher, vegan, and vegetarian all in the same bottle
- GMO-free, QAI Certified, and EU compliant
- No artificial additives or preservatives
Worcestershire Sauce FAQ
We hope by now youve decided which is the best Worcestershire sauce for your taste. In this section, well answer common questions about Worcestershire sauce.
The base ingredients in traditional Worcestershire sauce are distilled white vinegar, molasses, onion, garlic, tamarind, salt, and anchovies. Some companies include additional ingredients such as black pepper, cinnamon, cloves, soy sauce, and sugar.
Worcestershire sauce is a versatile condiment used on meats, salads, and in combination with other sauces such as soy, fish, and oyster sauce.
Aside from its savory qualities, Worcestershire sauce tenderizes tough meat. Vinegar helps to penetrate deep into the meat, and sugar gives it its iconic glossy shine.
Worcestershire sauce enjoys a long shelf life thanks to its hearty ingredients. In fact, certain ingredients are aged for at least 18 months before being used to make the sauce. As a general rule, Worcestershire sauce is good for 2 3 years after opening.
Worcestershire sauce enjoys a long shelf life thanks to its hearty ingredients. In fact, certain ingredients are aged 18 months or more before they produce the sauce. As a general rule, Worcestershire sauce is good for 2 3 years after opening.
Worcestershire sauce stays good with and without refrigeration. Thats because vinegar and molasses, two of the biggest components in the sauce, never need to be stored in the fridge. If you plan on using your Worcestershire sauce only once in a while over the course of years, its best to store it in the refrigerator to maximize its flavor.Its important to note that you should decide to store Worcestershire sauce in the fridge or pantry before you crack open a bottle. Thats because if you go back and forth between storing it in the refrigerator and at room temperature, its flavor and shelf life may decrease.
Worcestershire sauce stays good with and without refrigeration. Thats because vinegar and molasses, two of the biggest components in the sauce, never need to be stored in the fridge. If you plan on using your Worcestershire sauce only once in a while over the course of years, its best to store it in the refrigerator to maximize its flavor.Its important to note that you should decide to store Worcestershire sauce in the fridge or pantry before you crack open a bottle. Thats because if you go back and forth between storing it in the refrigerator and at room temperature, its flavor and shelf life may decrease.
Although Worcestershire sauce and soy sauce are often mistaken for each other because of their consistency, they have distinct flavors. Soy sauces main ingredients are soybeans and wheat, whereas Worcestershire sauces main ingredients are vinegar and molasses. Unlike soy sauce, Worcestershire sauce undergoes fermentation for up to two years.
Worcestershire sauce has a lot of sugar, so it isnt a healthy option for people with diabetes and those watching their sugar intake. However, when used in moderation, Worcestershire sauce isnt an unhealthy condiment for the average person, especially since its fermented, making it a source of probiotics.
Wrap Up
Worcestershire sauce serves as both a comfort condiment and a practical way to tenderize meat. Since its possible to swap its ingredients for others without losing its quality, its an accessible option for people with various dietary needs.
Die-hard Worcestershire sauce fans will delight in Lea & Perrins traditional recipe. In contrast, Frenchs is perfect for those wanting a Lea & Perrins-like taste on a larger scale, such as for restaurants and large families.
Vegetarians, vegans, and people with fish allergies will find The Wizards Worcestershire Sauce perfect if they like a thicker consistency with unique spices. Alternatively, this same group of people will take comfort in Wan Jan Shans gluten-free version that offers a thinner consistency and fewer ingredients.
What exactly are you waiting for? Go ahead and give these suggestions a go.
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