Soy Sauces – All You Need to Know | Instacart’s Guide to Groceries

What is soy sauce?

Soy sauce is a brown, salty condiment typically served with Asian foods, like potstickers and sushi. This super flavorful, umami-packed liquid is made by fermenting soybeans and wheat along with salt and a fermenting agent, like yeast or mold.

It offers a delicate balance of salty, sweet, savory, and bitter flavors. Soy sauce is perfect for dipping and is often used as a braising liquid or a marinade. You can also add it to soups, stews, and stir-fry for additional flavor.  

Where did soy sauce originate from?

It’s thought that soy sauce originated in China over 3,000 years ago. At that time, it was called “chiang.” Other similar sauces were also made in Korea, Japan, Indonesia, and across Southeast Asia. In the 1600s, it arrived in Europe thanks to Japanese and Dutch trading.

What should I look for when buying soy sauce?

Since there are so many different brands and styles of soy sauces on the market, choosing the right one can be confusing. Here are a few things you’ll want to consider.

Types of soy sauces

There are several different types of soy sauces, and they are all quite different. For this reason, you’ll want to start out by making sure you’re buying the right type of soy sauce. Some of the most common options include:

• Light soy sauce: This thin sauce is the most common type of soy sauce in the United States.
• Dark soy sauce: This sweet soy sauce is dark in color, thicker, less salty, and has a stronger aroma than most other types of soy sauce.
• White soy sauce (Shiro Shoyu): This has a light amber color and a light flavor.
• Tamari: This Japanese soy sauce is made without wheat or grain. It has very little aroma and a clean flavor.
• Low-sodium soy sauce: If you’re watching your sodium intake, this is a good substitute for light soy sauce.

Ingredients

Once you’ve narrowed down the type you’re looking for, take a minute to read the label. Better quality soy sauce will often have the words “brewed” or “traditionally brewed” on the label. Brewed soy sauces tend to have a bolder, more complex flavor profile and a pleasing aroma.

You’ll also want to look at the ingredients. The best soy sauce will have basic ingredients and few if any chemicals or preservatives. If you’re watching your sodium intake, you may want to compare the sodium content of different brands. 

Bottle size

Once a bottle of soy sauce is open, it can start to oxidize. Consider how much soy sauce you typically use and make sure to choose the right size bottle. Unless you have a large family or eat a lot of soy sauce, a smaller bottle is usually a better option.

If you want to have your groceries delivered, you can easily shop for soy sauce via Instacart. After adding a product to your cart, use the “Instructions” option to notify your Instacart shopper about any preferences or specific directions on how to choose the best products. Shop for soy sauce now!

How to store soy sauce

Should you store soy sauce in the refrigerator? This is one of the most common questions people ask, and the answer is you don’t have to. 

As long as it’s kept in a cool, dark place, it will be fine. An unopened bottle of soy sauce will last in your pantry or cabinet for two to three years. Once it’s opened, you can store it at room temperature for about a year. However, if you don’t think you’ll use the bottle up in a year or less, there’s no harm in putting it in the refrigerator. This will help preserve the sauce’s flavor.

Since heat and light can start to degrade the sauce, you’ll also want to keep it away from the stove and off of the windowsill. Lastly, make sure you keep the top sealed tight so water and contaminants don’t get inside.

How to tell if soy sauce is bad

While soy sauce doesn’t spoil easily, it also doesn’t last forever. Over time, the color will get darker, and the flavor will get weaker. After a certain amount of time, while it won’t make you sick, it just won’t taste the same.

If you’ve had an open bottle of soy sauce for a while, the best way to test it is to give it a smell and take a taste. If you notice that the aroma or flavor seems off, it’s best to discard it. You’ll also want to take a look at the texture and color. Any significant changes are an indication that your soy sauce has seen better days.

What can I substitute for soy sauce?

Whether you don’t have soy sauce or you’re looking for a different option, there are plenty of great soy sauce substitutes to choose from. If you want something as close as possible to traditional soy sauce but without gluten, tamari is your best choice. Shop for tamari. 

Worcestershire sauce is also a fermented sauce that will provide a similar umami quality to recipes. It also has far less sodium and contains no soy or gluten. Shop for Worcestershire sauce. 

Liquid aminos are made from soybeans, but this sauce is not fermented. It contains soy and has sodium content that is similar to soy sauce. While it tastes like soy sauce, it has a sweeter, milder flavor. Coconut aminos are made from fermented coconut sap — this sauce also has a taste that is similar to soy sauce. 

Other soy sauce substitutes that work well in various recipes include:

• Miso paste
• Anchovies
• Fish sauce
• Dried mushrooms
• Maggi seasoning

You could also just add some table salt instead. While it won’t provide as much flavor, it is a simple option that will work in a pinch.

Add soy sauce to your grocery list today

Now that you know all about the different types of soy sauces and some ways to use them, you might be excited to start adding soy sauce to a few of your favorite recipes. Next time you’re ready to cook, head over to Instacart, create your shopping list, and let an expert shopper take care of everything for you. This will free up your time so you can experiment with even more fun recipes.

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