Adding Soy Sauce To Fried Rice Might Be A Huge Mistake. Here's Why

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You might expect to hear the words, "pass the soy sauce" at Asian restaurants or may have made that request yourself. However, you should think twice before reaching for the bottle to use with certain dishes. For instance, one of the biggest mistakes you can make with fried rice is adding too much soy sauce. Under certain circumstances, it is a potential social faux pas.

At some Japanese and Chinese restaurants, chefs may take offense to patrons saucing up their rice, as the chef already gave the dish a specific flavor profile. So adding soy sauce implies you found the chef's effort lacking.

Even if etiquette isn't a concern, you could still be making a mistake with your soy sauce just by virtue of using too much. Many fried rice recipes already contain it as an ingredient. Soy sauce can be very high in sodium, and adding even more post-cooking could easily overwhelm the dish. While a little salt brings out flavor, too much may harm it.

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It's important to keep in mind that every restaurant is different, and opinions on the use of soy sauce in fried rice may vary. On Reddit, for example, someone asked about the "taboo" surrounding soy sauce and rice in East Asian countries. One user replied that adding soy sauce to white rice is generally considered odd because the grains are left plain so they can be paired with other foods. Meanwhile, if you do the same with fried rice, it "feels more acceptable in this case because ... you're just adjusting the seasoning of something that often is standing by itself."

While it might be a good idea to err on the side of caution when eating out, what do you do if your takeout fried rice seems bland? Although you could certainly add soy sauce, this is not the only way to flavor up fried rice, so you might want to explore other options.

It may seem unusual for a savory dish, but a little sprinkle of sugar can help balance fried rice's flavors, bolstering its overall taste. If you have sesame oil on hand, this flavor pairs well with other seasonings and ingredients commonly used in fried rice. Love it spicy? Try a little chili sauce. With some experimenting, you can find bolder, more exciting ways to enhance fried rice without reaching for that bottle of soy sauce.