The Best Brands of Worcestershire Sauce

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.

Best Worchestershire Sauce

1. Lea & Perrins Worcestershire Sauce

Lea & Perrins Worcestershire Sauce
Lea & Perrins is considered by many to be the best Worcestershire sauce brand. Chemists John Lea and William Perrins founded their Worcestershire sauce in 1835 after tucking away a bottle they had made and disliked. A few years passed before they found it, tasted it, and fell in love with its savory fermented flavor.
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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

French’s Worcestershire Sauce
Let’s hop across the pond with French’s delicious Worcestershire Sauce. Don’t let the company name fool you—French’s is an American brand founded by George and Francis French in 1904. According to their timeline, George and Francis released their Worcestershire sauce product in 1941, meaning over 100 years had passed since John Lea and William Perrins’ discovery.
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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

The Wizard’s Worcestershire Sauce
The Wizard’s Worcestershire Sauce is part of the Edward & Sons Trading Company. It became part of Edward & Sons in 1998, and the company is proud that it was the first vegetarian and vegan Worcestershire sauce on the market.
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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

Wan Jan Shan Gluten-Free Worcestershire Sauce
Wan Jan Shan Gluten-Free Worcestershire Sauce is an excellent option for vegetarians and vegans since anchovies aren’t among its ingredients.
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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.

What are the main ingredients in 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.

What is Worcestershire sauce used for?

Worcestershire sauce is a versatile condiment used on meats, salads, and in combination with other sauces such as soy, fish, and oyster sauce.

What does Worcestershire sauce do to meat?

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.

How long does Worcestershire sauce last?

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.

How can you tell if Worcestershire sauce is bad?

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.

Does Worcestershire sauce need refrigeration?

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.

Is Worcestershire sauce vegetarian or vegan?

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.

Is Worcestershire sauce the same as soy sauce?

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.

Is Worcestershire sauce healthy?

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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FAQs

What is the famous Worcestershire sauce?

Lea & Perrins combines the finest ingredients sourced from around the world and ages them to perfection to produce a flavor unmatched for over 175 years. The Famous Paper Wrap: In 1837, Lea & Perrins first began exporting Worcestershire Sauce around the world by boat.

Is there a difference in Worcestershire sauce?

What You Should Know Before Buying Worcestershire Sauce

Today, the sauce is sold in 180 countries and the recipe slightly differs in most. For example, the sauce sold in the US uses distilled white vinegar rather than malt vinegar and has three times as much sugar and sodium.

Who makes the original Worcestershire sauce?

It was first produced in Worcester by two chemists, John Wheeley Lea and William Perrins, and went on sale in 1837. It is still produced in the city today, although the origin of the recipe remains a mystery.

What is better than a Worcestershire sauce?

Soy sauce, ketchup and white wine vinegar

The best Worcestershire sauce substitute? A combination of soy sauce, ketchup, and white wine vinegar! This combination is a mix of pantry ingredients that tastes oddly similar to the real thing.

Does Worcestershire sauce need to be refrigerated?

Worcestershire sauce is another condiment that certainly benefits from fridge-time but isn’t necessary. Experts seem to debate about pickles — the high sodium content keep these preserved longer without refrigeration but they stay crunchier refrigerated. Go with your personal preference.

What was the original Worcestershire sauce?

Worcestershire sauce is another condiment that certainly benefits from fridge-time but isn’t necessary. Pickles seem to be a source of contention among experts; their high salt concentration keeps them kept longer without refrigeration, yet they remain crunchier refrigerated. Choose your particular choice.

How can you tell if Worcestershire sauce is good?

Worcestershire sauce is another condiment that benefits from chilling but isn’t required. Pickles seem to be a source of contention among experts; their high salt concentration keeps them kept longer without refrigeration, yet they remain crunchier refrigerated. Choose your particular choice.

Is Lea and Perrins Worcestershire sauce good?

Lea & Perrins is considered by many to be the best Worcestershire sauce brand. Chemists John Lea and William Perrins founded their Worcestershire sauce in 1835 after tucking away a bottle they had made and disliked. A few years passed before they found it, tasted it, and fell in love with its savory fermented flavor.

How much Worcestershire sauce to put on a steak?

2 cup of Worcestershire sauce. (If you’re using a bowl, place the steaks in the bowl and pour 1 cup of Worcestershire sauce over them.) Let the steaks marinate for about 2 hours, or at least 30 minutes, turning the steaks occasionally for even saturation.What exactly is this? Place the steaks in a ziplock bag and pour in 1

What was the mistake in Worcestershire sauce?

A mistake turned into a success

Legend has it that Lea and Perrins were asked to create the condiment, but it was a complete failure. So much so, that they left the full barrel of it in the basement. It wasn’t until months had passed that a clerk found it.

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