If you like to experiment with Asian-inspired cooking, you’ve likely seen recipes that call for oyster sauce. This unusual sauce can make a lot of different kinds of food taste better! Let’s find out how it tastes, what it’s used for, and more!
If you enjoy cooking Asian-inspired dishes, you’ve likely encountered recipes calling for oyster sauce. This rich, savory condiment adds delicious umami flavor to stir-fries, braises, noodle dishes, and more. But if you’ve never purchased oyster sauce before, you may be wondering – where exactly do I find it in the grocery store?
In this article, I’ll break down the key spots to locate oyster sauce during your regular supermarket run. We’ll also discuss how to identify quality oyster sauce brands and learn some helpful tips for using this versatile Asian ingredient at home. Let’s dive in!
Checking the International Foods Aisle
In most major grocery stores, the first spot to look for oyster sauce is in the international foods section. Since oyster sauce is a key ingredient in Chinese and other Asian cuisines, it will often be stocked alongside other Asian sauces and condiments.
Scan the shelves near soy sauce, sesame oil, fish sauce, rice vinegar and other pan-Asian cooking staples. Oyster sauce is typically sold in glass bottles or plastic squeeze bottles for easy use. Major brands like Lee Kum Kee are distributed widely. You may also find house brand options or regional Asian brands.
Browsing the Asian Foods Section
If your grocery store has a specific Asian or Chinese foods section, this is another key place to browse for oyster sauce. Along with common pan-Asian ingredients, these sections will include sauces and condiments favored in Chinese cooking especially.
Check the aisles with soy sauce hoisin sauce chili oil, and cooking wines. At a minimum, you should locate basic oyster sauce. Larger Asian sections may also stock versions infused with garlic, chili, or black bean.
Asking for Assistance
Don’t be shy about asking grocery store employees for help locating more obscure ingredients like oyster sauce. Specialty managers in the international foods or Asian foods sections can provide guidance if you’re not seeing oyster sauce on the shelves They may keep it in the back storeroom vs directly displayed.
Visiting Asian Grocery Stores
Don’t limit your search just to mainstream supermarkets. Venture into Asian grocery stores in your area and you’ll discover a treasure trove of oyster sauce options. Top brands like Lee Kum Kee will be plentiful. You’ll also find more regional Chinese brands and diverse flavor varieties.
From mild mushroom oyster sauces to spicy chili versions, specialty Asian groceries are a motherlode for this umami-rich condiment. Take time to browse and discover new-to-you flavors.
Shopping Online
Can’t find oyster sauce locally? Turn to online shopping and enjoy doorstep delivery from a wide selection of brands. Amazon stocks Lee Kum Kee along with Thai, Vietnamese and other regional oyster sauce products. Specialty online Asian grocery stores are another option for purchasing and shipping oyster sauce directly to your kitchen.
How to Spot Quality Oyster Sauce
Once you’ve located oyster sauce in the store, how do you pick the best quality product? Here are a few tips:
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Check the ingredients list. Oyster sauce should contain oyster extracts near the top, along with sugar, salt, and wheat thickener.
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Look for brands that advertise no preservatives or additives. Lee Kum Kee’s oyster sauces boast this purity.
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Seek out oyster sauces brewed naturally via fermentation. This traditional process develops the richest flavor.
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Avoid oyster sauces with added MSG, excessive thickeners, or artificial flavors.
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For sustainability, choose oyster sauces made with oyster mushrooms vs seafood-derived oyster extracts.
Handy Tips for Using Oyster Sauce
Once you’ve purchased quality oyster sauce, learn how to use it in your cooking:
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Add just a splash of oyster sauce to boost flavor in stir fries, fried rice, noodle dishes, etc. A little goes a long way!
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Mix a spoonful into marinades and sauces for extra savory depth.
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Use to glaze or baste meat, seafood or tofu before broiling or grilling.
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Whisk with oil, vinegar, garlic, ginger, etc. to make a quick flavorful sauce or dipping condiment.
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Look for recipes that use oyster sauce as a key seasoning ingredient to highlight its signature flavor.
So visit the international foods aisle, Asian foods section, or specialty Asian markets to get your hands on flavor-enhancing oyster sauce. A small investment opens up many delicious possibilities for enhancing your home cooking!
THE BEST OYSTER SAUCES
There are many different oyster sauce brands out there and not all are created equally. Below you’ll find some great options:
Most brands are not. You’ll remember that all oyster sauces feature some sort of thickening agent. Most brands use wheat flour to thicken their sauces. If you have a sensitivity to gluten, make sure to check the label before you buy. If you’re interested, Wok Mei has an excellent gluten-free option!.
Oyster sauce has a very slight oyster taste. It has an earthy, umami, and salty yet sweet flavor. You might think it would taste like seafood, but when you add it to recipes, you won’t taste much of an oyster.
Much like the oyster sauce vs. fish sauce debate, soy sauce and oyster sauce are often compared. Soy sauce and oyster sauce are often used together, but soy sauce is made from fermented soybean paste and oyster sauce is made from oyster extract. Their flavors complement each other very nicely!.
WHAT IS OYSTER SAUCE MADE OF?
Oyster sauce is traditionally made the way Lee Kum found it by accident: by boiling a big pot of oysters until the sauce is thick and rich, a dark brown color. Today, the process has been simplified and modern-day oyster sauce isn’t made with actual oysters. Rather, producers use the oyster extract in order to achieve its distinct flavor. As a bit of the original tradition lives on, oyster extract is just the liquid that is left over after shucked oysters are boiled. Then, other ingredients such as salt, sugar, and soy sauce are added for even more flavor. Most recipes also add starch as a thickener.
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FAQ
Is oyster sauce and soy sauce the same?
What is a good substitute for oyster sauce?
Is oyster sauce refrigerated?
Is oyster sauce just fish sauce?
Where can I buy Oyster sauce?
Use oyster sauce in marinades and stir-fry dishes or use it as a sauce base, a side dipping sauce, or drizzled on steamy vegetables like bok choy. Shop bok choy. Oyster sauce can be found at specialty Asian grocery stores or international or Asian sections of local grocery markets. To save time, you can also buy oyster sauce via Instacart.
What is oyster sauce?
Since then, it has spread to many different types of Chinese cooking and has become a very popular ingredient in many Asian recipes. Made with primarily with oyster extract, it’s a dark brown color and quite thick, with a viscosity and texture similar to ketchup or barbecue sauce, it’s really an all-purpose seasoning sauce.
Where did oyster sauce come from?
Oyster sauce is commonly used in Asian cuisine to add a rich depth of flavor. Where did oyster sauce originate from? It is believed that the creation of oyster sauce was a happy accident. In 1888, Lee Kum Sheung was busy operating his food stall in China. As his normal routine, Sheung had a large pot of oyster soup cooking away on the stove.
Is there a gluten free oyster sauce?
Most of the time, no. Wheat flour is sometimes added as a thickener as is the case with both LKK brands, and some brands, such as Maekrua, contain soy sauce which isn’t gluten free. But Panda brand does have a gluten free oyster sauce that I have seen in some stores, and Megachef (the Thai brand I couldn’t find) is gluten free.