Oyster sauce, is it made from oysters?!
Does it lower your level of cholesterol? or blood pressure, or enhance your sex drive?
what are the good and the bad? Thanks
Answers: if not what are the ingrediants. Is it good for your health.
Does it lower your level of cholesterol? or blood pressure, or enhance your sex drive?
what are the good and the bad? Thanks
Being high in sodium, it will very likely raise your blood pressure. Since it is derived from shellfish, it will probably raise your cholesterol level. There is also MSG which some Caucasians are especially sensitive to. All in all certainly not great for your health, hence only a small amount is used per dish. In Chinese cooking, usually used in stir-fries (especially veggies) and marinades.
It is definitely worth it to spend a bit more for better quality, watch for oyster extract nearer the beginning of the ingredient list. Some premium ones might have added stuff like dried scallops. Poorer quality ones might use oyster juices instead of extractives. There are also those with mushroom or other flavours, and even vegetarian versions. I believe there is also a Western version that is entirely different from Chinese oyster sauce.
If you are looking for aphrodisiacs, eat raw oysters. Taking the equivalent amount in oyster sauce will probably lead to kidney failure from all the sodium.
It has Oysters in it but it really doesnt have an oyster flavor, its used in stir frys. Its brown in color and has a salty taste to it.
Oyster sauce is prepared from oysters, brine, umami flavour enhancers such as MSG, and typically contains preservatives to increase its shelf life. A "true" oyster sauce of good quality should be made by condensing oyster extracts, which is made by cooking oysters in water until a white broth is produced. The opaque broth is then cooked until a desired viscosity has been reached and the liquid has caramelized to a brown colour.No other additives, not even salt, should be added to the sauce, since the oysters should provide all the savory flavour.
Most of the oyster sauces available on the market contain added monosodium glutamate (MSG). Though in recent years MSG-free varieties can also be found.[2] The taste of MSG and non-MSG variants is similar.
In 2001 the United Kingdom Food Standards Agency found in tests of various oyster sauces and soy sauces that some 22% of samples contained a chemical called 3-MCPD (3-monochloropropane-1,3-diol) at levels considerably higher than those deemed safe by the European Union.
It's a sauce, and you really shouldn't use too much of it, you know, use in moderation. I have a recipe that I use that tends to do well. And it isn't too bad for you.
2-4 tablespoons oyster sauce, less for vegetables more for chicken or beef
1 tablespoon cornstarch
1/4 cup water
1/2 teaspoon sugar
Mix together in a small pot the cornstarch, water and sugar.
Add the oyster sauce and heat till it thickens.
I like this added to snow peas, mushrooms etc.
Also nice in a stir fry of your choice.
Oyster sauce
Oyster sauce is a thick, rich brown southern Chinese condiment, flavoured with extract of oysters. Spend a bit more on a good brand of oyster sauce - it will have more natural oyster flavour and less monosodium glutamate (MSG).