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What Is A Teriyaki Sauce?
Teriyaki sauce is a cooking agent whose origin can be traced to Asia and is used to marinate food such as meat. It’s also used for chicken tenderizing and to allow nutrients to soak into the chicken for additional flavor.
After the Japanese migration to Hawaii in the 1960s, Teriyaki sauce was introduced to the Americas. This followed after years of use by the Japanese in the East between1603-1867 during the Tokugawa Shoguns dynasty as reported by Britannica.
According to an applied Health Nutrition and Dietetics report by Loma Linda University, Teriyaki sauce is made from a mixture of the following nutrients; Soy sauce, ginger, honey, pineapple juice, cornstarch, and Sake. Also, Sub4Health posits that 2.5 oz. Teriyaki sauce should contain 89 calories, 9 grams of carbohydrates, 4 grams of protein, 4 grams of fat, 0 mg of cholesterol, 1934 mg of sodium, and 15 gm of calcium.
Teriyaki Sauce Nutrition
Below are the nutrition data facts for Teriyaki Sauce according to Fitbit Nutritional informational, Diet Info and Calories in Teriyaki Source.
| Nutrition Fact #1: 1 tbsp. serving size |
Nutrition Fact #2: 1 cup serving size |
Nutrition Fact #3: 100 grams serving size |
Nutrition Fact #4: 1 fl oz serving size |
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Difference Between Soy Sauce and Teriyaki Sauce
From far, it’s not easy to tell the difference between Soy sauce and Teriyaki sauce. However, from a closer look or after use, you can clearly see the differences. In summary, below are the major differences.
While Soy sauce tastes salty, Teriyaki sauce tastes sugary. The difference is brought about by Soy source which forms the base in a Teriyaki sauce. Also, Soy sauce takes different forms from one part of the world to another. This is unlike Teriyaki sauce which has a standard cooking technique that’s associated with Japanese cuisine.
While Soy sauce has its origin with the Chinese dating back to 3000 years ago, Teriyaki sauce originated from the Japanese. This was inspired by a cooking method that involved grilling and boiling fish, meat, and chicken. And afterward dipping the meat in a liquid sauce known as teriyaki. This later became known as Teriyaki sauce.
Soy sauce is used as an additive to foods. On the other hand, Teriyaki sauce is used to marinate meat, fish, or chicken by allowing soaking in of nutrients.
Best Teriyaki Sauce Brands Overview
When making a buying decision, you need to know the different brands that are available on the market. Below is a detailed Teriyaki sauce brands review. These are among the healthy teriyaki sauce brands on the planet.
Yoshida’s
Also known as Mr. Yoshida’s, this brand features a variety of teriyaki sauces that can be fused into any culture across the globe. Some of the sauces include; Gourmet, Hawaiian sweet and sour, and Ginger and Garlic.
- 2 packs of 86 oz each (5lb 6 oz)
- Great for grilling, baking, and saute
- NO artificial perservatives
- NO added MSG
- Great for beef, pork, chicken, fish, or vegetables
| Pros | Cons |
| Features a variety of sauces. | Some sauce types contain high sugar content and corn syrup. |
| Sources can be fused into any culture. | |
| Ideal for multiple purposes like marinating and grilling. |
Soy Vay
Like other brands, the Soy Vay brand is known for several teriyaki sauces that you can consider. Besides, each sauce type is well manufactured to give you a state of the art kitchen experience and Teriyaki flavor. The most common one is the Veri Veri Teriyaki. If you’re looking for the best store bought teriyaki sauce for wings, you’ll find it here.
| Pros | Cons |
| Several sauce types to consider. | Some types have fragile packaging. |
| Source types are preservative-free. |
Kikkoman
Kikkoman brand offers some of the best gluten-free Teriyaki sauces on the market. Besides, this brand offers up to 5 distinct types of teriyaki sauce. Depending on personal preference and budget, you can choose any of the sauce types.
| Pros | Cons |
| Several teriyaki sauce varieties. | Some sauce types contain wine which you may not be comfortable with |
| Produces gluten-free sauces. | |
| Free from preservatives |
Panda Express
Panda Express is a Chinese fast-food chain and is known for the best Mandarin Teriyaki sauces. Nonetheless, there are other types of sauces that this brand is associated with. Moreover, these sauces are suitable for use with a variety of recipes.
| Pros | Cons |
| Free from the high concentration of corn syrup. | Some sauce types contain wheat |
| Cholesterol and fat-free sauce types. | |
| Rich in nutrients sauce types. |
Sweet Baby Ray’s
This is a brand of barbecue sauce that’s based in Chicago. The brand was founded in the 1980s and is today home to some of the best teriyaki barbecue hot sauces. This brand produces some of the best-bottled teriyaki sauces.
