A1 is a brown sauce that’s also known as the steak sauce, is a product of Brand & Co, a subsidiary of Kraft Heinz. The sauce is mainly used in beef or Game dishes, and it represents the authentic English taste.
Currently, the sauce is not just limited to English cooking, but it is used all over the world. But does this sauce induce any type of allergy like gluten allergy? Is A1 gluten free?
A1 sauce is likely gluten free, but it has not undergone the gluten free test. The manufacturer Krafts always discloses products that may cause any type of allergy to people, including gluten allergy, and the brand has not mentioned anything about A1 containing gluten ingredients.
What if a celiac consumes A1 sauce? Is it safe for all people with gluten intolerance? We will talk about everything related to these questions in this article. So don’t skip until you find out the truth.
Table of Contents
Is A1 Gluten Free?
A1 is a steak sauce made of tomato puree, dried garlic, crushed orange puree, raising paste, distilled vinegar, salt, corn syrup, spices, and a few other ingredients. As we have checked, not a single ingredient in the list contains gluten making the sauce naturally gluten free.
Besides, the manufacturer Kraft is very open about revealing things that have gluten or any other allergy causing substance. The brand has not included A1 steak sauce under their non gluten free product list.
But A1 has not been a gluten free product; therefore, we can’t be sure if the product contains less than 20ppm gluten or not. FDA has declared we can consider a product gluten free only when it contains 20ppm or less gluten which is considered safe for celiacs as well. So what should celiacs do? Should they have A1 sauce?
We would only recommend celiacs to have something when it is a tested gluten free product. But if you are slightly gluten sensitive, you can have the sauce as it does not have any gluten substance.
You should also know that gluten is present in grains like wheat, durum, barley, rye, semolina, and gluten derived substances like malt, etc. Gluten is a common ingredient in food items like bread, pizza, and any baked food. Besides, companies add gluten extract to enhance taste and texture in lots of food items.
Hence, people who can’t digest gluten should stay away from things that have any direct or indirect gluten substance.
Also Read:- Is Fish Sauce Gluten Free?
A1 Sauce: A Detailed Overview
A1 sauce was invented in 1820, but it entered the manufacturing world only in 1862. The sauce was invented by Henderson William Brand, who was the official chef of King George IV. The sauce was initially called Brand’s International Sauce after the chef’s name.
Later, when Kraft’s started making this famous delicacy, they advertised it as-
Saucy sauce different from any other, appreciated on Welsh rarebits, broiled lobster, and English mutton chops.
Kraft Heinz
The name went through a couple of alterations. Krafts renamed the sauce A1 Steak Sauce, but it was again restored to its original name A1 Sauce so that people can use it in vegetarian and vegan dishes.
With almost 200 years in the market, A1 Sauce is still dominating home kitchens with its purity and richness of taste.
Is A1 a Healthy Sauce?
If you are following a healthy diet, A1 may not be the best choice for you. The sauce is low in sugar and low in calories, but it’s very high in sodium. For instance, one tablespoon of A1 has 280mg sodium, and all dishes mostly require more than one tablespoon, increasing the sodium limit to more than 500mg.
Eating it with your other food will increase the sodium content even more, which is not at all healthy for everyday consumption. But if you consume in moderation and keep a check on the portion, it won’t pose any major health risks.
Different A1 Flavors and Their Nutritional Facts
A1 comes in two flavors, both of which are packed with delicious ingredients to make your dishes tastier. Here is a rundown of all the two flavors, and you can pick your favorite.
A1 Original Sauce Ingredients
- Tomato puree
- Corn syrup
- Vinegar
- Raisin paste
- Salt
- Crushed orange puree
- Spices
- Dried garlic
- Dried onion
- Caramel color
- Potassium sorbate
- Xanthan gum
Nutritional facts
| Calories | 15 |
| Total fat | 0g |
| Trans fat | 0g |
| Polyunsaturated fat | 0g |
| Monounsaturated fat | 0g |
| Cholesterol | 0mg |
| Potassium | 0mg |
| Sodium | 280mg |
| Carbs | 3g |
| Dietary fiber | 0g |
| Sugars | 2g |
| Protein | 0g |
A1 Thick and Hearty Steak Sauce Ingredients
- Tomato puree
- High fructose corn syrup
- Vinegar
- Raisin paste (less than 2%)
- Salt
- Crushed orange puree
- Spices
- Dried garlic
- Dried onion
- Caramel color
- Potassium sorbate
- Xanthan gum
Nutritional facts
| Calories | 15 |
| Total fat | 0g |
| Trans fat | 0g |
| Polyunsaturated fat | 0g |
| Monounsaturated fat | 0g |
| Cholesterol | 0mg |
| Potassium | 0mg |
| Sodium | 300mg |
| Carbs | 6g |
| Dietary fiber | 0g |
| Sugars | 5g |
| Protein | 0g |
Gluten Free Alternatives to A1 Sauces
As A1 is not a tested gluten free sauce, many people might feel apprehensive about consuming it. But don’t worry, we have found labeled gluten free sauces which taste similar to A1 but contain no gluten.
