“Tomato ketchup” and “tomato sauce” are not the same. But when it comes to these two kinds of condiment, people usually think in a different way. Ketchup is also a sauce, but tomato ketchup differs from tomato sauce in some aspects. One is also a classic Australian condiment, while the other is American.
If you’re a fan of these delicious condiments, you should notice a difference in the taste and the texture of the products. Ketchup seems thicker, while tomato sauce is thinner in consistency. The amount (percent) of tomato in ketchup is more than sauce, which make ketchup thicker.
Deeper, most of the experts say that there is a key difference in the ingredients, which makes sense. Ketchup is made with tomatoes, sugar, vinegar/acetic acid and spices. Whereas, tomato sauce is made from tomatoes, oil, meat or vegetable stock and spices. It doesn’t usually use vinegar.
To make it simpler, ketchup is made with a variety of spices while the sauce is generally made without spices. Another major point of difference between the tomato sauce and ketchup is, sauce generally does not contain sugar while ketchup has a specific amount of sugar and other sweet spices. Some found that tomato sauce has bitter taste and ketchup is slightly sweeter.
Also, ketchup is cold in nature and is never served hot, while all varieties of sauces are served hot. The sharp taste of ketchup set them for condiment purposes but not to incorporate into dishes. The tomato sauce is incorporated into hot dishes while cooking and serving. This is not possible with ketchup.
In conclusion, the key factors determining the different between tomato ketchup and tomato sauce are the consistency, thickness, taste, ingredient, and how they are served. Ketchup or tomato sauce is used to coat or added to various dishes. Each condiment has its own characteristics and value to fit our needs and creation.
