Many home cooks may not know this, but using oyster sauce is one of the wonderful ways to level up your recipes. This type of sauce adds an incredible umami taste to every bite of food without the complexity. Plus, the aroma is remarkably enticing and inviting. If you love Chinese or any Asian food, there's a huge possibility that you might already have tasted it.
Having oyster sauce at your disposal should bring magic into your dishes. However, choosing the perfect one might be baffling for most, so we have curated a buying guide fact-checked and reviewed by registered nutritionist-dietitian Samantha Morales. You can also find a list of our recommended products to help you choose!
Quick List - Top Oyster Sauces
Lee Kum Kee
Free of Preservatives but Has a Long Shelf Life
Samantha began her career in clinical nutrition and weight management at a tertiary hospital in Manila, Philippines. Her practice allowed her to give nutrition counseling and plan modified diets for patients with medical conditions. Presently, she does private practice to focus on true holistic wellness - an approach that believes in aligning one's mind, body, and spiritual well-being.
Our recommendation articles are carefully researched and crafted by the mybest Philippines team of writers and editors. To stay true to our company’s mission and vision to help users’ selection process easier, we also collaborate with experts from various fields to ensure that our content stays factual and useful.
The expert oversees the Buying Guide only, and does not determine the products and services featured.
Here are some key points to consider:
The ingredients can, more or less, give you an idea of the number of natural ingredients in the bottle and its health benefits. It may also pose some disadvantages if you're not particular about its after-effects. Commercially produced oyster sauces can be made from water, soybeans, sugar, salt, cornstarch, and oyster extract.
Oftentimes, preservatives are used to ensure that each bottle of oyster sauce can be consumed safely at a given period. These ingredients may seem simple and harmless, but one must be wary of artificial flavors, colors, and preservatives. Medical experts say that preservatives can be linked to specific health conditions like asthma.
Cooked oyster sauces are made from scratch and have more ingredients than bottled ones. Apart from the oyster extract and cornstarch, as a thickener, the mixture may include sesame oil, meat-based broths, rice wine vinegar, fortified wine, soy sauce, and more. To put it simply, using various ingredients will depend on the sauce maker.
Thinking that all oyster sauces are the same is inaccurate. Yes, it is basically savory and salty, but certain brands may include a tinge of sweetness or a deep earthy aftertaste on their products. Despite being a seafood-based sauce, the taste isn't too fishy at all. Using it to substitute salt in your meals isn't such a bad idea.
The best way to pick which flavor to get is to think about the type of dish that you plan to cook. Every Asian culture has different techniques and methods of cooking food.
If you love Thai food, an oyster sauce with a slightly fishy taste should be perfect. But if you're craving a Japanese dish, an oyster sauce with higher soy sauce content should be your choice.
A good oyster sauce should be dark brown to almost black in color. Some cooks can mistakenly akin the color to hoisin sauce, a vegan sauce made from fermented soybean. In terms of texture, your preference comes into play.
If you're going to use the sauce as a marinade or as a dipping sauce, a thicker texture should work for you. Some manufacturers offer a slightly diluted variant or those with a thinner consistency. This may benefit those who use the sauce as a seasoning on stir-fry dishes or soups.
Meanwhile, you can use a thicker oyster sauce and just dilute it with water if you need a thinner consistency for cooking. If you're purchasing online, you can inspect the color and consistency by checking out the photos or product user reviews. They usually post and comment on their experiences, whether good or bad, to inform other buyers. Also, you can view ads online if the brand is quite popular.
Knowing what is in every bottle of oyster sauce is your responsibility and what better way to learn this than to read its label. You may have certain medical issues that may get triggered when you consume the sauce and we don't want that to happen. Some consumers may belong to a specific religion or belief, so it is best to discover if the sauce is okay to use.
Eating delicious food shouldn't be the cause of your health issues. But if you have certain dietary requirements, using an oyster sauce might not be recommended. Some people may be allergic to soybeans or have gluten intolerance, so it's best to consider these first before buying a bottle of oyster sauce.
Also, a religious practice or belief may require eating a Kosher or Halal diet. Go through the package or label to see if these conditions are met to make the oyster sauce suitable for consumption.
Being conscious of the ingredients of the food we consume is our responsibility; that is why the nutrients we take in must be clearly stated on a product. Most oyster sauces carry almost the same ingredients with slight differences per brand. Some brands may have high protein content due to soybeans, iron from wheat, or vitamins and minerals derived from several ingredients.
It is beneficial to know how much nutrition you are getting from a single serving. That way, you can enjoy your food without feeling guilty. Just watch out for brands with high preservative and artificial content, which may affect your overall health if heavily consumed.
The daily recommended amount of sodium is about 1500mg each day, while for sugar, it's 36g for men and 25g for women. Oyster sauces are low in sodium and sugar, but the frequency of use may result in consuming more than what is recommended. If one doesn't measure out the sauce in every use, it is easy to go overboard at the end of the day.
