How to Make Sweet and Sour Sauce

Reviewed by Ashley Crawford

Last Updated: February 18, 2024 Approved

Are you having trouble finding the perfect sweet and sour sauce at your local grocery store? Sweet and sour sauce is actually quite easy to make, involving ingredients that people often have in the pantry. For some surefire recipes of how to make sweet and sour sauce to pour over rice, dumplings, meat, or veggies, read on.

Method 1

Method 1 of 2:

Traditional Sweet and Sour Sauce

Download Article

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
Advertisement
Remove from heat and serve.

Method 2

Method 2 of 2:

Alternative Sweet and Sour Sauce

Download Article

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
Remove from heat once thick and serve.

Community Q&A

Search

Add New Question

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
Yes No

Not Helpful 8 Helpful 18
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
Yes No

Not Helpful 3 Helpful 14
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
Yes No

Not Helpful 2 Helpful 12

See more answers

Ask a Question

200 characters left

Include your email address to get a message when this question is answered.

Submit

Video

Tips

For a less red-colored sauce, lessen the amount of ketchup from 1 Tbsp to 1/2 Tbsp. or 2 tsp.

Thanks
Helpful 64 Not Helpful 53

Submit a Tip

All tip submissions are carefully reviewed before being published

Name

Please provide your name and last initial

Submit

Thanks for submitting a tip for review!

Warnings

Despite what your friends may tell you, Duck sauce isn't the same as sweet and sour sauce. Not by taste, and by color and texture.

Thanks
Helpful 2 Not Helpful 2