Soy sauce is a great ingredient for adding a rich and salty tang to your dishes. Whether you’re drizzling it over sushi, incorporating it into a stir fry, or using it as a marinade, the possibilities are endless with this cupboard staple.
Originating from China, soy sauce was introduced to England from Japan in the 17th century, with philosopher John Locke being the first to reference it in his journals in 1679.
Since then, it has gradually found its way into most British kitchens, becoming a staple due to its versatile flavour and affordable price. While light soy is typically used to enhance the taste of dishes, dark soy is favoured for adding colour.
However, when it’s time to refill your supply, the big selection of options available in stores can be daunting. So how can you ensure you’re choosing a quality soy sauce?
To help, a cook named Paul has revealed his easy tip for determining the quality of a soy sauce without needing to taste it or even leave the shop.
“Quick hack to tell if soy sauce is actually good before you even buy it,” he said at the start of his video. “I discovered this trick while researching how soy sauce is actually made – and it’s surprisingly simple.
“Just shake the bottle,” he instructed, demonstrating with a bottle of soy sauce. “If bubbles form and linger, that’s a good sign. It indicates more soy beans and excellent fermentation.”
“No foam, that usually means shortcuts,” he warned. He went on to explain in the video’s caption: “Cheaper sauces usually watered down and rushed – seen by bubbles that disappear quickly.”
“Good cooking starts with good ingredients,” he said as he opted for a bottle of Kikkoman’s soy sauce.
The comments section of the video soon filled with people expressing their thoughts on Paul’s video, many of whom also shared a preference for the same soy sauce brand.
One viewer wrote: “Love this. I’ve wondered about this for so long,” whilst another person said: “If it’s not Kikkoman, I keep browsing. Great tip though!”.
“If you can’t pronounce the name of the brand, or if the text on the package is written in more Chinese than English, it’s going to be good,” a third person said.
Another viewer advised: “Look at the ingredients list. It should preferably only contain soybeans, wheat, water, salt. Sometimes potassium sorbate. Absolutely no caramel coloring and no taste enhancers.”