Calories, on the other hand, have the same bearing as sodium and sugar. Per serving of oyster sauce have about 10-30 calories and can put your mind at ease during consumption. Be mindful of the oyster sauce serving every meal, as it could add more calories to exceed your daily need without intending to.
Traditionally, oyster sauces come in glass bottles or small jars. These are better for the environment because they are reusable, however, these are also fragile and must not be dropped. Plastic containers are commonly used nowadays because it is sturdier and more convenient to use. But if you care about the environment, you might want to veer away from plastic containers.
Another detail to look into when it comes to the packaging is how properly sealed the oyster sauce is. Resealable lids with a capped spout are commonly found in famous brands. Jars are often covered with pop lids that aren't airtight and must be consumed or refrigerated if recapped.
Products | Image | Click to purchase | Key features | |
---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Lee Kum Kee Panda Brand Oyster Sauce|With Sesame Oil | ![]() | Free of Preservatives but Has a Long Shelf Life | |
2 | Maggi Oyster Sauce | ![]() | Best for Pan Fried Pancit and Meat Stir-Fries | |
3 | Knorr Oyster Sauce | ![]() | The Perfect Sauce for Southeast Asian Dishes | |
4 | Mama Sita's Oyster Sauce | ![]() | A Local Brand That Is Meant for the Filipino Palate | |
5 | Datu Puti Oysterrific Oyster Sauce | ![]() | Adds More Linamnam to Classic Pinoy Dishes | |
6 | Kikkoman Oyster Sauce | ![]() | An All-Natural Oyster Sauce for a Wider Audience | |
7 | Wan Ja Shan Vegetarian Mushroom Oyster Sauce | ![]() | The Best Oyster Sauce for Vegans | |
8 | inJoy Oyster Sauce Powder Mix | ![]() | Oyster Sauce in Powder Form for Your Negosyo | |
9 | Lee Kum Kee Premium Oyster Sauce | ![]() | All-Purpose Seasoning for Fried & Steamed Dishes | |
10 | Mother's Best Oyster Sauce | ![]() | A Good Alternative for Local Brands |
Lee Kum Kee established his company when he accidentally invented the oyster sauce in 1888. After more than a hundred years, it has become a household name when it comes to seasonings and flavoring. This sweet and salty sauce works great as a dip or to season boiled veggies with. It is quite inexpensive for a well-known brand and easy to stock up.
Made from select oysters, the sauce has a thick consistency. Just be reminded that this contains MSG and isn't gluten-free, so serve it only to people with no allergies to these ingredients. The Panda brand is a bit saltier and thinner in consistency than the Premium variety. Use it sparingly on your bowl of noodles or Asian dishes as it has a high sodium content.
The Maggi brand is internationally known as a producer of seasonings, instant noodles, and soups from Switzerland. Around 1947, Nestlé acquired the company and became even more popular. Their oyster sauce presents a rich and classic Oriental taste to elevate any of your Asian recipes.
This flavor enhancer helps bring out the best in every meal by providing a quicker and easier solution for busy homemakers. Product reviewers find the sauce a bit on the sweet side and not overpoweringly salty like most brands. This is the perfect way to put zest into pancit canton, pancit bihon, or even stir-fried beef with mushrooms.
Made from real oysters, this sauce, by well-known brand Knorr, brings out the real taste of local ingredients in marinades, braised, or stir-fry dishes. It has a great harmony of sweetness and saltiness without one flavor taking over the other, so it is a great pick for Southeast Asian dishes, where the perfect balance of flavors is important.
Any culinary professional or home cook can take advantage of the sauce to heighten the taste of Kampong fried rice, Chop Suey, Char Kway Teow, or soups. If you need an oyster sauce that is free from artificial flavor and color, it is also an excellent pick.
Mama Sita is one of the popular brands in the Philippines when it comes to condiments and seasonings. Locally produced and manufactured, this sweet and savory oyster sauce has risen to fame in the 90s. As of today, the Mama Sita brand is already available in the Americas and Europe.
The sauce has an intense flavor that leans towards an almost salty and soy saucy quality, so you need to use it cautiously. Add it as a flavoring agent to steamed vegetables, stir-fry meat, or bowls of hearty soup.
Datu Puti is popularly known in the Philippines as a vinegar brand since 1975 and is widely distributed by NutriAsia. But over the years, they have gradually ventured out to several thick and savory condiments to capture the Filipino palate, and their Oysterrific Oyster Sauce is a testament to this diversity.
This is one of the most inexpensive sauces around that can cater to the C, D, and E markets. The sweet and savory taste adds more linamnam to classic Pinoy dishes without spending too much. For moms looking for an affordable and practical solution in serving delicious yet nutritious meals for the whole family, this oyster sauce is the right answer.
The Kikkoman brand has been "Seasoning Your Life" for over a hundred years now. It originated in Japan but has several plants scattered worldwide to cater to its expanding number of consumers. Their oyster sauce is an exceptionally good marinade for meats and vegetables. It is created from natural essence extracted from fresh oysters, and its savory flavor is not overpowering.
