Rating of the best balsamic sauces for 2024

Seasonings are often used in cooking, one of which is balsamic sauce, recognized by UNESCO as a World Heritage of Humanity. It is considered universal because it is ideally combined with any dishes: vegetable, meat, fish, sweet. Consider the rating of high-quality balsamic sauces for 2024 with a description of the taste characteristics, advantages, and disadvantages.

How to choose balsamic sauce

In order to choose the right balsamic sauce, to avoid mistakes when choosing, first of all, you need to know exactly what it is, what this seasoning is served with, what are its useful and dangerous properties, how to make the sauce yourself at home. Equally important, what to look for is the question of where to buy and how much does a quality product from the best manufacturers cost.

Characteristics and composition

The balsamic sauce is used in cooking. Its main purpose is to add original flavors to ready-made food. This additive allows you to fill ordinary food with a bright aroma, delicious taste, decorate the dishes in which it is served, giving it a festive look. Magic seasoning bottles are usually small: 100-250 ml. It is made on the basis of balsamic vinegar, grape must, natural additives in the form of fruit juices (pomegranate, lemon, orange), spices. In the preparation, only natural thickeners are used - flour, corn starch. The best manufacturers do not use any chemicals. The product contains no sugar, so it has a low calorie content and is used in recipes for many dietary dishes. Grapes and berries that are added to the sauce during cooking give a sweet taste: figs, strawberries. The new products contain other ingredients:

• cloves;
• cinnamon;
• vanillin;
• truffle;
• mustard;
• honey.

The peculiarity of balsamic is that popular manufacturers subject it to aging for many years, especially for Italian-made sauces: from two to twelve or more years. A matured product is more expensive in price, with a more pronounced smell and taste.

Consider what types of balsamic sauce are:

• Not spicy;
• moderately acute;
• acute.

The most common type, according to buyers, is mild, made according to classic recipes from traditional ingredients.Such popularity is due to the sphere of use of this spice - preparation of everyday and festive food, restaurant dishes with the usual type of food. The addition of chili peppers from 2 to 5% gives the appropriate pungency and piquancy. Which one is better to buy depends on your taste preferences.

What is balsamic for?

Balsamic sauce is an irreplaceable seasoning for those who love not only to cook deliciously, but also to decorate food beautifully. Viscous, thick or semi-liquid consistency, with a pleasant smell of fruit and a slight vinegar note, it has a sour-sweet taste and a beautiful chocolate or cream color. Perfect for decorating ready-made dishes and dishes on which they are served to the table. Spicy refined taste will not leave indifferent even the most fastidious gourmet, imparting new flavors to familiar food. A big plus of the product is its versatility, because the list of what it is eaten with is quite long:

• meat;
• a fish;
• seafood;
• salads;
• soups;
• cheeses;
• side dishes;
• porridge;
• hamburgers;
• desserts;
• ice cream.

Just a few drops of balsamic sauce will transform any dish, add sophistication and uniqueness to it, thanks to its rich taste and bright fruity aroma.

Benefit and harm

Any food product has useful and dangerous properties. Balsamic (in translation - healing, medicinal) sauce, rich in vitamins A, B, C, contains vital trace elements necessary for the healthy functioning of the human body:

• iron;
• phosphorus;
• potassium;
• calcium.

This product helps prevent the development of oncological, cardiovascular diseases, normalizes the digestive and nervous systems, the brain, optimizes metabolism, contributing to weight loss. The healing qualities are used to produce anti-aging and anti-aging cosmetics. According to customer reviews, regular use of this dressing has a number of positive consequences for the body:

1. blood pressure decreases;
2. strengthens the immune system;
3. the elimination of toxins is getting better;
4. improves the process of hematopoiesis and blood composition.

Harm from this product can be caused only in one case - with diseases of the digestive system.

All this allows us to classify balsamic sauce as a healthy food product.

