The Ingredients in Soy Sauce
Applying the best store-bought soy sauce can set a sweet or savory tone or bind the main characters of your dish. It can be a dipping sauce or an addition to your savory recipes.
But what are the ingredients of soy sauce? It contains fermented soybeans and other elements, including saltwater brine and wheat. However, it does not have animal products.
Let’s explore more about the best soy sauce brands in the market.
Our Preferred Soy Sauce Brand
Even though the soy sauce brands we reviewed were the best in the market, Best of Thailand Premium Lite Soy Sauce Low Sodium | 2 Bottles of Lite Soy Sauce 23.65oz Real Authentic Asian-Brewed Marinade for Marinating Fish, Meat & Roasted Vegetables | 75% Less Sodium stood out from the rest.
This product is low-sodium and comes in squeezable bottles for ease of application. It is also kosher-certified.
Our Favorite Soy Sauces on the Market
Reviewing Our Preferred Store-Bought Soy Sauces
Best of Thailand Premium Lite Soy Sauce Low Sodium | 2 Bottles of Lite Soy Sauce 23.65oz Real Authentic Asian-Brewed Marinade for Marinating Fish, Meat & Roasted Vegetables | 75% Less Sodium: Best Kosher-Certified Soy Sauce
Amazon Choice’s in Soy Sauce by Best of Thailand
About the Product
Best of Thailand Premium Lite Soy Sauce Low Sodium | 2 Bottles of Lite Soy Sauce is a low-sodium soy sauce. Its ingredients are soybeans, water, wheat, stabilizers, salt, sugar, and preservatives. It is slightly sweet, but its flavor is intense.
Notably, it contains 70% less sodium when compared with regular soy sauces.
This soy sauce features an authentic Asian taste. It does not contain MSG and is kosher-certified, meaning it undergoes thorough supervision during its production process. Also, it comes in a squeezable unbreakable bottle for ease of application.
If you are looking for a dipping sauce, this soy sauce is one of the best options
- Brand: Best of Thailand
- Aging: Dark
- Size/s: 23.65 fluid ounces (700 milliliters) (2-pack)
- Flavor/s: Lite soy
- Package type: Plastic bottle
- Weight: (670.47 grams)
- Material feature: MSG-free, vegan, low-sodium, and kosher-certified
- Specialty: Natural
- Diet type: Vegan, kosher
- Origin country: Thailand
Pros
- It is ideal for users with vision, heart, and pressure health conditions because it is a low-sodium soy sauce. Remember, high sodium levels can increase the risk of cataract formation and high blood pressure, a risk factor for stroke and heart disease. So, taking low-sodium products is advisable for people with such health conditions to lower the said risks.
- You can apply it with precision because of its squeezable bottle.
Cons
- It is not ideal for gluten-intolerant users.
Yamasa Soy Sauce, Spicy, 34.0 fl oz: Best Spicy Soy Sauce
Amazon Choice’s in Soy Sauce by Yamasa
About the Product
If you are looking for soy sauce with a spicy and crisp aroma, Yamasa Soy Sauce is one of the best options. This brilliant red-colored condiment features soya beans, water, wheat, salt, and alcohol as its ingredients.
This soy sauce is a preferred condiment in several finest Japanese restaurants. Also, it is a natural product without artificial colors. So, its dark color is natural from the aging process.
- Brand: Yamasa
- Aging: Dark
- Size/s: 6.76, 15.5, and 34 fluid ounces (200, 458.39, and 1,005.5 milliliters)
- Flavor/s: Spicy
- Package type: Bottle
- Weight: 2.7 pounds (1.21 kilograms)
- Material feature: No artificial colors
- Specialty: Natural
- Diet type: Vegan, low-carb
- Origin country: Japan
Pros
- You can take it without worrying about a high-calorie intake.
Cons
- It is unfit for gluten-intolerant users.
Kimlan Black Bottle With Yellow: Best Dark and Sweet Soy Sauce
Amazon Choice’s in Soy Sauce by Kimlan
About the Product
Kimlan Black Bottle With Yellow soy sauce combines soya beans, water, wheat, sugar, and salt. It is a low-salt product that does not contain artificial flavors.
This 20 fluid-ounce (500 milliliters) dark and sweet soy sauce is a low-carb product from Taiwan, China.
- Brand: Kimlan
- Aging: Dark
- Size/s: 20 fluid ounces (500 milliliters)
- Package type: Bottle
- Weight: 2 pounds (0.9 kilograms)
- Material feature: No artificial flavors
- Specialty: Natural
- Diet type: Vegan, low-carb
- Origin country: Taiwan, China
Pros
- It is ideal for people with salt-related health conditions because it is a low-salt product.
Cons
- It is unfit for gluten-intolerant users.
