Hoisin Sauce Vs Oyster Sauce [Infographic] (2024)

The main difference between hoisin sauce and oyster sauce is that hoisin sauce has a soybean base, giving it its sweet, savory taste, while oyster sauce comes from oyster extract, giving it its salty and umami-rich flavor. Both sauces have different tastes, but they are similar enough that you can use them interchangeably.

Read on to learn more about the differences and similarities between Hoisin sauce and oyster sauce, their taste, texture, uses, and nutritional value.

What is the difference between hoisin sauce and oyster sauce?

Although both sauces are used in Asian cuisine, hoisin sauce is a rich, reddish-brown sauce that has a sweet-salty flavor and can be used as an ingredient or dipping sauce. Oyster sauce is more commonly used for adding salty umami flavor to food with a subtle taste of oysters. Oyster sauce is saltier and fishier than hoisin sauce but is also less sweet.

For both sauces, consistency will vary depending on the brand. Most hoisin sauces will have a thicker texture than oyster sauces.

Common Ingredients

Hoisin: soybeans, sesame seeds, chili, garlic, vinegar, sugar, spices, salt, starches, and water.
Oyster: oyster extract, water, sugar, salt, thickeners, flavors, starches.

Taste and Texture

Hoisin is a rich, reddish-brown sauce that’s packed with a combination of spicy, sweet, and salty flavors. It has a shiny smooth texture, similar to American barbecue sauce. Hoisin sauce is much less salty than fish sauce or soy sauce.

Oyster sauce offers a mix of salty, sweet, and umami flavors with a mild oyster undertone. This oyster taste may not be noticeable in better-quality brands. Although oyster sauce is salty, it is still a lot less so than soy sauce.

Fun fact: Although the word “hoisin” can be translated to mean “seafood” in Cantonese, there is no seafood in the sauce.

How are oyster and hoisin sauces used in cooking?

Hoisin

The use of Hoisin is widely used throughout Southern China and, to a lesser extent, some parts of Northern China. It is also commonly used in Vietnam for the popular dish, pho. Source: Wikipedia.

Hoisin sauce is excellent used as a dipping sauce for spring rolls, duck pancakes, and dumplings. It also adds a mouth-watering glaze when brushed onto duck (Peking Duck), chicken, beef, and vegetables.

Common uses for hoisin sauce include:

• Table condiments
• Glaze for meat and fish
• Stir fry and noodles
• Hoisin mayo or vinaigrette

Oyster

If you enjoy ordering Chinese stir-fries then you’ve probably tasted oyster sauce. It is the go-to option used by many chefs in Chinese restaurants, excellent for adding color to food. Oyster sauce’s dark brown color and sleek, smooth texture gives ingredients like mushrooms or beef and broccoli a lovely, shiny gloss. It is especially useful as a stir fry sauce.

Common uses for oyster sauce include:

• Sichuan Noodles
• Pad Thai
• Chow mein
• Kung Pao Shrimp
• Beef stir fry

Handy Tip: Choose a good quality oyster sauce brand as the cheap sauces can have a stronger oyster flavor that overwhelms food.

Nutritional Comparison

For those trying to reduce their salt intake hoisin is a better alternative, although they both contain high levels of sodium. We looked at the average salt content in the leading brands of sauces and found that hoisin has 1615mg/100g while oyster sauce has 2733mg/100g.

Hoisin sauce contains around 27g of sugar per 100g serving while oyster sauce contains no sugar.

Hoisin is suitable for a vegetarian diet but, as the name suggests, oyster sauce contains oyster extract and is not suitable for a plant-based diet.

Can I use hoisin or oyster sauce interchangeably?

Although hoisin and oyster sauce have a distinctive flavor and color, you can swap one for the other in most recipes. Oyster sauce is saltier so we suggest using less or reduce the other salty ingredients in the dish. To replace oyster sauce with hoisin, you can use a similar quantity and then increase the saltiness with a splash of fish sauce. Keep in mind that hoisin sauce will add extra spicy, sweetness to your food. In most recipes, this change won’t be a deal-breaker.

As a dipping sauce, oyster sauce doesn’t make a good replacement for hoisin. It is very salty, so if you have to use it, try diluting with another milder sauce.

Related reading:
Fish sauce vs fish stock – what’s the difference?
Check out our comparison of teriyaki and tonkatsu sauce.

Final Words

When comparing hoisin sauce vs oyster sauce, it is easy to get the two mixed up at first. They’re both thick dark brown sauces used in many savory dishes. However, they have their differences and separate uses in recipes. Oyster sauce brings delicious umami, salty flavor to dishes. The biggest strength of good quality oyster sauce is that it doesn’t overwhelm the other ingredients with too much flavor.

Hoisin can also be used in noodles, vegetables, and meat dishes. It adds a vibrant red color making it the preferred glaze for Peking Duck. Hoisin is also a great dipping sauce for Chinese dishes that are complemented by an additional sauce.

Infographic of Hoisin Sauce Vs Oyster Sauce

Check out our infographic below which compares oyster and hoisin sauce.