Is Polynesian sauce similar to sweet N Sour?

Polynesian sauce and sweet and sour sauce are two popular condiments that are commonly used as dips and marinades. While they share some similarities in terms of ingredients and flavor profiles, there are also some key differences between the two sauces.

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What is Polynesian Sauce?

Polynesian sauce is a sweet and tangy condiment that originated in Polynesian cuisine. It is commonly used as a marinade for meats like chicken, pork, and ribs and can also be used as a dipping sauce.

The primary ingredients in Polynesian sauce are:

Soy sauce
Brown sugar

Ketchup
Honey
Garlic

Ginger
Rice vinegar or white vinegar
Pineapple juice

These ingredients come together to create a sauce that has a good balance of savory, sweet, tangy, and tropical flavors. The soy sauce and garlic provide a savory, umami base while the brown sugar and honey make it sweet. The ketchup, vinegar, and pineapple juice give it a tangy kick.

What is Sweet and Sour Sauce?

Sweet and sour sauce is a popular Chinese-American condiment that is commonly used with dishes like sweet and sour chicken or pork. It has a bright, candy-like color and glossy texture.

The main ingredients in sweet and sour sauce are:

Ketchup
White vinegar
Sugar

Pineapple juice
Soy sauce
Cornstarch

When these ingredients are combined and cooked down into a sauce, you get a smooth, thick condiment with a sweet yet tangy flavor. The sugar and pineapple juice provide sweetness while the vinegar and soy sauce add savoriness. Cornstarch helps thicken the sauce.

Similarities Between Polynesian and Sweet and Sour Sauce

When you compare Polynesian sauce and sweet and sour sauce side by side, there are a few noticeable similarities:

Both sauces have a balance of sweet and sour flavors. They get tanginess from vinegars and brightness from pineapple juice.

Soy sauce is used in both sauces, providing a savory, salty flavor.
Ketchup gives both sauces richness, body, sweetness, and texture.
Brown sugar and granulated white sugar both add sweetness.

They have a smooth, glossy appearance when finished.
Can be used as both marinades and dipping sauces.

So in terms of the general flavor profile and usage, Polynesian sauce and sweet and sour sauce share some common ground. However, there are some differences that set them apart.

Differences Between the Sauces

While Polynesian and sweet and sour sauce have their similarities, there are a few key differences between them:

Sweetness – Sweet and sour sauce is generally sweeter and candy-like while Polynesian sauce has more of a subtle, tropical sweetness.
Consistency – Polynesian sauce has a thinner, more fluid texture while sweet and sour sauce is thick and gloopy from cornstarch.

Spices – Polynesian sauce incorporates warm spices like ginger and garlic while sweet and sour sauce generally does not contain spices.
Color – The color of sweet and sour sauce is neon orange/red while Polynesian sauce is a darker brown.
Flavor complexity – Polynesian sauce has a more complex blend of savory, sweet, tangy, and tropical flavors compared to sweet and sour sauce.

This table summarizes the key differences between the two sauces:

Characteristic	Polynesian Sauce	Sweet and Sour Sauce
Sweetness	Subtle, tropical sweetness	Very sweet and candy-like
Consistency	Thin, fluid texture	Thick and gloopy
Spices	Contains warm spices like garlic and ginger	Does not contain spices
Color	Dark brown	Neon orange/red
Flavor Complexity	More complex blend of flavors	Fairly simple flavor

Ingredients Comparison

When you look at the specific ingredients that go into Polynesian and sweet and sour sauce, you’ll notice some overlaps as well as some differences:

Polynesian Sauce	Sweet and Sour Sauce
Soy sauce	Soy sauce
Brown sugar	White sugar
Ketchup	Ketchup
Honey	Pineapple juice
Garlic	White vinegar
Ginger	Cornstarch
Rice vinegar
Pineapple juice

While they share core ingredients like ketchup, soy sauce, pineapple juice, and a sweetener, Polynesian sauce uses more seasoning ingredients like garlic and ginger while sweet and sour relies on cornstarch for thickness.

Flavors and Taste

The combinations of ingredients in Polynesian and sweet and sour sauce result in some notable differences in flavor and taste:

Polynesian sauce – The flavors tend to be more complex, with a blend of sweet, tangy, savory, spicy, and tropical flavors. The brown sugar provides a molasses-like sweetness while soy sauce gives it an umami quality. Garlic, ginger, and vinegar give it some spice and tang. Overall, the taste is well-balanced.
Sweet and sour sauce – The predominant taste is sweet and sour, with the white sugar creating a candy-sweet flavor and the vinegar bringing acidity. The sauce has a simpler, more direct sweet-tangy flavor compared to the complex blend in Polynesian sauce. The taste is very bold.

