Everyone Makes These Same Mistakes With A.1. Steak Sauce

Here's the thing about A1 steak sauce: It's been around way longer than you probably think. This sauce was originally conceived in the 19th century, with a recipe formulated to please King George IV: Allegedly, the King described it as "A1," cementing its name for generations to come and making it one of the best store-bought steak sauces out there today. However, while the sauce has been used in loads of different ways over the years, today it's primarily known as a condiment served with big hunks of beef. Its use as a steak accompaniment sounds simple, but it's actually a combo that's rife with mistakes.

Way too many people use A1 in the wrong way, either replacing it for other sauces when it's not appropriate to do so, or adding way too much of it to your meat. They also tend to use it with steak at the exclusion of anything else, forgetting that there's so much more to A1 and its flavors than meets the eye. Plus, while this sauce is tasty, it's also not the healthiest thing out there — and forgetting this fact can lead to some nutritional mistakes that will leave you gagging for water. We're sick and tired of seeing this humble product being poorly used time and time again, and we decided to set the record straight on this sauce.

A1 steak sauce and barbecue sauce are basically the same, right? We understand why people think that. There's the color they both have, a kind of mid-brown that promises savoriness, sweetness, and smoky notes; there's the bottles they both come in, which look pretty much interchangeable; and there's the fact that they're both commonly paired with beef. Makes sense to just swap them out for each other and expect the same taste, right?

Well, if you do so, you'll end up with a totally different experience. The difference between barbecue sauce and A1 steak sauce is in their savory notes. A1 steak sauce is made with tomato puree, dried garlic and onion, spices, and vinegar, with raisin paste and crushed orange puree to round things out. The tomato and aromatics give A1 a particularly savory edge, and an added tangy note that makes it immediately impactful. Barbecue sauce, on the other hand, is generally way sweeter and slightly smoky. It also has some of the tanginess that A1 delivers, and a hint of savoriness too, but it's generally slightly less umami-rich. This usually means that A1 steak sauce works better to give food an immediate hit of flavor, while barbecue sauce is better as a slowly permeating sauce that imbues meat with added sweetness.

Using A1 steak sauce is a great way to add a little pop of flavor to your meat, but it's pretty easy for things to go way too far. One steak sauce tip you should remember, either when eating at a steakhouse or at home, is to avoid smothering your beef in A1. Steak can be improved by A1 steak sauce, but when you're working with a good piece of meat you'll want to enjoy its flavor as it is. Covering it with steak sauce will completely overwhelm any subtlety in your beef, and drown its rich fattiness in savory, tangy notes.

Plus, it's often just not necessary to use more than a dab of A1 steak sauce on your steak. If a steak is properly cooked, it should be flavorful, juicy, and tender, with enough moisture for each mouthful to be well-lubricated. Where this might not be the case, though, is when you're using leaner, cheaper cuts. With these steaks, it might be necessary to add a bit more steak sauce to make things juicier. Remember, too, that if your steak is meant to be covered in steak sauce at a restaurant, it'll probably come out of the kitchen like that.

It's surprisingly easy to forget how unhealthy store-bought steak sauce can be. We generally consider their nutritional content as a bit of an afterthought, but a small squirt or dab of most condiments can contribute significantly to our daily intake of some key nutrients. When it comes to A1 steak sauce, the big thing you should watch out for is its sodium content. A single tablespoon of bottled A1 Original Sauce has a massive 290 milligrams of sodium, which covers 13% of your daily value in barely any food at all.

Elsewhere, A1 Original Sauce's nutrition isn't too notable, although it does have a small amount of added sugars at 2 grams per serving. It's worth remembering, however, that these things can add up pretty quickly. Thankfully, if you're looking to keep your sodium levels down, there are some A1 alternatives out there that can help. Mr. Spice Organic Garlic Steak Sauce, for example, has no sodium per serving, but still packs a punch in the flavor department.

Why has A1 stood the test of time? Well, partly because its name is so iconic, but it's also because it's so darn tasty. A1 steak sauce has a distinctive flavor that sets it apart from other condiments on the market, but a lot of people think you can replace it with any old steak sauce and get the same result.

That's not quite true, thanks to one ingredient that contributes to A1 steak sauce's popularity. That ingredient is orange purée, a component that doesn't make its way into A1's competitors a lot of the time. Orange purée adds a note of acidity that balances out both the richness of the other ingredients in the sauce, and the richness of the steak itself. That acidity can also be very helpful if you're using your A1 steak sauce to marinate your meat, as it helps to break it down and make it more tender. Plus, the sprightliness that the orange purée gives the sauce makes it better suited to lighter meats like chicken. Other steak sauces may try to emulate it with other ingredients, but they never quite hit the same flavor spot.

A1 can add a huge amount of flavor to steak without you having to do much more than pouring it into a plate and dipping your meat in. However, if you want to really amp up your beef, you should try marinating it in A1 sauce. Doing this allows the sauce's flavors to permeate the meat, giving every bite way more punch and savoriness, and seasoning the meat from within. It also helps to tenderize the meat, with the acidity in the sauce helping the beef soften. It's especially helpful with leaner cuts which may be tougher or lacking in natural moisture.

As the steak cooks, the leftover A1 sauce on its surface will help to produce a deeper caramelization of the meat. This caramelization comes from the raisin paste in the A1 steak sauce, which imbues it with natural sugars that then create a mellow, sweet smokiness when cooked. Usefully, too, you don't have to do much more to use A1 as a marinade then pour it into a bowl, add your meat, and let the two sit together. If you want to thin it out, you can use a little soy sauce, Worcestershire sauce, or even just a splash of water.