Kishibori Shoyu 12.2 fl oz (360ml). Pure Artisan Japanese Soy Sauce. All Natural Barrel Aged 1 Year Unadulterated, and Without Preservatives: Best Low-Salt Soy Sauce
About the Product
Kishibori Shoyu 12.2 fl oz (360ml), Pure Artisan Japanese Soy Sauce’s ingredients are whole soya beans, sun-dried sea salt, and wheat.
Notably, the slow fermentation process produces many complex organic acids. In return, the resultant soy sauce has a deep umami flavor.
This soy sauce features a milder, fuller flavor, unlike most brands of soy sauce. Also, it does not contain preservatives, additives, and additional alcohol.
This product is also versatile; you can add it to any dish for a balanced and smooth taste. For a better taste, use it raw because heating it can make it lose some of its flavor compounds.
- Brand: Kishibori Shoyu
- Aging: Dark
- Size/s: 12.2 fluid ounces (360 milliliters)
- Flavor/s: Umami
- Package type: Bottle
- Weight: 1.4 pounds (0.65 kilograms)
- Material feature: No artificial flavors
- Specialty: Natural
- Diet type: Organic
- Origin country: Japan
Pros
- It is highly versatile, and you can use it on any dish.
Cons
- It is difficult to understand the information on its label because almost every detail is in Japanese.
Pearl River Bridge Golden Label Superior Light Soy Sauce, Plastic Bottles, 16.9 oz.: Best Intensely-Salted Soy Sauce
About the Product
Pearl River Bridge Golden Label Superior Light Soy Sauce contains soybeans, water, salt, 1% potassium sorbate (food preservative), and wheat. It is a naturally brewed product from China.
This product has an intensely salty, natural, and strong flavor comprising preserved beans.
So, stir it in your vegetables, marinate your fish and meat, and dip your spring rolls, wontons, and seafood.
- Brand: Pearl River Bridge
- Aging: Light
- Size/s: 16.9 fluid ounces (500 milliliters)
- Package type: Plastic bottle
- Weight: 1.5 pounds (0.68 kilograms)
- Material feature: No artificial colors
- Specialty: Natural
- Diet type: Vegan, low-carb
- Origin country: China
Cons
- It is unfit for sodium-intolerant users.
Kecap Manis (Sweet Soy Sauce) - 600 ml (20.2-Ounce) by ABC.: Best Sweet Soy Sauce
Amazon Choice’s in Soy Sauce by ABC
About the Product
Kecap Manis (Sweet Soy Sauce) contains soybeans, sugar, water, salt, wheat, and sodium benzoate (preservative). It is an Indonesian thick, caramel-colored soy sauce ideal for any dish, including stir-fries, fried rice, and barbeque. You can also marinate your pork, beef, fish, chicken, and duck.
This product features natural sweetness from sun-dried palm tree sugar. It adds a sweet and aromatic flavor to your dishes.
- Brand: ABC
- Aging: Dark
- Size/s: 20.2 fluid ounces (597.39 milliliters) (one-pack and two-pack)
- Flavor/s: Sweet soy
- Package type: Plastic bottle
- Weight: 21.16 ounces (600 grams)
- Specialty: Natural
- Type: Sweet
- Diet type: Vegan
- Origin country: Indonesia
Pros
- If you are non-conventional, you can use it on sandwiches or test it on your favorite snack.
Cons
- It has a slightly-chemical aftertaste if you eat it raw.
Yamaroku Shoyu Pure Artisan Dark Sweet Japanese Premium Gourmet Barrel Aged 4 Year Soy Sauce "Tsuru Bisiho", 18oz (532ml) (18oz, 1)… (1 Pack): Best Sweet and Salty Soy Sauce
Amazon Choice’s in Soy Sauce by Yamaroku
About the Product
This is an umami gourmet sauce, and its ingredients are water, soybeans, wheat, and salt.
Yamaroku Shoyu Pure Artisan Dark Sweet Japanese Premium Gourmet Barrel Aged Four-Year Soy Sauce does not contain artificial colors, preservatives, and fillers. It is one of the sweet and salty sauces in the market.
This soy sauce comes in a glass bottle that dispenses it easily. Also, it gives your dishes a rich, mellow flavor with a balanced umami taste. You can use it as a dip for your sushi, tofu, and grilled fish, among other dishes. You can also use it as one of the ingredients when making Teriyaki and Ponzu sauce or when preparing bowls of ramen.
You can also apply this soy sauce to vanilla ice cream to give it a caramel color.
- Brand: Yamaroku
- Aging: Dark
- Size/s: 1.12 pounds (0.5 kilograms) (pack of 1, 2, 3, and 6)
- Flavor/s: Umami
- Package type: Glass bottle
- Weight: 18 ounces (510.3 grams)
- Material feature: Does not contain artificial colors, preservatives, and fillers
- Specialty: Natural
- Type: Sweet
- Diet type: Vegan
- Origin country: Japan
Pros
- Its easy-to-pour glass bottle prevents you from making a mess when using the sauce.