Flavors of Ernest Hemingway Matador Steak Sauce
The Matador steak sauce is gluten free and contains no high fructose corn syrup. The primary ingredients here are Rioja wine, lime, and lots of other spices. Add it to your steak or any other curry to taste a wholesome meal.
Oceans Halo Organic Korean BBQ Sauce
If you love a little extra spice on your dishes, try out this Ocean’s Halo Organic Korean BBQ sauce. It’s soy free and gluten free, so celiacs can have as much as they want. Yes, you get all that spicy flavor from the jalapenos.
This one’s not only gluten free, but it has a reduced sodium flavor too. The red label Dale is the original one, and the green label has reduced sodium. It’s gluten and soy free and goes well with all meat dishes.
Lea and Perrins Bold Steak Sauce
Lea and Perrins’s sauce is a product from Kraft Heinz, same as the A1, but it is labeled gluten free. Besides, this one has less sodium than A1, so it’s a healthier option too.
Recipes with A1 Sauce: Must Try
Here are some mouth watering recipes to try with A1 sauce that will leave you drooling. Let’s have a look-
1. Tangy BBQ Shrimp
You heard it right; you can use the A1 steak sauce with shrimps, and it cannot get tastier than this. Here is the ingredient list-
- 1 ½ pound deveined and peeled large shrimp
- 1 cup cherry tomatoes (sliced in half)
- 5 tbsp unsalted butter
- 1 cup scallions (chop them into 1 ½ inch pieces)
- Half cup A1 steak sauce
- 1 ½ tbsp creole seasoning
- 3 tbsp lemon juice
- Lemon wedges and crusty bread
Method
- Take a skillet and add unsalted butter. Wait till the butter gets foamy and add shrimps.
- Cook the shrimp for about one minute, and then add cherry tomatoes, lemon juice, A1 sauce, scallions, and creole seasoning.
- Cook till the sauce thickens a bit and the shrimps are fully cooked.
- It would take about 3 minutes, and your tangy bbq shrimps are ready.
2. Steak House Bibimbap Bowls
Try your steak with the A1 sauce to meet your steak cravings. This dish tastes best with a bowl of rice and some veggies on the side. Here is are the ingredients you will need-
- Half cup A1 steak sauce
- 1 pound thinly sliced flank steak
- 2 tbsp light brown sugar
- Half cup low sodium soy sauce
- 1 tbsp rice vinegar
- 1 tbsp canola oil
- 2 teaspoons grated ginger
- Cooked rice, spinach, fried egg, kimchi, and matchstick carrots.
Method
- Take a large bowl and add A1 sauce, soy sauce, vinegar, sugar, ginger, and steak. Toss everything well so that the steak is nicely coated with all the ingredients.
- Leave the steak for thirty minutes.
- Take an iron skillet on high heat and pour oil.
- Add the steak with the marinade.
- Cook for about 5 minutes til the sauce thickens, and the steak is fully cooked.
- In a serving bowl, take cooked rice, add steak on top and add the fried egg, spinach, carrots, and kimchi. It’s time to eat!
Cowboy Burger
Who doesn’t love burgers? And what if you can make a restaurant style juicy burger just at your home? Sounds good, right? Let’s make this delicious juicy burger with the A1 sauce.
Ingredients
- 3 tbsp A1 sauce (original)
- 8 ground beef patties
- 3 sweet onions (cut into rings)
- 2 sliced tomatoes
- 8 hamburger buns
- 8 Kraft singles
Method
- Heat a grill on medium flame
- Add the beef patties for 5 minutes on each side (may take longer)
- While the patties are getting ready, heat oil in a skillet
- Add the onions and cook until they get slightly brown
- Add A1 steak sauce and cook for another couple of minutes
- Take the buns and layer patty, onions, tomatoes, and the Kraft singles.
- Your juicy cowboy burgers are ready to serve.
Final Thoughts
The A1 steak sauce does not have any gluten ingredients, but it is also not a tested gluten free product. Therefore, having the sauce or not will entirely depend on what your gluten tolerance levels are. We have also mentioned some mouth watering recipes to try with the A1 sauce; make sure to give them a try.
Most Asked Questions About A1 Sauce
Is A1 a vegan sauce?
Yes, A1 is a vegan sauce as all the ingredients used are plant based.
Can celiacs have A1?
Kraft Heinz specifically discloses if any of their product contains gluten derivatives, and they did not mention A1 having gluten. But it is not a tested gluten free sauce, so it may not be 100% safe for celiacs.
What are the ingredients in A1?
The ingredients used in A1 original sauce are- tomato puree, corn syrup, vinegar, raisin paste, Salt, crushed orange puree, spices, dried garlic, dried onion, caramel, color, potassium sorbate, and xanthan gum.
