Learning how to bring sauces into your everyday cooking can make a huge difference to your meals. The right sauce can completely elevate the most simple ingredients as long as you know how to use sauces strategically in your cooking. Indeed, it’s important to remember that the sauce is designed as seasoning. It should not hide the flavors of the dish. It must bring them to the next level instead. Therefore, the first and most important lesson you’ll have to learn for yourself when cooking is being economical with sauce use. Once you learn to make your own sauces, one thing is for sure, you won’t look back! Here are 7 reasons why it’s worth learning a new skill in the kitchen. 

Whip up a delicious meal in minutes

You can turn a simple grilled steak or pan-fried fish filet into a flavorsome dish with the addition of the right sauce. This can be especially practical if you are preparing food for a taco night, where everyone can pick and mix as they wish. Some of the best protein ideas for a quick taco night meal include quickly grilled flank steak — if you are unsure about the recipe, you can read how to grill flank steak here —, crumbled and pan-fried salmon steaks, drained tuna from a tin, fried ground meat. Your family can season their tacos with the sauce of their choice, so you can get things done and prepared in the kitchen in no time.  

You know what’s in it

Did you know that the average American consumes more than 22 tablespoons of sugar in a day? Excessive sugar intake can affect your health, leading to weight gain, premature skin aging, and cardiovascular issues. However, most people find it hard to identify where the sugar comes from. Indeed, excessive sugar intake doesn’t necessarily mean your diet consists only of cookies and cakes. On the contrary, more often than not, store-bought sauces contain a lot of sugar, such as ketchup and barbecue sauces. Making your own sauce puts you back in charge of your diet. 

You can worry less about allergies and preferences

Catering for a family with dietary requirements can be tricky. Typically, families choose to avoid some dishes to prevent risks. But if you use sauces as a seasoning to complete the dish, you can still enjoy your favorite blue cheese sauce steak without worrying about family members who are lactose intolerant. 

Similarly, if one of you can’t eat spicy food while others love it, bringing the right sauces to the table will make sure everyone can enjoy their meals. 

You can reduce food waste

We all dread the moment when we realize that we’ve got a single tomato or an apple left in the fridge. Single fruit and vegetable are among the most commonly wasted ingredients because nobody knows how to use them. Yet, learning how to make sauces can help cut down on food waste. A single tomato can become a spicy salsa. The apple can be used to make a smoky sweet apple sauce for a pork dish. The options are infinite, so there’s a lot you can do to give a new life to forgotten ingredients!

You can plate like a pro

What’s the main difference between plating at home and plating in a fancy restaurant? Sauces. Indeed, the art of decorating the plate with delicate designs such as smearing the sauce or swirling it can instantly elevate the appearance of the dish. So, if you’ve mastered your favorite recipe but you’re still not getting the same wow effect of a restaurant setting, it may be a good idea to invest in sauce holders. Use them to squeeze the sauce in the pattern of your choosing. 

No more boring dinners

A healthy meal consists of approximately 20% protein, 30% vegetables, and 50% carbohydrates. Depending on your fitness routine and goals, you may vary your macro ratios to prioritize proteins, for instance. But ultimately, most people end up preparing the same kind of dishes: A chunk of meat or fish, some grains or starch ingredients, and a portion of greens. It’s no wonder we are so easily tempted by junk foods: The typical healthy meal is dull. Sauces can help inject a variety of exciting flavors! 

You reduce your impact on the environment

Let’s take a moment to consider the carbon footprint linked with store-bought sauces: 

• Industrial manufacturing emissions
• Transportation
• Packing
• Use of non-recyclable materials 

Making your own sauces at home can cut down your environmental footprint, helping make the world a greener place. 

Are you ready to learn how to make delicious savory, smoky, spicy, and sweet sauces to enhance your dishes? Making your own sauces can transform your eating habits and improve your health! Besides, it’s fun too!