Oyster sauce, hoisin sauce, and fish sauce are three of our go-to ingredients for adding authentic flavor to Asian dishes and giving all kinds of recipes a boost of umami. Here’s what you need to know about cooking with each of them.
Oyster sauce is commonly used in stir-fries like ourBeef Stir-Fry with Bell Peppers and Black Pepper Sauce. It is also a key ingredient inKung Pao Shrimp,Spicy Sichuan Noodles, and other Asian-style dishes. The bottled sauce, also known as oyster-flavored sauce, is made from a reduction of boiled oysters. Savory with a hint of sweetness, it is a rich, concentrated mixture of the oyster extractives, brine, and assorted seasonings. Inour tasting, testers described the winner as slightly fishy with caramel undertones and good depth of flavor.
Shopping for Oyster Sauce
Be careful not to confuse oyster-flavored sauce with cooked oyster sauce, as the latter includes oyster-flavored sauce combined with ingredients like chicken broth, soy sauce, sake, and sugar. Look for a brand that contains only oyster extractives and seasoning like our favorite,Lee Kum Kee’s Premium Oyster Flavored Sauce.
Hoisin Sauce
Made from soybeans, sugar, vinegar, garlic, and chiles, hoisin sauce packs a punch and adds spicy, salty, and sweet elements to stir-fries and meat dishes, such asMu Shu Pork. It can also be used as a dipping sauce. We’ve found that no two brands are alike, though, and our tasters deemedthe perfect hoisin sauceto be one with balanced flavor and smooth rather than grainy consistency, like our winner,Kikkoman Hoisin Sauce.
Used marinade is not safe to eat since it’s contaminated with raw meat juice. If you want a sauce to serve with cooked meat, make a little extra marinade and set it aside before adding the rest to the raw meat.
Fish Sauce
Pungent, glutamate-rich fish sauce, which is made from fermented anchovies, can be used as both a condiment and an ingredient. As the latter, we often find it in Vietnamese and Thai dishes, such asThai Pork Lettuce Wraps. In the test kitchen, we also use it in small amounts to add rich, savory flavor to sauces and marinades for meat such as ourChile-Lime Burger SauceandSoutheast Asian Marinade for Steaks. Inour tasting, we found that testers preferredRed Boat 40° N Fish Sauce, which is made with only anchovies and sea salt and contains more protein than the four other brands we tested.
Vegan "Fish Sauce"
In need of a vegan alternative to fish sauce? You can make your own using dried shiitake mushrooms. Combine ¼ ounce mushrooms with 3 cups of water, 3 tablespoons salt, and 2 tablespoons soy sauce. Simmer over medium heat until reduced by half. Strain, cool, and refrigerate the sauce for up to 3 weeks.
Do you have a favorite dish that uses one of these sauces? Is there another ingredient you'd like to know more about? Let us know on Twitter@testkitchenand#CooksIllustrated.
Be first to know about new stories!Sign up for our newsletterfor revolutionary recipes and insightful reviews.
More from Cook's Illustrated
Taste TestThe World of Fish SauceFish sauce has deep flavor—and deep historical roots around the world.Read Our ReviewTaste TestHoisin SauceWe found that no two brands of this staple condiment were identical.Read Our ReviewRecipeThai Pork Lettuce WrapsMaking larb moo, a light but flavorful Thai specialty, requires keeping the pork tender and juicy.Get the RecipeRecipeSpicy Sichuan-Style NoodlesThis rich, flavorful Chinese-inspired dish can be made quickly and easily for a hearty dinner on busy nights.Get the RecipeRecipeSpicy Sichuan Noodles for TwoThis rich, flavorful Chinese-inspired dish can be made quickly and easily for a hearty dinner on busy nights.Get the RecipeRecipeMu Shu PorkBoiling water is the key to making the thin, stretchy pancakes typically served with Chinese American–style mu shu pork.Get the RecipeRecipeRed Curry Marinade for SteaksMost marinades fail miserably, neither tenderizing meat nor adding much flavor. We found a way to quickly do both: double dipping.Get the RecipeRecipeChicken Lettuce Wraps (Sung Choy Bao)A classic Chinese technique is the key to preventing the stir-fried chicken from drying out.Get the RecipeRecipeKung Pao ShrimpOur version of kung pao shrimp uses pantry staples to make a complex, spicy sauce for stir-fried shrimp and peanuts.Get the RecipeRecipeGrilled Pork Kebabs with Hoisin and Five-SpiceTo make the most of this supertender—but very mild—cut, we turn it into kebabs.Get the RecipeRecipeThai-Style Stir-Fried Noodles with Chicken and BroccoliniPad see ew is a tasty Thai noodle dish that is perfect for a quick weeknight dinner.Get the RecipeRecipeFried Rice with Peas and Bean SproutsFor fried rice that is light and flavorful, cook the ingredients in batches and forget about your fear of frying.Get the Recipe
If you are in a pinch and need a teriyaki sauce but don't have any on hand, you can use two parts oyster sauce and one part hoisin sauce to create a unique flavor combination that is similar but different from the stuff you buy in a bottle.
