Difference Between Store-Bought and Homemade Teriyaki Sauces
Teriyaki sauce is a magical sauce that can make almost any dish taste amazing.
If you have ever tasted this sauce, you know how it adds that perfect sweet and savoury flavour to dishes like grilled chicken, stir-fried veggies, or even salmon. Teriyaki sauce is usually available in the market, but some people make it at home. Now the question is: what’s the difference between store-bought and homemade teriyaki sauces? If people can make it at home, then what’s the need to buy it in-store? If these sauces are easily available in stores, why bother making your own?
Well, both options have their own benefits and drawbacks. This article lists the differences to figure out which one suits your taste and lifestyle needs.
What is Teriyaki Sauce?
Teriyaki sauce is a Japanese sauce that’s known for its sweet and savoury flavour. It’s made from a few basic ingredients like soy sauce, sugar, sake, or mirin, and sometimes ginger and garlic. This sauce is primarily used as a marinade or glaze for grilled meat and fish. It may sound simple, but its taste and quality can vary a lot, depending on how you make it or where you buy it.
What is a Store-Bought Teriyaki Sauce?
A store-bought teriyaki sauce is always ready to use. You just head to the store, choose a bottle, and then use it directly while preparing your meal. Let’s read about these sauces in more detail:
Ingredients Used
If we talk about store-bought teriyaki sauces, they use soy sauce and sugar. However, they may also contain preservatives, artificial flavourings, thickeners, or high fructose. The purpose of these ingredients is to extend the shelf life of the sauce. And some brands use extra salt or monosodium glutamate to enhance the flavour.
If we think practically, these ingredients may make the sauce tastier, but they can have health effects on our bodies.
Taste and Nutrition
Most store-bought sauces have a consistent flavour, but some of them can be overly sweet, salty, or even artificial tasting. That’s because these sauces may contain additives or preservatives. Coming to nutrition, these sauces can be high in sodium and sugar, depending on the brand. So if you’re someone watching your salt or sugar intake, it would be good to check the nutrition label before buying. At first, making teriyaki sauce at home might sound complex, but trust me, it’s actually pretty easy. Plus, you can control what ingredients go into it, which is a big win if you want something fresher and healthier. Fresh, Good-Quality Ingredients When you make teriyaki sauce at home, you have the freedom to choose the ingredients you will use. For example, you’re using real ingredients—such as soy sauce, fresh ginger, garlic, brown sugar or honey. And you’re avoiding additives, preservatives that can later affect your health. This way, you can make your sauce much fresher and healthier. Customize the Flavours In homemade teriyaki sauce, you can adjust the flavours. For example, if you’re someone who wants a more salty flavour, you can add extra soy sauce. If you prefer it sweeter, you can add more honey or brown sugar. Want it spicy? You can go with some chilli flakes or a little fresh ginger. The best part is, you’re in full control—no one-size-fits-all here! Healthier Sauce When making teriyaki sauce by hand, you skip the preservatives and control the amount of sugar and salt. But if you are avoiding salt and sugar for specific health reasons, you can experiment with alternatives like low-sodium soy sauce or tamari to reduce salt, and use natural sweeteners like honey, maple syrup or stevia instead of regular sugar. This way, you still get a delicious sauce that fits your dietary needs without sacrificing flavour. Freshness You Can Taste It’s evident that when you make teriyaki sauce at home, you get fresher and richer flavours because you’re using fresh ingredients. That natural taste of garlic, ginger, and quality soy sauce really shines through, making your dishes more vibrant and homemade. Also, you can make sauces in batches so that you always have fresh teriyaki sauce ready to use whenever you need it. Takes Time and Effort The downside can’t be hidden. Everything is fine, but when making the sauce at home, it does take a bit of time and effort compared to just grabbing a bottle from the store. You need to gather the ingredients, measure, cook, and clean up afterward. Therefore, if you think you don’t have much time and you need sauce quickly, store-bought teriyaki sauce might be a better option. In the end, both store-bought and homemade teriyaki sauces have their own benefits. Store-bought sauces are ready to use and have a long shelf life, which makes them perfect for busy days. On the other hand, homemade sauces are made of healthier and fresher ingredients, and give you full control over what goes into your food. The decision of choosing between them depends on your personal preferences, time, and dietary needs.
What is a Homemade Teriyaki Sauce?
Final Thoughts