For those who want a smoky taste in their food without breaking out an actual smoker, liquid smoke will add the aroma and flavor of smoked food with a few drops from a bottle. Using a charcoal or gas grill does not impart the same tastes, and liquid smoke is an alternative even if you grill.
Yes, pure liquid smoke is vegan. Once a manufacturer starts adding ingredients such as caramel colors, it requires a closer look. Lazy Kettle, Colgin, and Wright’s Liquid Smoke are all advertised vegan brands. The best vegan alternatives to liquid smoke are Weber BBQ Sauce, McCormick Smoked Paprika, The Spice Way Chipotle Powder or La Costena Chopped Chipotle Peppers.
Let’s dive into how liquid smoke is made and different ingredients that are often added to liquid smoke that you might want to be wary of. We’ll present several vegan brands and what differentiates each one, then talk about several alternatives to achieve the same smoky flavor in your dishes.
Contents
- How is Liquid Smoke Made?
- What is Liquid Smoke used for?
- What makes Liquid Smoke non-Vegan?
- Liquid Smoke Brands
- Alternatives to Liquid Smoke
- Smoked Barbecue Sauce
- Weber Real Molasses Hickory Smoke BBQ Sauce
- Smoked Paprika
- McCormick Organic Smoked Paprika
- Smoked Salt
- San Francisco Salt Company Smoked Sea Salt
- Chipotle Powder
- The Spice Way Chipotle Powder
- Canned Chipotle Pepper Liquid
- La Costena Chipotle Peppers, Diced
- Smoked Tea
- Stash Tea Lapsang Souchong Tea
- Related Questions
How is Liquid Smoke Made?
Not all liquid smoke is created the same. This is how Colgin Liquid Smoke is made. This is the old-fashioned way of making liquid smoke, and they’ve been using the time-tested process for over 100 years.
- Wood is placed in a large vat where intense heat causes the wood to smolder (not burn).
- The gas is released as ordinary smoke.
- These gases are captured and chilled in condensers which makes them liquid.
- The liquid is then refined and filtered to remove impurities.
- The liquid is aged in oak barrels.
In other brands, modern manufacturing methods and different ingredients can be used to create smoky flavors.
What is Liquid Smoke used for?
When you want the flavor of grilling without actually grilling, liquid smoke emulates that flavor and smell. Many processed marinades, sauces, and flavored foods used liquid smoke in their recipes. For vegans who miss the bacon flavors, meaty flavors, liquid smoke can emulate that flavor to an extent.
Is Liquid Smoke Safe?
Many studies have been done regarding grilled and smoked meats and whether they are carcinogenic. This is a highly complex question, and some say that it damages our DNA. The same studies say that baking a dish with liquid smoke for 1 hour at 350F will eliminate this risk.
Another study says that our daily carcinogen limit is 47, and liquid smoke has .8 per teaspoon, so you’d have to consume a lot for it to be detrimental. Particular food such as smoked salmon and lox are way over this scale.
The rule of thumb is that occasional use of liquid smoke is acceptable, and if you are worried, try one of the alternatives listed above.
What makes Liquid Smoke non-Vegan?
Liquid smoke in its most pure form is vegan. The differences come in when the manufacturer starts adding food additives.
Natural Flavors
Natural Flavors are always a questionable ingredient as they can come from animal or plant sources. They are added to compensate for the flavor lost in processing and increase shelf stability. Sometimes they can contain glutamates and allergens. Unless the producer explicitly states the source, vegans should strive to find an alternative that does not use this ingredient.
Caramel Colors
Caramel colors in an industrial setting are made by reacting sugars with ammonia and sulfites under high pressure and temperature. The chemical reactions can create 4-methylimidazole, which causes cancer in laboratory mice. If you have a choice to steer clear of these ingredients, it is wise to do so.
Other Additives
Some liquid smoke brands are highly processed, containing soy proteins, high fructose corn syrup, hydrolyzed vegetable protein, artificial colors, and numerous preservatives. This does not necessarily make them non-vegan but does make them less natural and less healthy.
Liquid Smoke Brands
Lazy Kettle Brand All-Natural Liquid Smoke
This brand is as pure as it gets, with only one ingredient: 100% pure smoke in an aqueous (water) base. It is an excellent choice for vegan cooking. It’s also gluten-free and has no MSG.
Ingredients:
- Natural Liquid Smoke
Nutrition (per 1 tsp):
- 0 Calories
- 0g Fat
- 0mg Sodium
- 0g Carbohydrates
- 0g Protein
Colgin Liquid Smoke
This brand is vegan, kosher, gluten-free, and has no added MSG.
Varieties:
- Natural Hickory
- Natural Mesquite
- Natural Pecan
- Natural Apple Flavored
Ingredients in Natural Hickory:
- Water
- Natural Hickory Smoke Flavor
- Vinegar
- Molasses
- Caramel Color
Nutrition (per 1 tsp):
- 0 Calories
- 0g Fat
- 0mg Cholesterol
- 10mg Sodium
- 0mg Carbohydrates
- 0g Protein
Wright’s Liquid Smoke
Wright’s smoke varieties are kosher, paleo-friendly, and vegan.
Varieties:
- Applewood
- Hickory
- Mesquite
Ingredients in Natural Hickory Seasoning:
- Water
- Natural Hickory Smoke Flavor
Ingredients (per 1 tsp.)
- 0 Calories
- 0g Fat
- 0mg Sodium
- 0g Carbohydrates
- 0g Protein
Figaro Liquid Smoke
Figaro is non-GMO, gluten-free, kosher, and halal. It does contain soy. While it’s not labeled vegan, the ingredient list indicates that it is.
