It’s redand it certainlylooks like it comes from tomatoes, but is ketchup really made from these red savory salad favorites? Let’s find out together.
The Short Answer:
Yes, most ketchup is a tomato product, but ketchup can be made without tomatoes.
The Long Answer:
Typically, when we think of ketchup, we think of those red bottles lining the condiment section of the grocery store. What we’re thinking of in these moments is tomato ketchup, and it is by far the most common variety of this condiment.
Tomato ketchup is made from tomatoes, obviously, but that’s not the only ingredient that goes into them. Vinegar is a huge ingredient, as is various forms of sugar. Typically, ripe tomatoes are squeezed into a pulp and added to fine salt. That mixture is then boiled and stirred before being pressed through a fine sieve. After that, various sugars and spices are added to taste. This new mixture is boiled again over a slow fire until thick and bottled when cold. The vinegar is added to prevent spoilage.
Typically, it takes 100 tomatoes for five bottles of tomato ketchup.
While that might be the most commonly known form of ketchup, it’s not the only variation out there. The term ketchup does not inherently mean tomato ketchup. Originally, at the product’s inception, tomatoes weren’t used at all and the term ketchup meant a vinegary sauce bought in a bottle.
Some of the oldest known ketchup recipes are walnut ketchup and mushroom ketchup. Mushroom ketchup was typically prepared in the United Kingdom around the 18th Century. For a period of100 years, (1750 to 1850) ketchup typically meant a sauce made from mushrooms or walnuts and was associated with a dark color.
While not hugely popular today, mushroom ketchup is still readily available in the UK. Some other variations of ketchup from around the world include mango ketchup and even banana ketchup. In the UK, ketchup is still commonly referred to as “tomato ketchup” because those other variations still existin some way, shape, or form.
Europeans first encountered ketchup in either China or Indonesia. At the time, it was a briny pickled fish sauce and contained no vinegar at all. The closest modern relative of early ketchup would be soy sauce or Worcestershire sauce. When British and Dutch explorers returned home, they did not have the necessaryingredients to re-create traditional Asian ketchup, so they substituted ingredients that were readily available, like mushrooms, walnuts, and even anchovies.
Are you a fan of tomato ketchup? Have you ever tried mushroom ketchup? Sound off in the comment section below and let us know!
FAQs
It is made from tomatoes, vinegar, sugar, salt, and spices. Ketchup can be red (with tomatoes), brown (made with molasses) or clear (made with corn syrup).
Is ketchup made from tomatoes? ›
Ketchup is a tomato-based condiment that's primarily used for dipping or spreading, though it's also commonly featured as an ingredient in other sauces and dressings. It's usually made with tomatoes, vinegar, sugar, and spices and seasonings.
Can ketchup be made without tomatoes? ›
So you can make Walnut ketchup or Mushroom Ketchup without any tomatoes. They're vaguely similar to ketchup in that they have strong umami (savory) and tangy notes, with a good dose of salt. These are fairly well-known sauces; you can buy commercial versions online.
Is there ketchup made from something other than tomatoes? ›
The truth is, that squash doesn't make a very good ketchup, however ketchup isn't made with only tomatoes. There is a world of flavorful, and surprising ketchups out there, including olive ketchup, apple ketchup, sriracha ketchup, curry ketchup, bacon ketchup, jalapeno ketchup, truffle ketchup, and country ketchup.
What percentage of tomato ketchup is tomato? ›
As a layman, you would think that the main ingredient in a tomato ketchup bottle would be tomatoes, right? Unfortunately that is not the case. In most cases, tomato and tomato paste consisted about 25-30% of the entire bottle. In some cases (check first sample below), sugar content was much more than tomato content.
Why can I eat ketchup but not tomatoes? ›
Is it possible to be allergic to tomatoes but not ketchup? For some people with pollen food allergy syndrome (also referred to as PFAS or OAS), highly processed tomato products, including ketchup, may not cause a reaction. These people may not need to avoid ketchup.
What are the 57 ingredients in Heinz Ketchup? ›
TOMATO PUREE (WATER, TOMATO PASTE), HIGH FRUCTOSE CORN SYRUP, DISTILLED WHITE VINEGAR, MALT VINEGAR (CONTAINS BARLEY), SALT, CONTAINS LESS THAN 2% OF MODIFIED FOOD STARCH, RAISIN JUICE CONCENTRATE, MUSTARD FLOUR, SOYBEAN OIL, TURMERIC, SPICES, APPLE PUREE, SODIUM BENZOATE AND POTASSIUM SORBATE (PRESERVATIVES), CARAMEL ...
Why avoid Heinz tomato ketchup? ›
It contains high quantities of sugar, salt, fructose, preservatives and corn syrup. All of these ingredients when combined together have an adverse effect on the body.
What was ketchup originally made of? ›
The first ketchup recipe included neither tomatoes, vinegar, nor many other ingredients that make ketchup well… ketchup. The first base of the sauce was fish, then oysters, mushrooms, and only after that – tomatoes. How did ketchup transform from Asian fish sauce to universally loved tomato dip?
Is ketchup legally a vegetable? ›
The Court's unanimous opinion held that the Tariff Act of 1883 used the ordinary meaning of the words “fruit” and “vegetable,” instead of the technical botanical meaning. A witness to the Agriculture-OMB deliberations writes: Ketchup Is a Vegetable.
You can actually call the substance by either name, as there's no difference between ketchup and catsup. They're just two different terms for the same thing. Ketchup has been around a long time. The name probably comes from ke-chiap (sometimes written ke-tsiap), which was a pickled fish sauce popular in China.
Is banana ketchup made of tomato? ›
A popular condiment in the Philippines, banana ketchup is a sauce made of vinegar, sugar, other spices, and, of course, bananas. Without the presence of tomatoes, it's both sweeter and less vinegar-heavy than standard ketchup.
How much tomato is in Heinz ketchup? ›
The Heinz product claims on its label to contain 61% tomato paste, but Osem Trade said it had commissioned independent testing that showed it only contained 21% tomato paste.
Which country eats the most tomato ketchup? ›
Canada leads the world in ketchup or catsup consumption at 3.1 Kg per person per year. the u.s. is down in the dumps at 2.2 Kg.
Is Heinz ketchup made from real tomatoes? ›
Heinz Tomato Ketchup is made only from sweet, juicy, red ripe tomatoes for the signature thick and rich taste of Americas Favorite Ketchup.
Is tomato ketchup good or bad for you? ›
If you enjoy ketchup, you may be happy to hear that because it's made with tomatoes, it's a good source of lycopene. Adding more lycopene to your diet may help protect you from cancer, heart disease, and other chronic conditions. However, some ketchup varieties prove high in sugar and salt.