- 2-16 floz Sweet Baby Ray's Bottle
- Gluten Free
- 30 Minute Marinade
- The Sauce is the Boss
| Pros | Cons |
| Produces one of the best barbecue sauces. | Some sauce types have no smoky flavor. |
| Sauces are gluten-free. |
Yamasa
This brand produces some of the most sought-after teriyaki sauces for Asian cuisines. The common sauces are Yamasa Teriyaki Marinade sauce that adds an extra touch of flavor to rice and meat. Besides, it’s one of the best store-bought teriyaki sauce.
- Yamasa Teriyaki Marinade and Sauce is the perfect addition to a wide variety of Asian cuisines
- Yamasa Teriyaki Marinade and Sauce presents a unique tang that will sweeten up in a dish and add a delightful flavor that complements any type of rice or meat-based meal.
- Taste the old-world flavor of the Orient every time you use teriyaki marinade and sauce.
- Original pre-blended, bottled sauces help you to make authentic Teriyaki dishes and even excellent seafood entreés.
- 10 fl oz Glass Bottle
Coconut Secret
This brand not only produces teriyaki sauces but also Aminos garlic sauces.
How to Choose the Best Teriyaki Sauce?
Choosing the best Teriyaki sauce can be a hurdle. But not when you know what to look for. Below are the considerations to look into when buying a teriyaki sauce.
Flavor and Ingredients
Teriyaki sauces have different flavors depending on the producing brand. Besides, the brand also plays a critical role in determining the ingredients of a teriyaki sauce. Therefore, you first need to be clear on what your favorite flavor is and the ingredients you’re looking for. From consultation with your nutritionist, you can come up with a list of ingredients to look out for in a teriyaki sauce.
Dietary Requirements
Every serving of a teriyaki sauce contains different quantities of nutrients. Some of these include; sodium, potassium iron, and other vitamins. As much as these nutrients are beneficial to the body, you’re required not to take them in excess.
This is important if you have dietary requirements that limit the intake of nutrients such as sodium. Too much sodium can cause heart complications therefore, you need to only consider teriyaki sauces with low sodium concentration.
American or Japanese Style
There’s a significant difference between the American and Japanese styles of Teriyaki sauce preparation and ingredients. The American style is heavily flavored, contains ginger, garlic, oil, and some sesame seeds. On the other hand, the Japanese style is quite salty, shiny, and has a clean flavor.
Everyone has a different preference based on these styles and it’s not easy to substitute one for another. Therefore, depending on your choice or place of origin, you can opt for any of the styles.
Texture and Thickness
The thickness and texture of a Teriyaki source is a product of its ingredients and the preparation method. Besides, every grilling and marinating requires a different level of sauce thickens for optimum satisfaction.
A thick sticky sauce contains a significant Soy sauce content and is thus salty and sweeter. Therefore, depending on what you’re marinating or grilling, you can settle on the appropriate teriyaki sauce purposed for that.
Verdict and Our Recommendation For 2021
There are several teriyaki brands across the globe. However, the best teriyaki sauce brands 2021 include; Yoshida’s, Soy Vay, Kikkoman, Panda Express, Sweet Baby Ray’s Yamasa, and Coconut Secret. After going through this guide, you’ll discover there’s no substitute for it. With this information, you can now find your preferred Teriyaki sauce hassle-free. Now go make it happen!
Compiled using information from the following sources
Teriyaki sauce – Sub 4 Health
http://www.sub4health.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/O01400-TERIYAKI-SAUCE-.pdf
Sweet Teriyaki Sauce – Loma Linda University
https://alliedhealth.llu.edu/sites/alliedhealth.llu.edu/files/docs/Sweet%20Teriyaki%20Sauce.pdf
Britannica: Tokugawa period
https://www.britannica.com/event/Tokugawa-period
Britannica: Teriyaki sauce
https://www.britannica.com/topic/teriyaki
Heart.ORG
https://www.heart.org/en/healthy-living/healthy-eating/eat-smart/sodium/sodium-and-salt
