Sauce, sweet and sour, ready-to-serve
Whole food · Soups, Sauces, and Gravies
This is a glossy, viscous condiment with a vibrant orange-red hue, delivering a sharp, tangy kick followed by a wave of sweetness. Nutritionally, it is essentially a vehicle for carbohydrates, packing nearly 40g of sugars per 100g with negligible fat or protein.
Calorie split: 1% protein · 99% carbs · 0% fat
↓ Full nutrition💚 Why it's loved
People adore it for the perfect balance of acidity and sweetness that cuts through rich, fried foods, creating an addictive contrast. It serves as a nostalgic comfort food in Westernized Chinese cuisine and a staple for quick, flavorful weeknight dinners.
⚠️ Watch-outs & how to enjoy it better
With nearly 19g of sugar per 100g, it can cause rapid blood-sugar spikes and lacks nutritional density. To counteract this, pair it strictly with high-protein meats or fiber-rich vegetables and practice strict portion control to avoid consuming empty calories.
Key benefits
- Adds instant flavor complexity to bland dishes
- Extremely low in fat (0.02g per 100g)
- Provides quick energy via simple carbohydrates
- Highly versatile as a dip, glaze, or marinade
- Standardized flavor profile for consistent cooking
🍽️ Popular dishes
🌍 Where it's eaten
💡 Did you know?
The iconic bright red color of Westernized sweet and sour sauce is traditionally achieved using food coloring, though some authentic versions use red fermented bean curd or ketchup for a more natural hue.
Full nutrition (USDA data · scales with serving)
| Water | 60.3 g |
| Energy | 154 kcal |
| Energy | 645 kj |
| Protein | 0.27 g |
| Total lipid (fat) | 0.02 g |
| Ash | 1.2 g |
| Carbohydrate, by difference | 38.2 g |
| Fiber, total dietary | 0.10 g |
| Total Sugars | 18.8 g |
| Calcium, Ca | 10.0 mg |
| Iron, Fe | 0.21 mg |
| Magnesium, Mg | 8.0 mg |
| Phosphorus, P | 7.0 mg |
| Potassium, K | 99.0 mg |
| Sodium, Na | 539 mg |
| Zinc, Zn | 0.09 mg |
| Copper, Cu | 0.08 mg |
| Manganese, Mn | 0.76 mg |
| Selenium, Se | 0.40 ug |
| Vitamin C, total ascorbic acid | 8.7 mg |
| Thiamin | 0.05 mg |
| Riboflavin | 0.02 mg |
| Niacin | 0.19 mg |
| Pantothenic acid | 0.09 mg |
| Vitamin B-6 | 0.05 mg |
| Folate, total | 8.0 ug |
| Folic acid | 0.00 ug |
| Folate, food | 8.0 ug |
| Folate, DFE | 8.0 ug |
| Choline, total | 2.4 mg |
| Vitamin B-12 | 0.00 ug |
| Vitamin B-12, added | 0.00 ug |
| Vitamin A, RAE | 1.0 ug |
| Retinol | 0.00 ug |
| Carotene, beta | 6.0 ug |
| Carotene, alpha | 0.00 ug |
| Cryptoxanthin, beta | 0.00 ug |
| Vitamin A, IU | 10.0 iu |
| Lycopene | 0.00 ug |
| Lutein + zeaxanthin | 0.00 ug |
| Vitamin E (alpha-tocopherol) | 0.01 mg |
| Vitamin E, added | 0.00 mg |
| Vitamin D (D2 + D3), International Units | 0.00 iu |
| Vitamin D (D2 + D3) | 0.00 ug |
| Vitamin K (phylloquinone) | 0.20 ug |
| Alcohol, ethyl | 0.00 g |
| Caffeine | 0.00 mg |
| Theobromine | 0.00 mg |
Fat & fatty acid profile (per 100g)
| Fatty acids, total saturated | 0.00 g |
| SFA 4:0 | 0.00 g |
| SFA 6:0 | 0.00 g |
| SFA 8:0 | 0.00 g |
| SFA 10:0 | 0.00 g |
| SFA 12:0 | 0.00 g |
| SFA 14:0 | 0.00 g |
| SFA 16:0 | 0.00 g |
| SFA 18:0 | 0.00 g |
| Fatty acids, total monounsaturated | 0.00 g |
| MUFA 16:1 | 0.00 g |
| MUFA 18:1 | 0.00 g |
| MUFA 20:1 | 0.00 g |
| MUFA 22:1 | 0.00 g |
| Fatty acids, total polyunsaturated | 0.00 g |
| PUFA 18:2 | 0.00 g |
| PUFA 18:3 | 0.00 g |
| PUFA 18:4 | 0.00 g |
| PUFA 20:4 | 0.00 g |
| PUFA 20:5 n-3 (EPA) | 0.00 g |
| PUFA 22:5 n-3 (DPA) | 0.00 g |
| PUFA 22:6 n-3 (DHA) | 0.00 g |
| Cholesterol | 0.00 mg |
Amino acid profile (per 100g)
Estimated from Sauce, homemade, white, medium — USDA does not publish this profile for Sauce.
| Tryptophan | 0.04 g |
| Threonine | 0.14 g |
| Isoleucine | 0.19 g |
| Leucine | 0.30 g |
| Lysine | 0.24 g |
| Methionine | 0.08 g |
| Cystine | 0.03 g |
| Phenylalanine | 0.15 g |
| Tyrosine | 0.15 g |
| Valine | 0.20 g |
| Arginine | 0.11 g |
| Histidine | 0.08 g |
| Alanine | 0.10 g |
| Aspartic acid | 0.23 g |
| Glutamic acid | 0.64 g |
| Glycine | 0.07 g |
| Proline | 0.30 g |
| Serine | 0.17 g |
FAQ
Is sweet and sour sauce healthy?
It is generally considered a treat rather than a health food, as it is very high in sugar and low in essential nutrients like fiber, protein, or vitamins.
What is the main ingredient in sweet and sour sauce?
The base is typically sugar (or corn syrup) and vinegar, often thickened with cornstarch and flavored with fruit juices or ketchup.
Can I use sweet and sour sauce as a marinade?
Yes, it works well as a marinade, but because of its high sugar content, it can burn easily if grilled or fried at high temperatures.
Nutrient density (calculated · NRF9.3)
Nutrient Rich Foods index: beneficial nutrients (protein, fiber, vitamins, minerals) minus saturated fat, added sugar & sodium, per 100 kcal.
NRF9.3 index — Fulgoni, Keast & Drewnowski, 2009. Computed from USDA nutrients.
Weight-loss friendliness (composite index)
Energy density 1.54 kcal/g · 1% calories from protein · 0.1 g fiber · 18.8 g sugar per 100 g.
Composite of energy density (Rolls et al., 1999), protein & fiber satiety, minus sugar. A calculated heuristic — ranks satiety-per-calorie, not a clinical measure.
Dietary load (calculated from USDA values)
Potential renal acid load. Positive = acid-forming, negative = alkaline-forming.
Sodium-to-potassium ratio: 5.44 (lower is better — aim for ≤ 1)
Sodium:potassium per WHO potassium guidance. Computed from USDA nutrients.