The Store Brand Steak Sauce That's Surprisingly High Quality

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Selecting a high-quality steak sauce is not to be taken lightly. After all, once you've picked out the best cuts of meat then carefully prepared them, you wouldn't want the store-bought condiment to be a let-down. So for a verified tasty option, go for a bottle of Market Pantry Premium Steak Sauce, sold under Target's private label.

The flavor impressed on Food Republic's 4 Steak Sauces To Buy And 4 To Avoid, even surprisingly so for a generic brand. The bottle simply reads "Premium Steak Sauce" in a white font, with no further details of the contents. However, the condiment's allure lies precisely in its straightforward nature — it lends a perfectly balanced palate. The Food Republic team loved its savory, lightly acidic flavor, which lets beef flavors shine.

The bottle relies on a tomato and vinegar ingredient base, complemented by fruity additions like raisins and orange peel for depth of flavor and a surprising clarity and brightness, as well as a dash of a secret spice mix consisting of onion and garlic powders. The consistency is on the runny side, making it more of a pour across a steak rather than a dip situation, and it's smooth, not grainy (which is obviously a plus). However, for only $2.99 a bottle, it's a Market Pantry buy undoubtedly worth grocery cart inclusion.

Steak sauce flavors cover many options, ranging from a homemade three-ingredient garlic butter sauce to a classic béarnaise sauce or bottled versions boasting flavors like creamy-horseradish and smoky hickory. On this expansive saucy spectrum, the Market Pantry Premium Steak Sauce most strongly resembles A1, which also uses raisins, orange, and tomato for its flavor.

Naturally, Target reviewers pit the two options head-to-head, with fans staunchly taking each side. Many do prefer the private label version, although the general sentiment notes Target's brand tastes more acidic, as opposed to the old-school cult favorite, a balanced blend of tang and sweet. Similarly, many have noted that A1 is thicker, a bit more robust than the Market Pantry version. Target sells bottles of A1, too — which come pricier than the Market Pantry bottle, as you might imagine — so you can sample both options for yourself. And even if you don't care to take a side in the debate, Target's steak sauce makes for a convenient pantry staple. Use it in marinades, as a base for a salad vinaigrette, and — of course — alongside all the meats you serve on the dining table.