Often used as a cooking ingredient, oyster sauce has a richer and more intense taste than hoisin but it does not have the sweetness. If you want to cook with an oyster sauce substitute, hoisin sauce works fine if you like a sweet, tangy flavor.
That being said, oyster sauce can replace fish sauce in most recipes; while less potent, it will still give your food that briny, umami note you want. Healthline claims that you can use a 1:1 ratio to replace fish with oyster sauce in your recipe.
Add oyster sauce at the end of cooking to avoid losing its flavor. Oyster sauce will start to lose its umami flavor if you cook it for too long. Add it right at the end of cooking things like stir fries and soups to get the most flavor out of it.
The most common uses for oyster sauce include stir-fry sauces, glazes, and marinades. Oyster sauce flavors chicken, beef, vegetables like broccoli, noodles, and rice dishes. It is an important component to cashew chicken and even a type of radish cake. Make homemade hoisin sauce or teriyaki sauce by using oyster sauce.
What is this? Lee Kum Kee Premium - Or what I call the “Boat Lady” brand as per the label. This is the premium and original oyster sauce from LKK, and in Vancouver a bottle costs about $8. Panda Brand (by LKK) - The most widely available oyster sauce, and probably the one your local Thai and Chinese restaurants use.
Oyster sauce is a sweet and salty condiment made primarily from oyster juices, salt, and sugar. It also boasts umami, which is a savory, tangy flavor. It's commonly used in Asian cuisines, including Chinese and Thai dishes, for stir-fries, meat marinades, and dipping sauces.
Can I Substitute Fish Sauce for Hoisin Sauce? Fish sauce is also used as an alternative to hoisin sauce at times. This is because fish sauce is similarly sharp and salty like hoisin sauce, although it lacks the sweetness factor. Add some sugar or honey in conjunction to best replicate the taste of hoisin sauce.
Whisk together oyster sauce, fish sauce, and 1 teaspoon oil in a small bowl until well combined. If desired, stir in chile and sugar. Add additional oyster sauce, if desired.
In the kitchen, oyster sauce is often a glaze or an addition to stir-fries, while fish sauce is more of a background player, enhancing soups and marinades with its briny depth. Understanding these sauces is crucial for anyone diving into Southeast Asian cuisine.
Typically, an unopened bottle of fish sauce can last for about 3 to 4 years from its manufacturing date as it contains high levels of salt which deters the growth of harmful bacteria.
Oyster sauce offers a slightly sweeter alternative to Worcestershire sauce. Made using oyster extract, water, sugar and salt, it has a similar flavour profile to Worcestershire sauce. It also has added corn starch to give it a similar thickness and texture to Worcestershire sauce.
Sweet soy sauce or teriyaki sauce are the best options. Stir Fries - When it comes to adding umami depth and spice to stir fried dishes like ramen and rice noodles, we recommend soy sauce or black bean paste as the perfect oyster sauce alternatives.
Marinades: Create delicious marinades for meat, seafood or vegetables when you combine hoisin, honey, lemon, salt and garlic. Carrots: Glaze carrots with equal parts maple syrup and hoisin sauce for a flavor twist.
Since it has a similar consistency as oyster sauce, hoisin sauce can usually be substituted in a 1-to-1 ratio. However, it may have a more potent flavor depending on its ingredients, in which case you may want to use a smaller amount. Consider using hoisin sauce in place of oyster sauce for stir-fries and marinades.
In a small bowl, whisk together soy sauce, oyster sauce, rice wine vinegar, brown sugar, ginger, garlic, sesame oil, cornstarch and Sriracha, if using; set aside.
An equal part of soy sauce and hoisin (a sweet-sour-salty sauce made of plums, and fermented black bean and garlic sauce) themselves are a great substitute for Worcestershire sauce, but a small splash of apple cider vinegar helps thin it out even more and add some extra tartness.
Hobby: Web surfing, Skiing, role-playing games, Sketching, Polo, Sewing, Genealogy
Introduction: My name is Maia Crooks Jr, I am a homely, joyous, shiny, successful, hilarious, thoughtful, joyous person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.
We notice you're using an ad blocker
Without advertising income, we can't keep making this site awesome for you.
By 