It also has a distinct rich umami flavor that enhances the taste of Asian foods. You can use it to upscale your rice bowls, wraps, sandwiches, or salads with less hassle and time consumption. Moreover, the sauce doesn't contain high fructose corn syrup, MSG, gluten, and soy, making it easily consumable by everyone.
Vegetarians can now enjoy the same umami taste of an oyster sauce with Wan Ja Shan's Vegetarian Mushroom Oyster Sauce. Their oyster sauce is made from oyster mushroom and shiitake mushroom. It is then mixed with the usual ingredients including fresh soybeans, salt, and wheat to achieve the signature taste of a good-quality oyster sauce that we all know.
Enhance the taste of your stir-fry veggies or add an inviting aroma to tofu dishes, wok-fried noodles, or vegan soups by adding a dash or two of this oyster sauce and it will never be the same. Your vegan guests won't know the difference when you use this seasoning in your recipes.
InJoy Philippines is a manufacturer and distributor of ingredients for small businesses around the country. With the help of their state-of-the-art tech and expertise, they can supply great-tasting, convenient, and affordable ingredients to small negosyos. Their powdered version of oyster sauce is a great solution for caterers and carinderia owners.
It is a combination of natural ingredients and several artificial components that aren't harmful to consume. To turn the powder into a sauce, you will need to dissolve one part of the powder and four parts of hot water. And since there is no moisture in the package, the product can last up to six months.
For over a hundred years, Lee Kum Kee's secret recipe for how their oyster sauce was developed is tightly guarded. Although it still has more sodium content than other brands, it doesn't contain preservatives. Despite this, the product can still be kept for up to a year. Compared to the Panda brand, this version uses less salt and is a bit thicker.
The sauce has oyster extracts and gluten that exude a rich flavor. It doesn't have soybean, yet it tastes similar to sauces with soy. This all-purpose seasoning is perfect for omelets, meat dishes, or stir-fried vegetables. You can combine it as well with other ingredients, such as sweet chili sauce or sesame oil as a dipping sauce for fried and steamed dishes.
Founded in 1977, Mother's Best is a brand known for its roster of ready-to-use sauces and condiments. Their oyster sauce is just one of the various products they have introduced in the Philippine market. The thick and rich viscosity of the sauce is a perfect taste base for Oriental dishes or mixed with other dipping sauces to create complex yet satisfying flavors.
It is made from natural oysters and not from oyster flavorings only, without the harsh fishy flavor to guarantee consistency in flavor. However, note that there are preservatives included for product longevity, so use them sparingly on your dishes if possible.
Below are some of the most asked questions on the web answered by the mybest team.
An industrially produced oyster sauce is made from oysters that are mixed with salt, sugar, cornstarch, and water. This makes the process faster and won't compromise the taste. In contrast, traditionally-made oyster sauce is created from raw oysters and water. The mixture is heated until it melts and forms a gooey liquid. The distinct burnt smell and earthy taste are what characterizes it.
It is a condiment typically used in Chinese cuisine. Apart from lending a dark caramel color to any dish, it also imparts sweet, salty, and umami flavor to various recipes. It's commonly used for stir-fries and marinades.
Oyster sauces can be used straight from the bottle. In fact, they are advised to be drizzled at the end of cooking or as a finishing touch, as they tend to lose their umami flavor when cooked for too long and over high heat.
Your array of kitchen condiments should always be ready in case you need them for cooking or dinner parties. Hover over these articles below to find out the best brands of condiments that can accompany you with cooking.
10 Best Fish Sauces (Patis) in the Philippines 2022 | Buying Guide Reviewed by Nutritionist-Dietitian
10 Best Soy Sauces in the Philippines 2022 | Buying Guide Reviewed by Nutritionist-Dietitian
10 Best Vinegars in the Philippines 2022 | Buying Guide Reviewed by Nutritionist-Dietitian
10 Best Hot Sauces in the Philippines 2022 | Buying Guide Reviewed by Nutritionist-Dietitian
Author: C. Lacson
Our buying guide was carefully researched and crafted by the mybest team of writers and editors, in collaboration with the expert featured in this article. We used the buying guide as a basis for choosing and ranking the product recommendations, and we looked at reviews and ratings from different E-commerce sites like Lazada, Shopee, and more.
No. 1: Lee Kum Kee|Panda Brand Oyster Sauce|With Sesame Oil
No. 2: Maggi|Oyster Sauce
No. 3: Knorr|Oyster Sauce
No. 4: Mama Sita's|Oyster Sauce
No. 5: Datu Puti|Oysterrific Oyster Sauce
View Full RankingThe descriptions of each product are referenced from content available on manufacturer, brand, and e-commerce sites.
Beauty
Health
Household goods
PCs and laptops
Home appliances and electronics
Cameras
Food and drinks
Kitchen supplies
Clothing
Shoes
Accessories
Mom and baby
Interior and furniture
Hobbies
Outdoor
DIY and tools
Sports and fitness
Pets
Books, CDs, and DVDs
Games
Cars and motorcycles
Gifts
Home improvement and tools
Smartphones and tablets
Banking and finance
Insurance
Audio
Smartphone applications
Others