Criterias of choice

To buy a quality product that has all the positive properties, it is appropriate to consider several factors:

• packaging - it is preferable to choose a product in glass bottles rather than in cheap plastic ones: this way the taste characteristics are better preserved without losing useful properties;
• composition - a real balsamic sauce should not contain synthetic additives (colorants, stabilizers, thickeners, preservatives);
• color - a quality product has a uniform saturated transparent dark brown, less often creamy beige color. It should not be cloudy, too dark, precipitate;
• taste - delicate, unobtrusive, with a pleasant aftertaste, without a pungent smell and chemical aftertaste;
• consistency - viscous, dense, when a drop of high-quality sauce is applied to food or a plate, the stain does not spread, it keeps its volume and shape;
• manufacturer - the best are traditionally balsamic sauces and creams of Italian and Greek manufacturers, who have perfected the preparation technology and recipe for a long time;
• cost - a good product cannot be too cheap in price, however, you should not overpay for a brand or packaging: it is better to choose a popular product from a well-known manufacturer based on positive customer reviews.

Balsamic sauce at home

It will not be difficult for any housewife to prepare an original dressing on her own in her kitchen. For this you will need:

• 170 ml balsamic vinegar;
• 0.5 teaspoon salt;
• 130 ml of water.

To add different flavors, you can add:

• cream;
• honey;
• mustard;
• pomegranate juice, etc.

The step-by-step instructions are simple:

1. Place the ingredients in a saucepan, stir, put on low heat.
2. Bring to a boil and simmer for 20-30 minutes, stirring continuously.
3. Leave the finished product to cool completely, then pour into hermetically sealed bottles.

Handmade sauce is thicker than store-bought sauce.

Recommendations for use

Here are some tips for using balsamic sauce to get the flavor of your food and maximize the seasoning effect.

1. If possible, do not subject the product to heat treatment, serve with already prepared dishes. When heated, a unique smell is lost, a unique viscous texture, the sensation of sourness can increase to an unpleasant vinegar aftertaste.
2. Most often used for salads, including fruit salads, to add brightness and sophistication, ennoble everyday components.
3. Do not add too much dressing, a few drops are usual. An excessive amount will lead to the fact that the taste of the dish will become harsh, rough, and will lose its originality and sophistication.
4. The longer the sauce is stored, the more rich and tasty it becomes. Many Italian manufacturers offer for sale a product that has been aged for over 12 years, which has a beneficial effect on its taste, aroma and consistency.
5. Store in a cool, dark place away from heat sources. The ideal place is a kitchen cabinet.
6. It is preferable to purchase in specialized stores or order online from the manufacturer's online store. The product presented in a regular supermarket is most often a rough imitation of the original quality sauce, made from cheap wine vinegar with the addition of synthetic colors, thickeners, sweeteners, preservatives.
7. For those wishing to lose weight, it is an excellent alternative to mayonnaise when dressing salads.

Rating of quality balsamic sauces for 2024

Monini Glaze, 250 ml

Country: Italy
Average price: 545 rubles

Classic Italian balsamic gives dishes a pleasant sourness. Suitable for salads, fish, meat, enriching the flavor characteristics of food. Delicious, thick. Thanks to a special spout on the lid, you can decorate the plates by squeezing out the contents of a plastic bottle. Shelf life is 2 years.

• classic recipe;
• tasty, aromatic;
• moderately sour;
• convenient dispenser spout.

• expensive.

Saarioinen Balsami-etikka Kastike, 345 ml

Country: Finland
Average price: 270 rubles

Finnish sauce is made from white wine vinegar with the addition of rapeseed oil, potato starch, spices and flavorings. Serve with anything from soups to fruits and ice cream. It will not be possible to squeeze out a thin stream due to a too large hole in the dispenser lid. It can be stored for two years from the date of manufacture.

• inexpensive;
• delicious;
• natural composition;
• no synthetic preservatives.

• large opening of the dispenser.

Filippo Berio with black truffle, 250 ml

Country: Italy
Average price: 439 rubles

Slightly sourish, perfect with cheese, fish, vegetables, fruits. It has a delicate mild taste, does not contain synthetic ingredients and food additives. Shelf life is 2 years.

• soft taste;
• pleasant aroma;
• versatility;
• affordable price;
• natural ingredients.

• not.

Galaxy with chili, 250 ml

Country: Greece
Average price: 333 rubles

A moderately spicy Greek-made dressing has gained popularity due to its zesty taste. Suitable for making marinades, adding to any dishes, including seafood and desserts. Does not contain monosodium glutamate and TMO. Shelf life is 2 years.

• versatility;
• convenient dispenser;
• beautiful shade for decoration;
• affordable.

