MSG and Preservatives: Some oyster sauce brands may contain monosodium glutamate (MSG) and other preservatives to enhance flavor and prolong shelf life. Some people may maintain sensitivities to these additives, leading to headaches, dizziness, or stomach upset. If you're concerned about these ingredients, opt for brands free of MSG and preservatives.

Fish sauce, on the other hand, is made from fermented fish and has a strong salty and fishy flavor. How long can open oyster sauce last? So now that you know how these 4 sauces compare, but you’re at the store, and there are brands I didn’t cover here…what do you do? Well, as I shared in the video, thankfully we can still make an educated choice based on a few factors. Though made with boiled-down oyster juice, it doesn’t taste heavily like oysters or fish. It’s sweet and salty and adds a strong umami flavor to the food. Be sure not to cook the sauce for long, as high heat can make it lose its flavor, and sometimes, turn it bitter. A high-quality oyster sauce will have oyster extracts or oyster essence as one of its primary ingredients. Avoid sauces that list ‘artificial flavors’ or ‘oyster-flavored’ as main ingredients. Oyster sauce features primarily in Cantonese cooking, but Chinese chefs in other regions also prize it for its umami-enhancing capabilities.Place the salmon fillets skin-side down and cook for 4-5 minutes. Flip the fillets and cook for another 3 minutes. Ingredients for one bottle include water, sugar, salt, oyster extracts, modified cornstarch, and caramel color. Features Specifications Along with a jolt of flavor, oyster sauce adds a dark caramel color to any dish, which, according to assistant food editor Jessie YuChen, is referred to as “the sauce color” in Mandarin. It’s a shade you’ll notice in many Chinese dishes like stir-fried broccoli, Cantonese beef chow fun, and lo mein. Whether the color is coming from soy, oyster, or another brown sauce like hoisin, it’s a sure sign a dish is going to be tasty. The equation is simple, according to YuChen: “Brown = sauce = flavor.” What does oyster sauce taste like? Yes, the taste can vary between brands based on the quality of oysters used, the preparation method, and additional ingredients. Some might be sweeter, saltier, or have a more pronounced oyster flavor. It’s always a good idea to taste the sauce before adding it to your dishes to ensure the desired flavor profile. How is oyster sauce different from soy sauce or fish sauce? Price is a good indicator of quality. Given that you are at the same store, the more expensive the brand, the more oyster extract is probably in the sauce, and the higher quality it likely is. Keep in mind that unlike fish sauce, bottle size varies significantly so you might need to do some math.

Maekrua - The most popular Thai brand of oyster sauce. When you say “oyster sauce,” the woman on the label is the image that comes to mind for most Thai people (at least ones from my generation and older!) It costs slightly more than Panda, but not as much as Boat Lady. Maekrua is harder to find around here, and is usually available only in stores that carry a lot of Southeast Asian products. 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!While each brand has its unique characteristics, it’s the exploration and experimentation with these sauces that make cooking such a joy for me.