Varieties:
- Hickory
- Mesquite
Ingredients in Hickory Flavor Liquid Smoke:
- Water
- Hickory Smoke Flavor
- Vinegar
- Hydrolyzed Soy Protein
- Sugar
- Caramel Color
- Spices
Nutrition (per 1 tsp):
- 0 Calories
- 0g Fat
- 55mg Sodium
- 0g Total Carbohydrates
- 0g Protein
Stubb’s Hickory Liquid Smoke
Stubb’s does not contain obvious non-vegan ingredients, but it does not claim to be vegan. It is gluten-free. It does add a few more ingredients, which add calories, sodium, and carbohydrates (mainly in the form of sugar).
Ingredients:
- Water
- Natural Hickory Smoke
- Organic Tamari Sauce
- Water
- Organic Soybeans
- Salt
- Cane Sugar
- Organic Distilled Vinegar
- Caramel Color
- Salt
- Garlic
- Onion
Nutrients (per 1 tsp):
- 50 Calories
- 0g Fat
- 390mg Sodium
- 11g Carbohydrates (10g Sugar)
- 0g Protein
Alternatives to Liquid Smoke
Here are other ways to achieve a smoky flavor on foods without using the grill or Liquid Smoke.
Smoked Barbecue Sauce
One way to add smoke flavor is to use a condiment with liquid smoke incorporated into the recipe. Many barbecue sauces have smoke flavor as one of the ingredients. Choose one that is organic and all-natural for best results.
Weber Real Molasses Hickory Smoke BBQ Sauce
Ingredients:
- Water
- Tomato Paste
- Sugar
- Vinegar
- Corn Starch
- Salt
- Caramel Color
- Molasses
- Natural Hickory Smoke Flavor
- Spice
- Garlic
- Ancho Chili Pepper
- Red Pepper
Nutrients (per 2 Tbsp.):
- 35 Calories
- 0g Fat
- 230mg Sodium
- 8g Carbohydrates (6g Sugar)
- .25g Protein
Smoked Paprika
Paprika is dried crushed chilis, while smoked paprika is made from chilis that were smoked before they were crushed. Woods used vary, but oak is common. It results in a robustly smoky flavor. It can be used as a dry rub combined with salt and pepper in place of liquid smoke.
McCormick Organic Smoked Paprika
Ingredients:
- Organic Paprika
- Silicon Dioxide (to make it free-flowing)
Nutrients:
- 0 Calories
- 0g Fat
- 0mg Sodium
- 0g Carbohydrates
- 0g Protein
Smoked Salt
In its purest form, smoked salt is sea salt smoked over wood. It comes in a variety of flavors depending on the wood used. It can be coarse or fine grain. This method does add sodium to the mix.
San Francisco Salt Company Smoked Sea Salt
This contains no MSG, soy, gluten, dairy, or anti-caking agents. It is organic and comes in fine or coarse grain. Use smoked salt to add a smoky, salty flavor to meats, salads, eggs, caramel sauce, and more.
Varieties
- Cherrywood
- Alderwood
- Hickory
- Apple
Ingredients:
- Smoked Sea Salt
Nutrients (per ¼ tsp):
- 0 Calories
- 0g Fat
- 590mg Sodium
- 0g Carbohydrates
- 0g Protein
Chipotle Powder
Chipotle powder is another spice used in a rub or sprinkled on a dish for a smoky flavor. Smoked jalapeno peppers add a sweet hot flavor with a hint of smokiness.
The Spice Way Chipotle Powder
This company uses no preservatives, additives, or fillers. They handpick the peppers, sun-dry them, and then pack them by hand.
Ingredients:
- Chipotle Pepper
Nutrients (per ½ tsp):
- 0 Calories
- 0g Fat
- 0mg Sodium
- 0g Carbohydrates
- 0g Protein
Canned Chipotle Pepper Liquid
Chipotle peppers are often sold in cans with an Adobo Sauce. This sauce has a smoky flavor, which would be good added to select recipes. The ingredients are vegan.
La Costena Chipotle Peppers, Diced
Ingredients:
- Water
- Chipotle Peppers
- Onions
- Tomato Paste
- Vinegar
- Iodized Salt
- Sugar
- Ancho Peppers
- Spices
- Natural Smoke Flavor
Nutrients (per 2 Tbsp.)
- 15 Calories
- 0g Fat
- 280mg Sodium
- 3g Carbohydrates (less than 1g Dietary Fiber)
- Less than 1g Protein
Smoked Tea
A Chinese black tea called lapsang souchong is made by smoke-drying the tea leaves over a pinewood fire. This results in a smoky aroma. In recipes, the dry tea leaves can be added to rubs, or the tea can be brewed and added to other liquid ingredients.
Stash Tea Lapsang Souchong Tea
Ingredients:
- Lapsang Souchong black tea
Nutrients:
- 0 Calories
- 0g Fat
- 0mg Sodium
- 0g Carbohydrates
- 0g Protein
Related Questions
How long will Liquid Smoke last in Your Pantry?
The shelf life of liquid smoke is around two years, so that a small bottle will last you a while.
Are there Non-Food Options for a Smoky Flavor?
You can make smoke at home in your kitchen with a Smoking Gun. You put wood chips in one end, place the smoking lid over your food, attach the hose to the smoking lid, light the wood chips, and pull a trigger. The smoke will envelop the food and give it a smoky flavor. There are different wood chips available, including pear, cottonwood, cherry, and hickory.
What Can a Smoking Gun Be Used For?
You can use a smoking gun for cheese, popcorn, pizza, and more.