Ketchup
A sweet and sour table condiment, now typically tomato-based.
Ketchup or catsup is a table condiment with a sweet and sour flavor. It now typically refers to tomato ketchup, although early recipes for different varieties contained mushrooms, oysters, mussels, egg whites, grapes, or walnuts, among other ingredients. Tomato ketchup is made from tomatoes, sugar, and vinegar, with seasonings and spices, and is sometimes used as a condiment for dishes that are usually served hot and fried or greasy.
- Primary ingredients
- Tomatoes, sugar, vinegar, seasonings and spices
- Common spices
- Onions, allspice, coriander, cloves, cumin, garlic, mustard
- Alternative names
- Catsup, tomato sauce (UK)
- USDA grade
- Fancy (higher tomato solid concentration)
- Physical property
- Non-Newtonian, shear thinning fluid
Lore & Background
By the mid-1850s, anchovies no longer featured as an ingredient.
Reader's Guide
Tomato ketchup's significance grew in the 19th century as American cooks began sweetening it, leading to the typically sweet and sour formula of today. Modern ketchup emerged in the early 20th century from a debate over sodium benzoate as a preservative. Harvey W. In response, Henry J. Prior to Heinz, commercial ketchups were watery and thin; the changes driven by eliminating benzoate helped establish tomato ketchup as the dominant American condiment. Ketchup is also used in other sauces and dressings, such as Thousand Island dressing and Marie Rose sauce, and its flavor is replicated as an additive for snacks like potato chips.
Did You Know?
- Early ketchup recipes included ingredients such as mushrooms, oysters, mussels, egg whites, grapes, and walnuts.
- The etymology of 'ketchup' is disputed, with theories tracing it to Hokkien, Malay, or Arabic origins.
- Ketchup is a non-Newtonian, shear thinning fluid, meaning its viscosity decreases under stress.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Ketchup?
Ketchup is a sweet-and-sour condiment meant for the table, now most commonly identified with tomatoes. The name also appears as "catsup" or, in British usage, "tomato sauce."
What are Ketchup's primary ingredients?
The standard tomato recipe relies on tomatoes, sugar, vinegar, plus a blend of seasonings and spices. Typical spice elements include onion, allspice, coriander, cloves, cumin, garlic, and mustard.
What is Ketchup's top USDA grade?
The highest tier is labeled "Fancy," which signals a greater tomato solid concentration in the final product.
What role does Ketchup play at the table?
It serves as a condiment for foods that are generally hot, fried, or greasy, providing a sweet-and-sour contrast to the dish.
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