Aside from being quick and easy to make, stir fry foods are also healthy. They’re also fun and exciting to make because you can switch up and improve the flavors with the help of your sauces.
Stir fry sauces are easy to make. However, when you’re only beginning to enjoy the wonders of making stir fry meals, then you first might want to purchase a ready-made sauce.
Ready-made sauces are often healthy and flavorful. They have a good balance of spices and other ingredients that will improve your overall stir fry meal.
Stir fry sauces are the best partner and probably the secret to the best stir fry dishes. Looking for one can be challenging though, but they’re definitely worth it in the long run. After all, they’re going to open the door to a different level of flavor in your dish.
To know more about stir fry sauces and what to choose, I’ve created a list of the 5 best tasting stir fry sauces that you must try! They surely do not disappoint.
Table of Contents
Kikkoman Classic Stir Fry Sauce
Making an authentic Chinese stir fry dish requires a rich flavor as this is the staple flavor. To give you that, this Kikkoman Classic Stir Fry Sauce will surely not disappoint.
This stir fry sauce has its flavoring packed with traditional Asian-style seasonings that would give you that authentic umami. A good mix of soy sauce, sherry, garlic, and oyster sauce will be tasted in this bottle.
This is a versatile sauce that can be used for the popular Asian dishes that you want to concoct. Ranging from your famous stir fry sauce to the chow mein, this sauce will surely be faithful to its promises.
Because of its good consistency, this can be a good and flavorful seasoning for your fried rice bowls and noodles.
Instead of concocting a stir fry sauce yourself, this pre-seasoned sauce is ready to use from the get go to save you some time while not compromising your meal’s flavor. This can balance well with any time of main ingredient—from meat, poultry to even your vegetables.
Pros
- Authentic Asian flavor
- Big size
- Pre-thickened
Cons
- Some have complained about the product arriving with a broken lid
Kumana Avocado Hot Sauce
To literally spice things a bit up, this Kumana Avocado Hot Sauce might be able to help you. This hot sauce is a mild sauce with a hint of jalapeño and an evident taste of bell pepper.
The mild avocado in this sauce is believed to cool down the food more than it heats up, giving you the best balance of hotness. So, you don’t have to worry about drinking so much milk after this sauce.
This contains 10 calories per tablespoon, 0 carbs, and no added sugars. Hence, if you’re on a Keto diet, this sauce may be your best bet. This is also good for Paleo dieters!
This also contains onion and mango puree, green bell pepper and avocado puree, white distilled vinegar, water, parsley, cilantro, and avocado oil. This also includes a little bit of that green jalapeño puree.
You might think that the flavors of avocado and mango mixing up are a bit disgusting. Worry not though because they aren’t as prevalent in the flavor profile. Moreover, this will taste a bit tangy and earthy because of the mix of vinegar, onion, and bell pepper.
If you want your stir fry to taste a little spicier, this could add to that. However, this won’t make your food spicy spicy because it’s not really that hot. But, if you have little tolerance with heat, this will surely suffice.
This can also be a good condiment for health watchers. You can use this on anything—even beyond your stir frying cooking!
Pros
- Keto and Paleo friendly
- Versatile
- Good condiment alternative
Cons
- Some didn’t like the taste because the avocado hint isn’t that evident
Some didn’t find this hot enough
House of Tsang Sauce
The House of Tsang Sauce comes in a variety pack of 4. Though you can buy them separately, getting the pack is still definitely much more worth it because you get to taste different flavors in one purchase.
Out of all the flavors, the Szechuan sauce is highly praised because of its spicier than your average stir fry sauce. Moreover, this also has moderate heat that builds slowly, hence it won’t give you that overwhelming taste that just does not sit right.
The flavors of the House of Tsang Sauce are blended well so that they do not become too overpowering. Moreover, the Classic House of Tsang Sauce is undoubtedly something you should also try.
The garlic in the classic flavor is something you can really taste without it overpowering your tastebuds. Moreover, the sauce is a bit sweeter than other sauces which is good because it will totally balance out everything.
This could also work as a table sauce, or a sauce that you could throw in with some chicken or seafood. This will be really useful for other dishes too other than stir fry like your curry.
One downside is that this is not really the best option if you’re watching your health. This has an evident amount of sodium (500mg), 25 calories, a gram of fat, and 3 grams of sugar.
Pros
- Comes with four flavors
- Versatile
- Szechuan sauce is spicy enough for some
Cons
- Not the healthy option for those who are watching their nutritional intake
Lee Kum Kee Hoisin Sauce
If you’re planning to buy a stir fry sauce that can also be used as a dressing, a marinade, or a dip, then this Lee Kum Kee Hoisin Sauce can hit the mark. Coming at fourth in my list, this sauce is just overall one of the best tasting sauces out there.
To get that Chinese classic dish like the Kung Pao Chicken, you need an authentic tasting sauce that will deliver the right amount of flavor. This Lee Kum Kee Hoisin Sauce truly doesn’t disappoint.
With wholesome ingredients like garlic, sesame paste, spices, chili peppers, salt, and others, you can surely expect that this is healthy. This is also suitable for vegetarians and vegans because it contains no preservatives and other unhealthy ingredients.
Pros
- Suitable for vegetarians and vegans
- Versatile
- No flavor enhancer and preservatives
Cons
- Some customers received their products with loose lid due to poor packaging
Otajoy Yakisoba for Stir-fried Noodles Sauce
Why not enjoy this Otajoy Yakisoba for Stir-fried Noodles Sauce? Made using 8 fruits and vegetables, this complex yet delicious flavor may surely be your next favorite.
