My diet:

Teriyaki sauce

No E-numberSauces & dressingsOrigin: Plant
Get a personal answer

Pick your family’s diets in the bar above.

Every diet

VeganYes
Gluten-freeDepends

Most brands build it on soy sauce, which usually contains wheat.

HalalYes
KosherYes
KetoNo

A tablespoon has about 4 grams of sugar.

Low-FODMAPDepends

Soy sauce, garlic and ginger in a large amount are all high FODMAP.

The short answer
Teriyaki is a sweet, salty glaze that is safe to eat, but a tablespoon brings about 4 grams of sugar and plenty of salt, and most brands are built on wheat-containing soy sauce. Tamari fixes the gluten, and the sugar still needs watching.
Use in moderation

Safe in small amounts; may bother some people or raise blood sugar.

E-numberNone
Comes fromPlant
What it doesSauces & dressings
Glycemic index—
Daily limitNot set
Also calledTeriyaki sauce, Teriyaki

Rules by country

🇺🇸 US FDANot evaluated as an additive
🇪🇺 European UnionNot evaluated as an additive
🇨🇦 Health CanadaNot evaluated as an additive
CaliforniaNo extra rules

Teriyaki sauce is a food and carries no E-number, so it sits outside the additive system. It falls under the general rules for sauces and under allergen labelling for the soy, wheat and sesame it normally contains. Bottled glaze and bottled marinade are both sold as ordinary foods with an ingredient list and a nutrition panel.

Daily limit: Experts haven’t set a number because normal food amounts are far below any level of concern.

What is it?

A bottle of teriyaki is soy sauce, sugar and mirin or sake, with ginger, garlic and a little sesame oil, and it is usually thickened with cornstarch. The sugar is what makes it glaze: brushed on a hot grill it caramelises into a lacquered crust, while the same sauce in a bottle keeps that character at room temperature. Sugar, not the soy, is what a person tastes first.

Where it comes from: Teriyaki is a Japanese glaze of soy sauce, mirin and sugar, thickened with ginger, garlic and sesame oil. The name comes from the words for shine and grill, and the bottled version is sweeter than the sauce brushed onto a grill.

Why it’s in food

  • Glazing grilled meat and fish
  • Marinating chicken and tofu
  • Drizzling over rice bowls
  • Stir-fry and noodle dishes
  • Basting during a barbecue

Often found in

Chicken teriyaki skewersSalmon teriyakiTeriyaki beef bowlGrilled vegetable skewersChicken wrapsSalmon poke bowls

Also listed as: Teriyaki sauce, Teriyaki, Teriyaki glaze, Teriyaki marinade

Health & gut impact

Sugar per tablespoonUnder study

A tablespoon of the bottled sauce carries roughly 4 grams of sugar, and the glaze on a takeaway chicken portion is often two or three tablespoons. Teriyaki is an easy way to add sugar to a meal because it goes on as a glaze rather than as a dip.

USDA FoodData Central, teriyaki sauce

SodiumUnder study

The soy sauce base makes teriyaki salty, and a tablespoon can hold 300 to 400 milligrams of sodium before the rest of the meal is counted. The bottled glaze tends to be saltier than the homemade version, which leans more on sugar and less on soy.

USDA FoodData Central, teriyaki sauce

Daily sodium referenceUnder study

EFSA considers 2 grams of sodium a day a safe level for adults, and two tablespoons of a bottled teriyaki can supply a good part of that on their own. A homemade glaze with a splash of low-sodium soy sauce is the easier way to bring it down.

EFSA, dietary reference values for sodium

Wheat and glutenUnder study

Most brands build teriyaki on a soy sauce that contains wheat, so it does not suit coeliac disease. Tamari, or a soy sauce labelled gluten-free, replaces it without needing a different recipe.

NHS, coeliac disease

What can I use instead?

Hoisin sauce

Ratio: Use a little less, it is sweeter

Best for: A glaze with more spice in it

Soy sauce

Ratio: Use two spoons with half a spoon of honey and a dash of ginger

Best for: Making the glaze yourself

Barbecue sauce

Ratio: Use the same amount and add a splash of soy sauce for salt

Best for: A thicker, smokier coating

Related

More sauces & dressings:

Apple cider vinegarApple cider vinegar is a fermented apple product with no E-number, and one of the safest things on a label, so it fits every diet. It seasons and preserves rather than nourishes, so reach for it when you want acid without more salt or sugar.Generally safeBalsamic vinegarBalsamic vinegar is an aged grape vinegar with no E-number, and it is safe and fits every diet except low-FODMAP in larger amounts. It is one of the few vinegars carrying real sugar, so measure a tablespoon rather than pouring.Generally safeBarbecue sauceBarbecue sauce is a sweet, salty tomato sauce with molasses in it. It is safe, but a tablespoon carries 4 to 9 grams of sugar and 105 to 260 milligrams of sodium, which makes it one to skip on a low-sugar or low-salt list.Use in moderationHoisin sauceHoisin is a thick, sweet Chinese barbecue sauce, safe to eat but heavy on sugar and salt, and unsuitable for keto and for strict gluten-free or low-FODMAP diets. For the flavor without the jar, mix soy sauce with a little honey and star anise.Use in moderation

Common questions

Is teriyaki sauce healthy?

In small amounts it is an ordinary part of a meal, but a tablespoon carries about 4 grams of sugar and several hundred milligrams of sodium. A saucy takeaway bowl is doing more than it looks, and glazing at home lets you control both.

Does teriyaki sauce contain gluten?

Usually, because most of it starts with soy sauce and most soy sauce contains wheat. Tamari or a soy sauce labelled gluten-free is the simple fix, and the rest of the recipe needs no change.

Can I make teriyaki sauce at home?

Yes: soy sauce, sugar or honey, mirin or sake, ginger and garlic, boiled down until it coats the back of a spoon. It takes about ten minutes and it comes out less sweet and less salty than the bottle.

Is teriyaki sauce keto?

No. It is built on sugar, and a tablespoon alone carries around 4 grams of it, which puts it outside most ketogenic plans. A soy-based glaze without sugar is the version that fits.

Is Teriyaki sauce safe?

Use in moderation (75/100). Teriyaki sauce is a food and carries no E-number, so it sits outside the additive system. It falls under the general rules for sauces and under allergen labelling for the soy, wheat and sesame it normally contains. Bottled glaze and bottled marinade are both sold as ordinary foods with an ingredient list and a nutrition panel.

Is Teriyaki sauce gluten-free?

Depends. Most brands build it on soy sauce, which usually contains wheat.

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Scientific sources & regulatory citations
  • USDA FoodData Central, teriyaki sauce
  • EFSA, dietary reference values for sodium
  • NHS, coeliac disease