There is no better pairing for a good steak than a1 steak sauce. The zesty taste has the power to take even an overcooked steak to the next level. If you follow a keto diet, however, you have to be more careful about what you are eating. Steak itself contains a good amount of fat making it a keto-friendly meal. But what about the sauce? Is a1 steak sauce as keto-friendly as the steak itself?
A1 sauce should be avoided on the keto diet, or at least only consumed in moderation on “dirty keto”. This is because it is high in carbs and full of processed ingredients like high fructose corn syrup. The best keto alternatives to A1 include Guy Gone Keto Steak Sauce, Primal Kitchen Steak Sauce, and Kevin’s Natural Foods Korean BBQ Sauce.
In this article, we will discuss whether or not a1 steak sauce is healthy. We will also dive deeper into why a1 steak sauce is not recommended on the keto diet. Last but not least, we will discuss keto-friendly steak sauce alternatives. Let’s dig in!
Contents
Is A1 Steak Sauce Healthy?
A1 steak sauce is low in calories, but it is highly processed and contains many additives and preservatives.
A1 contains a fair amount of sodium per serving. Excessive sodium intake can lead to serious health problems like high blood pressure, heart disease, kidney disease, dehydration and water retention.
A1 steak sauce also contains corn syrup, which is always a red flag. What makes this particularly harmful, though, is that it is often high fructose corn syrup, which goes directly to the liver and revs up the amount of enzymes that store fat. That has been linked to type 2 diabetes, obesity and even tooth decay.
The famous reddish-brown tone of a1 steak sauce is a result of caramel color, an artificial food coloring. There are decades of research divulging the correlation between artificial food coloring and negative side effects. The most concerning, however, is that two out of the four caramel colors contain a carcinogenic byproduct called 4-methylimidazole, or 4-mel. Unfortunately, Kraft, the maker of a1 steak sauce, does not specify which caramel color they use. While this byproduct is more of a concern in larger amounts, such as in sodas, it is still something you should be aware of.
You will also notice that the ingredients list contains potassium sorbate, which is used to “preserve freshness.” That is a nicer way of saying it is a preservative that is synthetically produced to prevent the growth or spread of bacteria and fungi. Although it is labeled as a “safe ingredient,” studies continue to prove that it is destructive to human DNA and reduces immunity.
Lastly, a1 steak sauce contains xanthan gum. Xanthan gum is used to help prevent separation and add thickness to the liquid. While this ingredient is often safe for use, large amounts of xanthan gum can lead to discomfort, bloating, or diarrhea. Xanthan gum also poses a great risk for allergic reaction since it is derived from common allergens like dairy, soy, wheat, or corn.
In moderation, a1 steak sauce is not the worst thing you could be eating. However, if you consume too much of it, it can have harmful effects on your health. Let’s take a closer look at the ingredients and nutrition facts to find out why.
A1 Nutritional Information
These are the ingredients found in Kraft A1 Steak Sauce:
- Tomato puree (water, tomato paste)
- Vinegar
- Corn syrup
- Salt
- Raisin paste
- Crushed orange puree
- Spices (contains celery)
- Dried garlic
- Caramel color
- Dried onion
- Xanthan gum
- Potassium sorbate (to preserve freshness)
Here is some important nutritional information to note for Kraft A1 Steak Sauce (per 17g serving):
- Calories: 15
- Total fat: 0g
- Cholesterol: 0mg
- Sodium: 290mg
- Total carbs: 3g
- Total sugars: 2g
- Protein: 0g
Keto-Friendly Steak Sauce Alternatives
We learned that the famous A1 Steak Sauce is not healthy and should be avoided on the keto diet. However, that is not the case for all steak sauces. There are plenty of healthy and keto-friendly steak sauces available on the market that will pair perfectly with your next steak dinner.
Guy Gone Keto Steak Sauce
This brand stands out from all the rest due to one ingredient – KetoSweet+. KetoSweet+ is a new ketogenic-safe sweetener that is made with allulose, stevia and monk fruit. Allulose is a safe, non-caloric, non-glycemic sweetener that features the familiar, pleasant flavor and texture of real sugar just without the risks. What could be better than that?
This brand is not only keto, but also paleo-friendly.
These are the ingredients found in Guy Gone Keto Steak Sauce:
- Water
- KetoSweet+ (allulose, monk fruit, stevia)
- Apple cider vinegar
- Tamari soy sauce (water, organic soybeans, salt, organic alcohol to preserve freshness)
- MCT oil
- Tomato paste
- Spice
- Less than 2% of natural flavor
Here is some important nutritional information to note for Guy Gone Keto Steak Sauce (per 1 tablespoon serving):
- Calories: 10
- Total fat: 1g
- Cholesterol: 0mg
- Sodium: 120mg
- Total carbs: less than 1g
- Total sugars: 0g
- Protein: 0g
Primal Kitchen Organic And Sugar Free Steak Sauce
Whether you are into filet and ribeye, or tri-tip and burgers, this savory steak sauce is sure to lock in flavor and moisture. Use this as a marinade or dipping sauce to take your steak or burger to the next level.
