How Much Miso to Substitute for Soy Sauce
Works for baking, sauteing, and slow cook. Miso keeps a similar flavor profile to Soy Sauce.
How much miso equals one Soy Sauce?
Use 1 tbsp miso per 1 tbsp soy sauce, thinned with a little water or broth.
Health notes
Compared with Soy Sauce, Miso has: more calories (198 vs 90 per 100g in Soy Sauce), more fat (6g vs 0.3g per 100g in Soy Sauce), more saturated fat (1g vs 0g per 100g in Soy Sauce), more protein (12.8g vs 8.2g per 100g in Soy Sauce), and more carbs (25.4g vs 14.4g per 100g in Soy Sauce).
Using miso as a soy sauce substitute in baking
Whisk 1 tbsp miso with a splash of water per tbsp soy sauce so it blends into batters and glazes evenly.
Other cooking methods
- Sauteing
Stir in at the end off high heat; miso is thicker and can clump if added too early to a hot pan.
- Slow Cook
Add miso in the last 20 minutes; long simmering flattens its aroma and dulls the umami punch.
- Steaming
Whisk into the sauce or dip before steaming; works well with fish and vegetables.
- Raw Cold
Thin with a little water or citrus juice for dressings and dips; 1:1 works fine.
- Drinks
Whisk into warm broths or savory drinks; won't dissolve fully in cold liquids.
Methods to avoid (2)
- Frying
Not recommended: miso scorches and turns bitter in hot oil instead of staying smooth like soy sauce.
- Grilling
Not recommended: miso burns and turns acrid over direct flame where soy sauce just glazes.
FAQ
- How much miso equals one Soy Sauce?
Use 1 tbsp miso per 1 tbsp soy sauce, thinned with a little water or broth.
- Can I substitute miso for Soy Sauce in baking?
Yes. Whisk 1 tbsp miso with a splash of water per tbsp soy sauce so it blends into batters and glazes evenly. Not recommended: miso scorches and turns bitter in hot oil instead of staying smooth like soy sauce.
- How much miso to use as a soy sauce substitute?
Deeper, funkier umami than soy sauce; thin with water and add late to keep it from turning bitter.
- How does the flavor change when substituting Miso for Soy Sauce?
Miso keeps a similar flavor profile to soy sauce.
- How does texture change when substituting Miso for Soy Sauce?
Miso thicker and paste-like instead of pouring; needs thinning with water or broth to match soy sauce's fluid clinginess.
- What else should I know about substituting Miso for Soy Sauce?
For soups, braises, dressings, and glazes. Expect a thicker, muddier sauce with rounder, funkier umami. Skip frying and grilling, where miso scorches and turns bitter instead of glazing cleanly. Stir it in near the end of cooking so the aroma stays lively, not flat.
- What still works when substituting Miso for Soy Sauce?
Miso still works as a flavor carrier, preservative, and color.
- How well does Miso match Soy Sauce?
Miso is okay on structure, stretch on heat, and good on flavor.
- How does nutrition compare per 100g when substituting Miso for Soy Sauce?
Miso has about x2 more calories, x19 more fat, x51 more sat. fat, and x2 more protein.
- How do the flavor notes shift when substituting Miso for Soy Sauce?
The flavor shifts toward more bitter notes.