• the composition contains dyes and flavors.

Leonardi Pregiato, 100 ml

Country: Italy
Average price: 2228 rubles

Balsamic sauce of Italian production of a world famous brand has an aging of 10 years. Due to this, its consistency is thick and viscous, the aroma and taste are rich and bright. The production is located in the province of Modena - the birthplace of balsamic products. Ideally complements cheese, salads, mushroom, fish, vegetable dishes, boiled and fried meat, including grilled. It goes well with desserts. Refers to vegetarian, dietary, farm products. It is one of the lowest calorie balsamics. Unlike factory sauce, it is aged in oak barrels, acquiring a complex unique bouquet of aromas. Sold in an elegant glass bottle, placed in a gift cardboard tube.

• proven technology;
• exposure 10 years;
• unique aroma;
• gift tube.

• expensive.

Rating of the best balsamic creams for 2024

Leonardi with chili, 175 ml

Country: Italy
Average price: 526 rubles

Great seasoning for barbecue, burgers, fries. Used to decorate meat and fish dishes. The composition of chili peppers is 2%, which provides a spicy pungency and freshness to ordinary food. Indispensable for those who, when preparing food, care not only about its taste, but also about its benefits and aesthetic appearance. Like any classic balsamic cream, it differs from the sauce in a thicker texture and richer taste.

• excellent taste;
• sharp note;
• does not contain sugar;
• no synthetic ingredients.

• high price.

Leonardi with blueberries, 175 ml

Country: Italy
Average price: 580 rubles

A cream of Modena balsamic vinegar and boiled grape must contains blueberries and natural sulfites. It is made according to the classical technology with infusion on blueberries for at least two months, followed by straining. After opening the package, the finished product can be stored in the refrigerator for three years. It is considered an ideal dressing for meat, cheese, pastries, salads, desserts.

• quality;
• classic technology;
• long shelf life;
• pleasant smell and color.

• expensive.

Just Greece with Basil, 250 ml

Country: Greece
Average price: 400 rubles

Thick cream of Greek production for meat, fish, salads, soups and seafood of Mediterranean and European cuisine is made from natural high-quality ingredients without monosodium glutamate and GMOs, synthetic thickeners and preservatives. Customers note the exquisite taste and pleasant smell with a hint of natural basil. Sold in a plastic bottle with a convenient dispenser on the lid.

• delicious;
• universal;
• bright smell;
• convenient dispenser.

• liquid texture.

Casa Rinaldi with orange juice, 150 ml

Country: Italy
Average price: 469 rubles

Delicious aromatic product, the beneficial qualities of which are preserved thanks to the technology using acidity regulators. Has a long shelf life - three years. The dense, dense texture makes it possible to decorate cooked food.

• quality;
• delicious;
• thick;
• stored for a long time.

• expensive.

Pure Premium, 220 ml

Country Russia
Average price: 864 rubles

The Russian-made seasoning has proven itself from the best side due to its universal mild taste, pleasant smell, different types of additives: basil, hazelnut, pomegranate, cream. After opening the package, it can be stored for no more than a year.

• tasty and aromatic;
• many flavors;
• convenient dispenser;
• beautiful bottle design;
• quality components.

• expensive;
• liquid.

Papadimitriou with orange and lemon, 250 ml

Country: Greece
Average price: 380 rubles

The popular Greek-made cream sauce pleases customers with an affordable price, a convenient bottle and dispenser shape, and a natural high-quality composition. A classic Mediterranean seasoning for a wide variety of foods. It is a low-calorie vegetarian dressing, distinguished by a subtle citrus aroma, thick dense texture, and a beautiful honey tint. Shelf life is 2 years. Light lemon sourness adds piquancy and sophistication, and the smell of orange refreshes and renews the taste of ordinary food.

• unforgettable taste;
• pleasant citrus smell;
• versatility;
• high quality;
• convenient packaging and dispenser;
• inexpensive;
• ideal for decoration.

• plastic bottle.

Using low-quality seasoning means ruining not only the dish, but also the mood. To make food enjoyable and aesthetic pleasure, it is advisable to use only proven balsamic sauce from reliable manufacturers. The presented review will help you make the right choice and buy a quality seasoning that can highlight the benefits of your favorite culinary product.