Cons
- The glass bottle is fragile and can break easily, unlike plastic bottles.
Lee Kum Kee Gluten Free Soy Sauce 1.9l (64 fl oz): Best Gluten-Free Soy Sauce
Amazon Choice’s for GF Soy Sauce
About the Product
If you are looking for gluten-free soy sauce, Lee Kum Kee Gluten Free Soy Sauce is one of the best options. This soy sauce is vegan and does not contain chemical preservatives. Also, the use of soybeans makes this sauce non-GMO.
The ingredients of this premium dark soy sauce are soybeans, salt, water, caramel color, corn starch, and sugar. Also, it is gluten-free, unlike several other soy sauces that are not fit for gluten-intolerant users.
- Brand: Lee Kum Kee
- Aging: Dark
- Size/s: 64.25 fluid ounces and 5 gallons (1.9 liters and 18.9 liters)
- Package type: Plastic bottle and pail
- Weight: 0.09 ounces (2.47 grams)
- Material feature: Gluten-free, codfish-free
- Specialty: Natural
- Diet type: Vegan, low-carb
- Origin country: China
Pros
- It comes in large batches. So, you can use it for a long time or in large cooking projects.
No products found.: Best Versatile Soy Sauce
No products found.
About the Product
If you fancy eating natural glutinous (sticky) rice, braised meats, stewed vegetables, and noodle soups, you will find Kimlan Soy Paste a great accompaniment because of its savory taste.
This soy sauce has an umami flavor that is pleasing to your palate. Its ingredients are water, soybeans, rice, starch, sugar, wheat, salt, sucralose, and benzoic acid (preservative).
For better results, shake the bottle well before use.
- Brand: Kimlan
- Aging: Dark
- Size/s: 20 fluid ounces (590 milliliters)
- Flavor/s: Umami
- Package type: Bottle
- Weight: 1.5 pounds (0.7 kilograms)
- Material feature: Gluten-free
- Specialty: Natural
- Diet type: Low-carb
- Origin country: Taiwan, China
Cons
- Some users find it expensive.
Sempio Soy Sauce Jin S 29.08 fl oz. (860ml): Best Savory Soy Sauce
About the Product
Sempio Soy Sauce Jin S 29.08 fl oz. (860ml) is a savory soy sauce made from water, defatted soybean, high-fructose corn syrup, yeast extract, sucralose, wheat, salt, spirits, and sodium benzoate (preservative).
This soy sauce gives a rich and mellow flavor to a large variety of dishes, especially vegetables and meats. Also, it is KOHER, HACCP, SQF, and ISO-certified and does not contain GMO ingredients.
- Brand: Sempio
- Aging: Light
- Size/s: 29.08 fluid ounces (860 milliliters)
- Package type: Bottle
- Weight: 31.4 ounces (890.18 grams)
- Type: Savory
- Origin country: Korea
Pros
- Some users find it a good value for their money.
- It comes in a large bottle. So you can use it for large cooking projects.
Cons
- Some users find it overwhelmingly salty and expensive.
San-J Tamari Soy Sauce - Gluten Free Soy Sauce, Tamari Sauce, Brewed Soy Sauce, Vegan, Kosher, Non-GMO, No Artificial Preservatives, Made With 100% Soy - 10 fl oz, 2-Pack: Best Soy Sauce With an Umami Taste
About the Product
You can use San-J Tamari Soy Sauce on any dish. Its ingredients are soybeans, water, salt, and a small amount of alcohol to preserve its freshness. Importantly, it does not contain wheat. You can use this product to dip your veggies, sushi, or seafood. Also, you can use it as a marinade, stir fry, and soups and dressings.
Also, it does not contain artificial colors, preservatives, or flavors. Lastly, it is ideal for gluten-intolerant users.
- Brand: San-J
- Aging: Dark
- Size/s: 10 fluid ounces (295.74 milliliters) (2-pack), 64 fluid ounces (1,892.71 milliliters) (1-pack)
- Flavor/s: Umami
- Package type: Bottle
- Weight: 2.93 pounds (1.33 kilograms)
- Material features: GMO-free, gluten-free, dairy-free, no artificial preservative, kosher-certified, plant-based
- Specialty: Organic
- Type: Sweet
- Diet type: Vegan, kosher
Cons
- It is not ideal for alcohol-intolerant users.
Lee Kum Kee Premium Soy Sauce 16.9 oz each (1 Item per Order): Best Naturally-Brewed Soy Sauce
Amazon’s Choice in Soy Sauce by Lee Kum
About the Product
This condiment contains water, sugar, wheat flour, salt, soybeans, sodium benzoate, disodium 5-inosinate, and sodium 5-guanylate. It’s dark and sweet for crisp and pleasant-tasting dishes.