So while both sauces have sweet and sour elements, the depth of flavors comes through more in the Polynesian sauce.

Uses

In terms of uses, Polynesian sauce and sweet and sour sauce have some overlaps but also some distinct differences:

Both sauces can be used as marinades and glazes for meats like chicken, pork, beef, and shrimp.

They work well as dipping sauces, pairing nicely with foods like potstickers, egg rolls, chicken nuggets, and fried foods.
Polynesian sauce excels as a marinade for ribs and pork, adding lots of flavor.
Sweet and sour sauce is commonly used in Chinese-American dishes like sweet and sour chicken.

Polynesian sauce pairs well with grilled meats and seafood.
Sweet and sour sauce is not as commonly used as a marinade since it can burn easily.

So Polynesian sauce has a bit more versatility as a marinade and pairs well with grilling, while sweet and sour sauce is more restricted to dipping applications.

Shelf Life and Storage

In terms of shelf life and how to store them:

Both sauces will last 1-2 weeks refrigerated.
They can be frozen for longer term storage, lasting 4-6 months in the freezer before quality starts to decline.

Polynesian sauce may separate slightly when stored but can be shaken or stirred back together easily.
The sugars and acids in sweet and sour sauce make it more prone to crystallization during freezing.
For best quality and food safety, both sauces should be refrigerated after opening.

Properly stored in the refrigerator or freezer, both sauces have a reasonable shelf life. Polynesian sauce may hold up slightly better to freezing compared to sweet and sour.

Nutrition

There are some small differences when it comes to the nutrition profiles of the two sauces:

Polynesian sauce has slightly higher protein from the soy sauce.

Sweet and sour sauce is higher in sugars.
They are both low in fat.
Polynesian sauce may be marginally higher in sodium depending on recipe.

Neither sauce is very high in nutrients or fiber.
However, Polynesian sauce may have small amounts of ginger and garlic which provide some additional nutrition.

That being said, both sauces are high in sodium and added sugars and should be enjoyed in moderation as part of an overall healthy diet.

Cost Comparison

Both sauces are relatively inexpensive to make at home. Some cost considerations include:

Basic pantry ingredients like soy sauce, ketchup, vinegar, and sugar are used in both which keeps costs down.
Sweet and sour sauce only requires a few ingredients so may be slightly cheaper to make per batch.

Polynesian sauce uses extras like ginger, garlic, sesame oil which increase cost a bit.
Pre-made Polynesian sauce costs $3 to $5 per bottle retail on average.
Pre-made sweet and sour sauce costs $2 to $4 per bottle on average.

So homemade is cheaper than buying pre-made for both sauces.

Overall, both sauces are relatively economical options. And homemade batches will cost noticeably less than buying pre-made.

Popularity and Availability

When it comes to popularity:

Sweet and sour sauce is found very widely at grocery stores given its ubiquity in Chinese-American takeout dishes.
Polynesian sauce has become popular but can be harder to find pre-made in average grocery stores.
Both sauces have risen in popularity as people seek out new and unique flavors.

However, sweet and sour sauce has been popular for much longer.
Polynesian sauce is just starting to gain wider appreciation in recent years.

So while sweet and sour has an established following, Polynesian sauce is gaining ground and likely to continue rising in popularity.

Ease of Preparation

Both Polynesian and sweet and sour sauces are relatively straightforward to prepare at home:

They use common pantry staples that most home cooks have on hand.
The constructions are simple – just mixing ingredients together in a pot.

Sweet and sour sauce uses fewer ingredients so requires less prep work.
Polynesian sauce has more ingredients to prepare like chopping garlic and grating ginger.
The sauces come together quickly in 10-15 minutes.

Overall time and effort is minimal for both sauces.

For both sauces, the hands-on time is very minimal. Those new to cooking could easily make either sauce successfully.

Conclusion

In the end, while Polynesian sauce and sweet and sour sauce share some attributes, there are distinct differences that make them unique in terms of ingredients, flavors, uses, and availability. Key points include:

Both feature a balance of sweet and sour flavors but achieve it differently.
Polynesian sauce has a more complex blend of sweet, savory, spicy.
Sweet and sour sauce is brighter and candy-like in taste.

Polynesian sauce works well as a protein marinade; sweet and sour is used more as a dipping sauce.
Although sweet and sour sauce has been popular for longer, Polynesian sauce is rising in popularity.
They have slightly different ingredient profiles.

Both are affordable and easy to make at home.

At the end of the day, while there are some basic similarities, Polynesian sauce and sweet and sour sauce are distinct in terms of flavor, uses, and origins. Whether substituting one for the other or simply enjoying both, understand that they are far from the same!