Think of A1 steak sauce, and you likely think of the classic version: You know, the one that comes in a rectangular bottle, with bold colors splashed across a white label, and the word "original" displayed in prominent font. Now, there's nothing wrong with this one — it's stood the test of time, after all. Importantly, though, the Original A1 Steak Sauce isn't the only type that's out there. A1 actually comes in a few different flavors and recipes, which offer an interesting twist on its classic notes.

For those spice lovers out there, A1 Bold & Spicy Sauce is probably the one for you. This sauce is infused with Tabasco, which gives it a vinegary fierceness and a smoky undertone that pairs well with lighter meats. Interestingly enough, it's also lower in sodium than the classic version. If it's a bit more body you're craving, A1 Thick & Hearty Sauce is the way forward. This thickened version of the regular sauce gives it a richer feel and a sturdiness that makes it excellent for putting in sandwiches or burgers.

A1 goes with steak, right? Well, yes, but that's not the only thing you can add it to — and it doesn't even only have to just go with food. A1 steak sauce is a surprisingly effective addition to cocktails. Its savoriness and slight sweetness give it a bizarrely delicious balancing effect, and its smoky notes allow it to pair well with liquors like tequila and whiskey.

For a twist on a sangrita, for example, try combining steak sauce with lime juice, Tabasco sauce, and tequila, with a dash of grenadine to balance things out. This drink is a savory punch, but folks who brave it will be rewarded with a beverage they won't forget any time in a hurry. Alternatively, keep things simple (but no less striking) by mixing a small amount of steak sauce with a high-proof bourbon, and then drinking the combo as a shooter. The steak sauce takes the sting out of the bourbon but highlights its smoky, woody notes. Bear in mind that you probably won't want to drink more than a few of either of these drinks — things'll get pretty salty — but you'll be surprised at how much you like them.

One of the biggest mistakes people make with A1 steak sauce is thinking that if they don't have any in the pantry, they can't have it at all. Well, why not? This sauce started like all others did, after all: As something that was made in kitchens around the world, before it was transformed into bottled form and sold by the truckload. Thankfully, you can return to the days of yore by making A1 steak sauce at home, and doing so allows you to tweak it to your precise specifications and tastes.

The key ingredients in A1 steak sauce are tomato purée, raisin paste, orange purée, vinegar, corn syrup, salt, and a variety of spices and aromatics. Thankfully, a lot of those ingredients are commonplace, and you can simply sub in things like Worcestershire sauce, Dijon mustard, or ketchup to capture some of that classic intensity with your at-home version. Instead of trying to track down raisin paste or orange purée, you can just use whole raisins (they'll cook down as the sauce simmers) and chunked-up oranges. Just make sure you strain your sauce before serving it.

A1 steak sauce goes well with beef; that's no secret. However, what is a little more of a surprise is how well it goes with other meats. A lot of people think A1 steak sauce is just too heavy for things like chicken or pork, but it adds an intense savoriness and a light sweetness to both types of meat that elevates their flavor without overwhelming their natural notes.

In our opinion, it's always best to use A1 steak sauce with slightly fattier cuts of chicken or pork, to allow them to hold their own and add some inherent richness. A1 is a great marinade for chicken wings, or you can just pour the sauce over the wings as they're cooking to make a sticky glaze. It also goes great with pork chops, where it can provide intensity to an otherwise-mild meat. You don't even need that much A1 sauce to make an impact here, either: You can just brush about a half-tablespoon on each side of your pork before baking. It allows you to add immediate flavor, and you don't need to add any salt at the end — the pork will be seasoned enough.

How are you storing your A1 steak sauce? In the fridge? Or maybe by your stove, or in your spice cupboard? Well, if you're doing any of these things, you're doing it wrong. It isn't particularly difficult to store steak sauce, as the condiment remains stable and edible for a long time. However, there are certain things you could be doing that are either not necessary, or which may be inadvertently making your sauce worse.

The first thing to address is refrigerating A1 steak sauce: The truth is it's really not necessary. A1 is fine just as it is at room temperature, and it also retains a nicer texture when it's slightly warmer. You don't want it too warm, though, as this can deteriorate your A1 significantly. Keeping it by your stove or oven may degrade the sauce and ruin both its texture and flavor. As for flavor, steak sauce is surprisingly absorbent when it comes to tastes and smells, and storing it in a spice cupboard with unsealed goods may cause it to take on their notes. Rather than do any of these things, store your A1 steak sauce in a cool, dark cupboard, away from any strong-smelling food.

The thing about A1 steak sauce is that it's for steak ... Isn't it? Alas, dear reader, that's not quite the case. It's definitely true that A1's primary pairing is with steak, but a lot of people forget that the sauce is actually vegan. It's therefore the perfect ingredient to add to vegetarian and vegan dishes when you want to imbue them with a slightly meaty umami note, without having to resort to actual meat.

To give vegetables a boost of savoriness, try making A1 veggie kabobs. By adding A1 to vegetables, you can give them more meatiness and richness, without overpowering their nutty, earthy notes. Plus, the A1 sauce seasons the kabobs nicely, so you don't have to add any additional salt or ingredients.

A1 is also an awesome choice for tofu, where it can help the vegan ingredient turn into an even more effective meat substitute. Just like beef, you can marinate tofu in A1, which will help it take on the sauce's punchy, salty flavors. You can use it with loads of different things, too: A1 is a pretty versatile ingredient, and so your tofu won't be out of place served with rice or with noodles, or even in a sandwich.