Lee Kum Kee Premium Soy Sauce comes in a big bottle, meaning it can last for a long time. You can also use it in large cooking projects. Also, it is a naturally-brewed soy sauce with no MSG.
- Brand: Lee Kum
- Aging: Dark
- Size/s: 16.9 fluid ounces (500 milliliters)
- Package type: Bottle
- Weight: 1.9 pounds (0.86 kilograms)
- Material features: No MSG added
- Specialty: Natural
- Type: Sweet
- Diet type: Vegan
- Origin country: Hong Kong
Pros
- It comes in a big bottle. So, you can use it for a long time or for large cooking projects.
Cons
- Some users find it expensive.
What to Look for in Soy Sauce
Notably, your taste preferences determine the soy sauce to buy. However, some aspects that can help you know which soy sauce is the best are as follows:
Type
Different parts of the world produce different types of soy sauce. The differences revolve around the flavor profiles and distinct characteristics of soy sauces. However, Chinese soy sauce is more popular than the rest and is often lightly colored.
If you are looking for a darker soy sauce, the standard Japanese Shoyu soy sauce is one of the best options. Some of the versions of this sauce are Koikuchi and Usukuchi.
The other types of soy sauce come from Korea and Thailand. The Korean type is lightly salty, while the Thai version features a thick consistency.
If you are looking for a soy-less substitute, liquid aminos can come in handy because their taste is milder than soy sauce.
Aging
In light vs. dark soy sauce, age makes all the difference. So, what is a light soy sauce? A light soy sauce, also called white soy sauce, undergoes a short-time aging process. On the other hand, a dark one, also called black soy sauce, is a type of soy sauce that ages longer. Typically, the aging period lasts for around five to eight months.
However, black soy sauce sometimes contains color additives to make it dark.
Sodium Content
Notably, soy sauce has a significant amount of sodium. Remember, salt is one of its main ingredients. However, you can go for sodium-free or low-sodium alternatives at a whim.
How We Tested the Products
We took time to assess the type, aging, quality (whether the product has a quality certification), ingredients, diet type, specialty, and versatility of every product we reviewed. If a product stood out regarding the said aspects, it got a slot in our list of the best store-bought soy sauces in the market.
Some Reader Questions Answered
What is the Difference Between Light and Dark Soy Sauce?
The difference between light and dark soy sauce is age—light soy sauce ages for a shorter time than its dark counterpart.
Where is Soy Sauce in the Grocery Store?
Whenever you visit a grocery store searching for soy sauce, go to the condiment aisle. You can also find it in the Asian food section.
How Much Does Soy Sauce Cost?
Soy sauce prices vary depending on economic factors across various regions worldwide. These factors include shipping costs, currency strength, and demand for imports. So, it does not have a standard price.
What Can be Used as an Alternative for Soy Sauce?
The following are some of the alternatives for soy sauce:
- Tamari.
- Worcestershire Sauce.
- Coconut aminos.
- Liquid aminos.
- Dried mushrooms.
- Fish sauce.
- Miso paste.
- Salt.
- Anchovies.
- Maggie seasoning.
Can Soy Sauce Go Bad?
Yes. Soy sauce can go bad, even though it rarely happens. If unopened, soy sauce can stay good for a long time. On the other hand, opened bottles of soy sauce last for around two to three years.
Must you refrigerate it to prevent it from going bad? No. Soy sauce contains a high level of salt that preserves it at any room temperature.
Is Soy Sauce Healthy?
Soy sauce is a good source of probiotics and antioxidants that improve gut health. However, it has a dark side. Given its high amount of sodium, it poses a potential risk to people suffering from salt-related health conditions, such as high blood pressure. For this reason, low-sodium alternatives come in handy.
Sometimes, soy sauce contains wheat. So, it is not suitable for gluten-intolerant people. But you can get gluten-free alternatives.
Overall, soy sauce is healthy because you can get substitutes to avoid the health risks of sodium and gluten.
Final Verdict
If you want an umami or spicy taste or lite, sweet, or savory flavor in your favorite dishes, dips, or barbeque, use soy sauce.
We consider the Best of Thailand Premium Lite Soy Sauce Low Sodium | 2 Bottles of Lite Soy Sauce 23.65oz Real Authentic Asian-Brewed Marinade for Marinating Fish, Meat & Roasted Vegetables | 75% Less Sodium, as one of the best store-bought soy sauces.
This soy sauce has a low sodium level compared with most soy sauces. Also, it comes in a squeezable bottle that prevents you from making a mess when using it.
Now that you know the best soy sauces to buy, bon appetit!
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