Who would’ve thought that the tastes of different fruits can come in harmony in a bottle of sauce? This Otajoy Yakisoba sauce is not too sweet and not too bland and the fruits are so well-balanced that you could hardly distinguish the fruits and vegetables.
This may not be really as versatile as the other sauces, but you can still experiment your way around your dishes with this sauce. You can put this in your pastas also!
Pros
- Low calorie stir fry sauce
- Mixed with 8 fruits and vegetables
- No artificial flavors
Cons
- Some have complained that this doesn’t take authentic
- Some have commented about its poor packaging
What To Consider When Buying Stir Fry Sauce
Initially, I would say that buying stir fry sauce is not that complicated because you can just grab one from the shelves. But, when I got into the world of stir frying, I just realized how hard it could be.
Ranging from different flavors and ingredients, I totally understand now how you must be feeling starin at the wide variety of sauces. It is pretty complicated to buy because this can totally change the flavor of your whole dish.
Some stir fry sauces are spicy while some are kind of sweet. Others are salty while some got that tangy taste. Needless to say, the stir fry sauce makes or breaks your stir fry noodles.
To lift off a bit of weight from your shoulders when it comes to deciding which to buy, I’ve made a small buying guide when purchasing stir fry sauce. Take note that the best guide you’ll ever have is your taste buds!
Flavor
Of course, the first and foremost when buying stir fry sauces is checking the flavor. You don’t want to buy a stir fry sauce that doesn’t appeal to your taste buds, eh?
Usually, a stir fry dish is flavorful when it has a mix of a little sweet sauce. Personally, that’s what I prefer because this totally balances out the saltiness of the base sauce and the bitterness of the vegetables and other ingredients.
If you’re planning to include ingredients such as green beans, broccoli, and other similar ingredients to your dish, then you might want to consider a specific flavor of stir fry sauce. You might want to look for a sauce that has a rich savory taste.
For a rich savory taste, you’re going to look for a stir fry sauce that has a mix of garlic, soy sauce, onions, and or hot pepper flakes. This will help hide the bitterness of the vegetables in your dish. Moreover, this will bring out the undertones of your other ingredients.
When you want to achieve a sweet and sour stir-fry, you’ll look for a sauce that contains ginger and sesame sauce. You can also look for a stir fry sauce that has a good mix of vegetables and fruits, they usually have a good and well-blended flavor.
If you want that certain sweetness, then you might want to consider looking into Otajoy Yakisoba for Stir-fried Noodles Sauce.
There are certain stir fry sauces that bring out authenticity in your stir fry dish. Don’t you just know it when your food tastes like the one from its origin? If so, you might want to check Kikkoman Classic Stir Fry Sauce for that authentic flavor.
Who doesn’t want a little spice in their stir fry? A little bit of spice won’t hurt and they will definitely improve your whole dish because of the excitement it brings. If you prefer that spice, I suggest looking into the Szechuan flavor from the variety pack of House of Tsang Sauce.
Ingredients
You always have to look at the ingredients if you want a stir fry sauce that will be worth its value. Not all sauces are mixed with an all veggie and healthy ingredients, so you should really look out for these.
Some sauces could be high in sodium, which is not really good for those who are watching their nutrition intake. Moreover, some have an evident amount of calories and carbs which can be a turn off for some.
If you’re making a stir fry, always look at the main ingredient of the dish. For instance, you’ll be making a veggie stir-fry, this automatically tells you to look for sauce that has veggie flavors.
A compatible sauce to your main ingredient in your stir fry will blend the flavors well and it will complement one another. This will enrich the undertones of your main ingredient without making the taste too overwhelming.
I suggest looking into Otajoy Yakisoba for Stir-fried Noodles Sauce if you want one that compliments well with your veggie stir fry!
Diet
Since stir fry is known for being a healthy meal, this is a good meal for those who are on a certain diet. Of course, you still want that richness in flavor without compromising your diet.
There are stir fry sauces that have zero to none carbs. There are also sauces that are all natural and have zero alternatives. You should look for these if you’re conscious with these certain nutritions in your diet.
If you’re in a Paleo or Keto diet, you’re surely watching out for your carbs and calories. If this is the case, you might want to check Kumana Avocado Hot Sauce since this is a paleo and keto friendly sauce.
Lee Kum Kee Hoisin Sauce is a good sauce for those who are vegetarians and vegans because of its ingredients. So, I suggest looking into this product if you’re into this diet.
Versatility
Versatility allows you to enjoy your sauce beyond its stir fry purposes. Some sauces can actually be used as a dip, while some can be a table sauce for your usual meals.
I truly understand those circumstances wherein your sauces reach its expiration date because you never used it again for its purpose. Hence, the versatility feature of your sauce will surely make your purchase worth it.
If you want a sauce that can be for marination and other purposes, Lee Kum Kee Hoisin Sauce may satisfy your needs. This sauce is pretty versatile because they can also be used as a dip!
Frequently Asked Questions On Stir Fry Sauces
Yes! You can put it in a jar and refrigerate it. It’ll be okay for approximately three days.
Yes, absolutely. Provided that the bottle is undamaged and it is properly stored. However, if you can sense a different smell or flavor (even just a tinge), discard it.
Usually, you can see molds on your sauce. They also develop an off odor, flavor, and even appearance!
Wrapping Up
Craving for a restaurant-quality stir fry noodles will no longer be a problem if you’ve met your stir fry sauce best friend. However, don’t be afraid of trying new flavors here and there—you surely won’t regret it!
It is truly challenging to look for a stir fry sauce. More often than not, you might need to do trial and error to get the best tasting stir fry sauce. Don’t worry though because once you get the best one, you’ll surely be able to make the amazing stir fry meals!
References