Soy sauce serves as a versatile kitchen essential, delivering a rich, salty flavor to countless dishes. Cooks drizzle it on sushi, mix it into stir-fries, or blend it into marinades for endless culinary applications.
This condiment traces its roots to China and reached England from Japan in the 17th century. Philosopher John Locke first referenced it in his 1679 journals. Today, it graces most UK pantries thanks to its flexible taste and affordable cost. Light soy sauce enhances flavors, while dark varieties add appealing color to recipes.
Spotting Quality Soy Sauce in Stores
Facing shelves lined with options can overwhelm shoppers. A straightforward test helps identify premium soy sauce without opening the bottle or tasting it.
Cooking enthusiast Paul demonstrates this hack in a video: “Quick hack to tell if soy sauce is actually good before you even buy it.” He explains, “I discovered this trick while researching how soy sauce is actually produced—and it’s surprisingly simple.”
Paul shakes the bottle and advises, “Just shake the bottle. If bubbles form and linger, that’s a good sign. It indicates more soybeans and excellent fermentation. No foam usually means shortcuts.”
In the video caption, he adds, “Cheaper sauces usually get watered down and rushed—seen by bubbles that disappear quickly. Good cooking starts with good ingredients.” Paul then selects a bottle of Kikkoman from the supermarket shelf.
Reactions from Viewers
Viewers praise the technique, with many confirming its reliability. One comments, “Love this. I’ve wondered about this for so long.” Another shares, “If it’s not Kikkoman, I keep browsing. Great tip though!”
Additional advice emerges in comments. A viewer suggests, “If you can’t pronounce the name of the brand, or if the text on the package is written in more Chinese than English, it’s going to be good.” Others recommend checking ingredients: soybeans, wheat, water, and salt, possibly with potassium sorbate—but no caramel coloring or taste enhancers.
Some a desire for more proof, questioning, “Why didn’t you shake all the soy sauce in the shop? So proof of each soy sauce with bubbles.”
