How to Make Sweet and Sour Sauce: 7 Steps (with Pictures) (2024)

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14 Recipe Ratings|Success Stories

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Last Updated: February 18, 2024Tested

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1. 1

   Gather all your ingredients nearby. This recipe makes 2 cups of sauce and takes 12 minutes to prepare. Here's what you'll need to make traditional sweet and sour sauce:

   • 3/4 cup white sugar
   • 1/3 cup white vinegar
   • 2/3 cup water
   • 1/4 cup soy sauce
   • 1 tablespoon ketchup
   • 2 tablespoons cornstarch
2. 

   2

   Combine all your ingredients in a small saucepan over medium heat.

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3. 

   3

   Bring the sauce in the saucepan to a boil and stir until thickened. Remove from heat and serve.

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1. 1

   Gather all your ingredients nearby. This recipe makes 1.5 cups of sauce and takes 12 minutes to make. Here's what you'll need to make alternate sweet and sour sauce:

   • 1 cup pineapple juice
   • 1/3 cup water
   • 3 tablespoons vinegar
   • 1 tablespoon soy sauce
   • 1/2 cup packed brown sugar
   • 3 tablespoons cornstarch
2. 

   2

   Combine all your ingredients in a small saucepan over medium heat.

3. 

   3

   Stirring constantly, bring the sauce to a boil, checking for thickness. Remove from heat once thick and serve.

4. 4

   Finished.

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• Question

  Could I use flour instead of cornstarch?

  

  Community Answer

  Yes, but you may need more flour than what the recipe calls for in cornstarch. The cornstarch is just used to thicken the sauce; flour will also thicken the sauce, just not as well.

  Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
  Thank you for your feedback.
  If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission.Support wikiHow

  YesNo

  Not Helpful 7Helpful 17

• Question

  Can I use apple juice instead of pineapple?

  

  Community Answer

  Yes. Apple juice is less acidic than pineapple juice, so adjust the sweet element to taste. You also may use tomato juice in equal parts with the apple or pineapple juices to provide a nice reddish hue to the sauce.

  Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
  Thank you for your feedback.
  If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission.Support wikiHow

  YesNo

  Not Helpful 3Helpful 13

• Question

  Couldn't I just use sweet sauce followed by sour sauce?

  

  Community Answer

  Technically, yes; however, sweet and sour sauce is a specific type of sauce, just like soy sauce or BBQ sauce. It is named so because it tastes both sweet and sour, but the name doesn't quite apply to everything with the two flavors. You could try, but the result may not taste right.

  Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
  Thank you for your feedback.
  If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission.Support wikiHow

  YesNo

  Not Helpful 2Helpful 10

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