Is cooking one of your favorite hobbies? In terms of adding flavor and color to your most delicious dish, have you tried experimenting with different condiments and sauces? Kitchen Bouquet is one of those ingredients that enhances the savory flavor of many entrees, sauces, meats and more. It seems to be the secret weapon of many restaurants—it's a fast way to infuse deep flavor to recipes.
It's also a browning agent, which by itself, does not sound very appealing or appetizing. Mmmm, brown. But think about grill marks, seared roasts—it gives a bit of a nudge to meats that might come out a bit gray when cooked. Kitchen Bouquet isn't really intended to be an add-on to prepared food, like, say, A-1 or Heinz 57. It's used DURING the cooking, roasting, and baking process or... You know that BEAUTIFUL golden brown color you see in pictures of Thanksgiving turkey—the color we can never seem to reproduce—you can thank a glaze made with Kitchen Bouquet for that brown sheen!
Is Kitchen Bouquet gluten free?
Yes. At the time of this writing, the label for product on sale at Amazon reports that it is indeed a gluten-free product.
Is Kitchen Bouquet vegan?
According to the label, there are no animal products in KB.
What Is Kitchen Bouquet?
Kitchen Bouquet is a brand of a browning agent that was invented in 1873. Since it was introduced to the market, Kitchen Bouquet has been used by many and is still used by restaurants. If you've been trying to replicate one of your favorite restaurant menu items to no avail, it may be because they are using Kitchen Bouquet...or something like it. Usually, it is added for making barbecue and also as a marinade. One thing that it is known for is its ability to create a distinct rich, savory and subtly sweet flavor.
Never tried it and want to give it a go? You can get it off Amazon here in a two-pack (lots of 4.5-star reviews). If you run out, in times like these, there is no need to worry because there are other alternatives to Kitchen Bouquet that you can buy, and you can make your own, too. Let us get to know some of the other miracle items that will make your cooking even better and make your dish tastier—fast and convenient.
What customers are saying about KB: "Been using it for 40 years" "the larger bottles are a better value", "a must-have in the kitchen".
What Are the Best Substitutes for Kitchen Bouquet?
Gravy Master
Via vimeo.com
Gravy Master, around since 1935 (how about that original label), is one of those options that you can count on for your cooking. It's always grilling season here in the south, so you might want to knead this into your hamburger meat for a great depth of flavor. Its browning effect is similar to that of Kitchen Bouquet although the sauce is darker in color.
Is Gravy Master gluten free?
Yes.
Is Gravy Master soy free?
No, Gravy Master contains soy.
Is Gravy Master vegan or plant-based?
The label does not show any meat products in it.
Customers report excellent shelf life and can be kept without refrigeration. Reviews say that it is highly regarded as a flavor enhancer for gravy.
Here are some of their recipes using Gravy Master. The Grilled Corn on the Cob looks pretty yummy.
Maggi Seasoning
There is another substitute to Kitchen Bouquet that you might want to try, Maggi Seasoning. It is also packaged as a bottled, thin condiment. It has dark brown color like soy sauce and is both applicable for cooking and also to add flavor and color to food.
Is Maggi Seasoning gluten free?
No, it contains wheat and wheat by-products.
What's the difference between the kind with the red lid and yellow lid?
Customers are reporting that the bottles with the red lid are produced in China (no MSG) and the kind with the yellow lid are made by Wurze and is considered "the original" (with MSG) and imported from Germany. Note that the ingredients change based on the country of origin.
Bragg All-Purpose Seasoning
Via Amazon.com
Bragg is pretty easy to find in stores in Canada and the US. Its claim to fame is 16 different amino acids that enhance flavors in cooking.
Is Bragg Liquid Aminos gluten free
Yes.
Is Bragg Liquid Aminos soy free?
No. Bragg Liquid Aminos contains soy protein, and is considered an unfermented, soy sauce alternative.
Is Bragg Liquid Aminos vegan?
Per the label as of this writing, the only ingredients are vegetable protein from soybeans and water.
Is Bragg Liquid Aminos kosher?
Yes, you can find more info about this here.
What customers are saying: Very salty, tastes better than soy sauce. 79% five-star rating on Amazon here.
Lea & Perrins
Lea & Perrin brands itself the original Worcestershire sauce and has been around since 1835. Worcestershire was the flavor enhancer that I grew up with—relatively cheap, easy to find, long-lasting, and good dashed on cheap cuts of meat and swirled into tomato sauce. We kept a jug like this around.
Is Lea & Perrins Worcestershire sauce gluten free?
Yes.
Is Lea & Perrins Worcestershire sauce soy free?
Yes, based on their nutritional information here.
Is Lea & Perrins Worcestershire sauce vegan?
No, it contains anchovies, a type of fish.
Make Your Own Kitchen Bouquet
If you love experimenting with condiments, try making your own homemade Kitchen Bouquet alternative. The power behind this ingredient is the concentration of flavor as you cook it down.
Here's a simple base for that unique and home-made Kitchen Bouquet alternative. Be ready with the ingredients: half cup of sugar, a cup of water, and beef broth for a rich flavor and taste. Follow these easy steps:
- First, pour just the sugar in a nonstick saucepan and cook it on low heat for eight ten minutes to make a brown syrup. This is the caramelization that is crucial to all of the substitutes.
- Once done, add water slowly and add the broth while mixing it until combined.
- Cook it on low heat until it reaches a ketchup consistency. Stir occasionally. This will take about an hour on low heat.
- After this, you will have about 1/2 cup of homemade Kitchen Bouquet that is ready for use or can be stored in the refrigerator for future use. Since there is no preservative, use the sauce only for a week.
Conclusion
By now, you have already gathered a lot of information that can help you in your cooking. While there are ready-to-buy options, you can take advantage of your own creativity by making your own home-made browning and flavor enhancing sauce. The good thing about this is that you can play around with the ingredients to create the flavor, color, and taste that you desire.