This brand is not only keto, but also gluten-free, paleo, whole30-approved, soy-free, vegetarian and non-GMO.
These are the ingredients found in Primal Kitchen Organic and Sugar Free Steak Sauce:
- Water
- Organic balsamic vinegar (organic wine vinegar, organic concentrated grape must)
- Organic crushed tomatoes
- Organic distilled vinegar
- Sea salt
- Organic tamarind
- Organic tapioca starch
- Organic orange juice concentrate
- Organic ground ginger
- Organic onion powder
- Organic garlic powder
- Organic mustard flour
- Organic sage
- Organic black pepper
- Organic allspice
- Organic cloves
- Organic celery seed
Here is some important nutritional information to note for Primal Kitchen Organic and Sugar Free Steak Sauce (per 1 tablespoon serving):
- Calories: 10
- Total fat: 0g
- Sodium: 300mg
- Total carbs: 1g
- Total sugars: 0g
- Protein: 0g
Kevin’s Natural Foods Korean BBQ Sauce
This sweet and spicy Bulgogi sauce is sure to take your steak, chicken or pork to the next level. What is Bulgogi, you ask? Great question! It literally means “fire meat,” so you know this is some seriously good sauce. It is a mild spice, so if you like a little bit of heat, but do not want your mouth to be on fire as you are trying to enjoy your meal, this is the sauce for you.
This brand is not only keto, but also paleo, gluten-free, non-GMO, has no preservatives, soy-free, dairy-free, and vegetarian.
These are the ingredients found in Kevin’s Natural Foods Korean BBQ Sauce:
- Water
- Coconut aminos (coconut nectar, water, sea salt)
- Coconut sugar
- Vinegar
- Sesame oil
- Tapioca starch
- Lemongrass puree (lemongrass, water)
- Yeast extract
- Ginger
- Dehydrated garlic
- Spices
- Cilantro
- Dehydrated onion
- Shiitake mushroom
- Xanthan gum
- Sea salt
- Sesame seed
- Citric acid
- Monkfruit extract
Here is some important nutritional information to note for Kevin’s Natural Foods Korean BBQ Sauce (per 1/4 cup serving):
- Calories: 50
- Total fat: 2g
- Cholesterol: 0mg
- Sodium: 340mg
- Total carbs: 7g
- Total sugars: 3g
- Protein: 1g
G Hughes Sugar Free Steak Sauce
Award-winning pit master G Hughes brings you his sugar free steak sauce that will be perfect for your next steak dinner! It is extremely flavorful and perfect for low-carb or keto diets.
These are the ingredients found in G Hughes Sugar Free Steak Sauce:
- Tomato puree (water, tomato paste)
- Plum puree
- Cider vinegar
- Distilled vinegar
- Modified corn starch
- Salt
- Onion
- Canola oil
- Cracked black pepper
- Garlic powder
- Onion powder
- Tamari soy sauce (water, soybeans, salt)
- Caramel color
- Natural hickory smoke
- Spices
- Xanthan gum
- Sucralose
Here is some important nutritional information to note for G Hughes Sugar Free Steak Sauce (per 1 tablespoon serving):
- Calories: 5
- Total fat: 0g
- Sodium: 150mg
- Total carbs: 1g
- Total sugars: 0g
- Protein: 0g
Final Thoughts
A1 steak sauce is not recommended on the keto diet. While it will not throw your body out of ketosis if consumed in moderation, it is best to avoid it. That is because it is high in carbs and full of unhealthy ingredients like high fructose corn syrup.
Not to worry, though. There are plenty of healthy and keto-friendly steak sauce alternatives available on the market that will pair just as well with your next steak dinner. Those alternatives include Guy Gone Keto Steak Sauce, Primal Kitchen Organic and Sugar Free Steak Sauce, Kevin’s Natural Foods Korean BBQ Sauce, and G Hughes Sugar Free Steak Sauce.
Related Questions
Is A1 Steak Sauce Gluten-Free?
While it is not certified gluten-free, a1 steak sauce is considered to be gluten-free. It is manufactured by Kraft, who has a strict policy of disclosing any and all gluten-containing ingredients on their label.
Is A1 Steak Sauce Vegan?
Although the name might suggest otherwise, a1 steak sauce is vegan-friendly. The ingredients consist of a base of tomato paste, vinegar, then some sweeteners, flavorings and preservatives. No animal products to be found!
Is A1 Steak Sauce Paleo?
A1 original steak sauce is not recommended on the paleo diet. However, there are paleo-friendly alternatives including Guy Gone Keto Steak Sauce, Primal Kitchen Organic And Sugar Free Steak Sauce, and Kevin’s Natural Foods Korean BBQ Sauce.