Typically, when we think of ketchup, we think of those red bottles lining the condiment section of the grocery store. What we’re thinking of in these moments is tomato ketchup, and it is by far the most common variety of this condiment.
Tomato ketchup is made from tomatoes, obviously, but that’s not the only ingredient that goes into them. Vinegar is a huge ingredient, as is various forms of sugar. Typically, ripe tomatoes are squeezed into a pulp and added to fine salt. That mixture is then boiled and stirred before being pressed through a fine sieve. After that, various sugars and spices are added to taste. This new mixture is boiled again over a slow fire until thick and bottled when cold. The vinegar is added to prevent spoilage.
While that might be the most commonly known form of ketchup, it’s not the only variation out there. The term ketchup does not inherently mean tomato ketchup. Originally, at the product’s inception, tomatoes weren’t used at all and the term ketchup meant a vinegary sauce bought in a bottle.
Some of the oldest known ketchup recipes are walnut ketchup and mushroom ketchup. Mushroom ketchup was typically prepared in the United Kingdom around the 18th Century. For a period of 100 years, (1750 to 1850) ketchup typically meant a sauce made from mushrooms or walnuts and was associated with a dark color.
While not hugely popular today, mushroom ketchup is still readily available in the UK. Some other variations of ketchup from around the world include mango ketchup and even banana ketchup. In the UK, ketchup is still commonly referred to as “tomato ketchup” because those other variations still exist in some way, shape, or form.
Europeans first encountered ketchup in either China or Indonesia. At the time, it was a briny pickled fish sauce and contained no vinegar at all. The closest modern relative of early ketchup would be soy sauce or Worcestershire sauce. When British and Dutch explorers returned home, they did not have the necessary ingredients to re-create traditional Asian ketchup, so they substituted ingredients that were readily available, like mushrooms, walnuts, and even anchovies.
Are you a fan of tomato ketchup? Have you ever tried mushroom ketchup? Sound off in the comment section below and let us know!
As a layman, you would think that the main ingredient in a tomato ketchup bottle would be tomatoes, right? Unfortunately that is not the case. In most cases, tomato and tomato paste consisted about 25-30% of the entire bottle. In some cases (check first sample below), sugar content was much more than tomato content.
Other products that contain high amounts of the corn syrup are Pepsi, Coca-Cola, Bimbo bread, Ruffles potato chips, Oreo cookies, Jumex juices, Karo syrup and Barritas Marinela fruit bars, among many others.
Published in the November issue of the magazine El Consumidor, the Profeco study found that ketchup brands Heinz, La Costeña, Clemente Jacques and Embasa all contained over 40% high-fructose corn syrup.
Embasa ketchup, made by Herdez, was found to contain 55% corn syrup. La Costeña ketchup was 58% sugar, of which 42% came from corn syrup. Heinz and Clemente Jacques both contained 42% syrup.
“The consumption of high-fructose corn syrup in Mexico began with the signing of the North American Free Trade Agreement,” said Profeco. “With that, various products containing the sweetener began to be sold.”
A study of ketchup brands in Mexico has revealed that most contain more sugar than tomato, according to the federal consumer protection agency Profeco.
While not hugely popular today, mushroom ketchup is still readily available in the UK. Some other variations of ketchup from around the world include mango ketchup and even banana ketchup. In the UK, ketchup is still commonly referred to as “tomato ketchup” because those other variations still exist in some way, shape, or form.
Some of the oldest known ketchup recipes are walnut ketchup and mushroom ketchup. Mushroom ketchup was typically prepared in the United Kingdom around the 18th Century. For a period of 100 years, (1750 to 1850) ketchup typically meant a sauce made from mushrooms or walnuts and was associated with a dark color.
Tomato ketchup is made from tomatoes, obviously, but that’s not the only ingredient that goes into them. Vinegar is a huge ingredient, as is various forms of sugar. Typically, ripe tomatoes are squeezed into a pulp and added to fine salt. That mixture is then boiled and stirred before being pressed through a fine sieve. After that, various sugars and spices are added to taste. This new mixture is boiled again over a slow fire until thick and bottled when cold. The vinegar is added to prevent spoilage.
Europeans first encountered ketchup in either China or Indonesia. At the time, it was a briny pickled fish sauce and contained no vinegar at all. The closest modern relative of early ketchup would be soy sauce or Worcestershire sauce. When British and Dutch explorers returned home, they did not have the necessary ingredients to re-create traditional Asian ketchup, so they substituted ingredients that were readily available, like mushrooms, walnuts, and even anchovies.
Typically, when we think of ketchup, we think of those red bottles lining the condiment section of the grocery store. What we’re thinking of in these moments is tomato ketchup, and it is by far the most common variety of this condiment.
How Tomato Ketchup Is Made, Tomato Harvesting And Processing Process With Modern Technology
FAQ
What percentage of Heinz ketchup is tomato?
Is there tomato in ketchup?
What percentage of tomato sauce is tomato?
How much tomato is in Heinz tomato sauce?
How much ketchup can I make with 148 g of tomatoes?
For instance, 148g of tomatoes are used to make 100g of a specific Heinz tomato ketchup (Feb-2018, Albert Heijn store website). You might think that ketchup is a good way to use up old, low quality tomatoes. However, often the opposite is the case.
Does homemade tomato soup include a lot of potassium?
The average cup of tomatoes contains roughly 544 mg of potassium, while the average adult requires 4700 mg of potassium daily. While tomatoes are a good source of potassium, the processing method may affect the amount that it contains. Heat at certain levels can reduce the amount of potassium within the tomatoes. A cold tomato soup would have higher levels of potassium than a hot tomato soup would have, though both have a sufficient amount for a meal.
Do tomatoes make ketchup?
Fresh grown tomatoes, a core ingredient of ketchup! The core ingredient of current day ketchup, or tomato ketchup, are tomatoes. The amount varies per brand and type. Tomatoes are washed and ground finely to create a smooth consistency. Along the way, some of the water is removed from the tomatoes to thicken up the sauce.
How acidic is tomato ketchup?
Tomatoes by themselves are already acidic. Vinegar though has a pH-value quite a bit lower than that, bringing the final pH-value of the ketchup down to about 3,9, although the exact value will depend on the brand and type. At this pH-value a lot of micro organisms do not grow anymore, a major hurdle for preserving the ketchup.