Worcestershire Sauce Vs Soy Sauce: What's The Difference?

There are many different kinds of sauces, and some of them are typically found in our kitchen. Actually, sauces are important because without them our meals won’t be complete. They add extra taste and aroma to our ingredients, so the final result will be a completely flavorful meal.

There are some basic sauces that our kitchen is incomplete without, and those include soy sauce and Worcestershire sauce. They are both popular and common ingredients in many cuisines all over the world.

You can easily find them at your local supermarket, anywhere around. What is more important is that you can use them interchangeably in your cooking. Furthermore, these sauces can be used by vegetarians in their cooking.

All of this can raise up some questions and you’d probably wonder which one is better for your cooking. Also, you may look for the differences between them. Well, no need to wander around, since here we have the answer you are looking for!

Both sauces are similar, but the main differences lay in the way they are made. Different types of ingredients are used, which may affect the taste of your food and the aroma they provide.

Read to find out more about the differences, as well as what is better for green bean casserole, the differences between Worchester sauce and fish sauce, what to use to marinade chicken, and much more!

Worcestershire Sauce Vs Soy Sauce: What’s The Difference?

Before we jump into details about the differences between these two types of sauces, let’s take a closer look into them.

First, we need to learn more about how they are used on their own.

Let’s also find out more about the ingredients that led to them, a bit of history and many more facts regarding them. Afterward, it will be much easier to distinguish them.

What Is Worcestershire Sauce?

Commonly used, Worcestershire is a savory sauce made from malt vinegar, alongside anchovies, onion, garlic, and molasses. This is a type of sauce that is a mixture of umami, tangy, salty, and sweet tastes which will enrich many dishes.

Worcestershire sauce has a long history. It has been used for a very long time. You can easily find it and add it to your cooking whenever you feel like adding some extra umami and tangy taste.

What Is Soy Sauce?

Soy sauce is also common in many cuisines all over the world. It is one of those sauces that are well known and it can practically go with anything you can think of.

The origins come from China, but the word was spread around really fast about how good this sauce is. Nowadays, you can add it to many recipes.

It is made from soybeans which are mixed with either rice or soy mold, and are fermented in brine. The process takes more time for the sauce to be as it should be, even though it is simple to make.

The rich umami taste and savory traces are perfect for many recipes. Further, you can find soy sauce a bit thicker, as a syrup, or in a more liquidy form.

So, What’s The Difference?

After reviewing the details on both sauces, we can go deeper into the differences. Often they are compared and used, but you can notice that there are differences between them.

First of all, the way they are made is the main difference. Both of them are made from different ingredients. Soy sauce is made out of soybeans and Worcestershire is made from anchovies. It takes more time for the Worcestershire sauce to be made, i.e. it may take up to two years. Whereas, Soy sauce takes six months to be fermented.
There is also a difference in taste. Soy sauce is salty and typical in Asian cuisine. Meanwhile, Worcestershire sauce is a bit more complex, with a tangy flavor. Also, it is used in a range of cuisines.
The origins are different. Soy sauce is originally from Asia, whereas Worcestershire sauce comes from India, but it was first sold in Worcester in England.

Worcestershire Sauce Vs Soy Sauce: Comparison Chart

Characteristics	Worchestershire Sauce	Soy Sauce
Origin	India	Asia
Taste	More complex, tangy	Salty
Ingredients	Malt vinegar, anchovies, onion, garlic, and molasses	Soybeans
Fermentation	2 years	6 months
Cuisine	Almost every cuisine	Predominantly Asian cuisine

Soy Sauce Substitute For Worcestershire Sauce

So in case you are in need of Worcestershire sauce and you have none, you can always use soy sauce instead.

Just make sure to keep an eye on how Worcestershire sauce has a stronger taste. So, when you add soy sauce, you need to increase it. And if it’s the other way around, add less Worcestershire sauce and increase if necessary.

You have to know and be aware that the taste of the dish may not be the same due to the taste of both sauces. When you add soy sauce you can add a bit of sugar, vinegar, and anchovies to get the taste that you need.

Do not hesitate when you need to make a swap. Both sauces make a good replacement for each other. The only thing is that they may need some adjustments to get a similar taste.

Soy Sauce Or Worcestershire Sauce In Green Bean Casserole

When it comes to making green bean casserole, typically you use soy sauce. However, no need to worry, you can also use Worcestershire sauce as a substitute in this case.

Although this sauce may be a bit sweeter with a deeper flavor, you can add the same amount, increase or reduce, depending on your recipe.

Worcestershire Sauce Vs Fish Sauce: What’s The Difference?

Worcestershire sauce and fish sauce are made from anchovies which are fermented for up to 18 months. The taste is very similar and they both share that specific umami flavor.

However, there are some differences between them that you can distinguish. For instance, fish sauce is made from fish and salt. On the other hand, Worcestershire sauce is created from a combination of spices and anchovies.

The flavor is the main thing that is different due to the ingredients used to make them.

The fish sauce tends to be more complex. The taste of fish and saltiness can be overwhelming for some people. Furthermore, the Worcestershire sauce has a tangy taste with many seasonings and an umami taste.

Also, there are differences in the appearance between fish and Worcestershire sauce. The color can vary from very dark to lighter.

Use both sauces to marinade and add lemon or lime juice. You can also use them as a substitute for each other in many different ways.

Soy Sauce And Worcestershire Sauce Marinade Chicken

Soy sauce and Worcestershire sauce have plenty of uses, one of which is for them to be used as a marinade. Usually, you can add them with chicken, to make it more flavorful and add spiciness and aroma. You can use both sauces depending on what you have at home.

If you opt for soy sauce, leave the chicken for 2 days to marinate it nicely. You can do it overnight or whenever works for you. You can also add ginger and citrus to increase the flavors.

Worcestershire sauce, on the other hand, has all the necessary ingredients for a perfect marinade. It will make the meat very tender, it will add a savory and sweet taste.

Worcestershire Sauce Vs Soy Sauce: What’s The Difference?