# A.1. vs. Heinz 57 **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [November 6, 2015, 7:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-1-vs-heinz-57/736842 "2015-11-06T19:26:02Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2015, 7:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-1-vs-heinz-57/736842/1 "2015-11-06T19:26:02Z")
I started another thread about A.1. Sauce marketing. Thought about posting there, but I think I’ll make a poll. I grew up with A.1 Steak Sauce (now called A.1. Sauce) or Heinz 57 for our steaks. I think I liked them about equally, though Heinz 57 was good mixed into the Beef Rice-A-Roni we’d often have with the steaks. Do you prefer A.1. Sauce, or Heinz 57 Sauce? ---
**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2015, 7:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-1-vs-heinz-57/736842/2 "2015-11-06T19:29:48Z")
I go with A1 Sauce. I rarely use it on a steak, it’s good for other things. Mixing with honey it makes a great glaze for chicken, I’ll add it to BBQ sauce, I had some corned beef hash recently tasted like it had A1 in it, I kind of liked it, others at the breakfast had mixed reviews. I don’t recall the last time I had any Heinz 57. ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2015, 7:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-1-vs-heinz-57/736842/3 "2015-11-06T19:33:09Z")
Ah, just as I was commenting in the other thread on how I prefer other brown sauces, this poll shows up. I find Heinz 57 to be much more useful and goes with more things than A1. This is not to say I don’t like A1, but with A1, I just need the lightest smear of it, as it has a much stronger flavor. ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2015, 7:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-1-vs-heinz-57/736842/4 "2015-11-06T19:34:24Z")
FTR: I almost never use either sauce on my steak. In my arrogant opinion, my steaks can’t possibly be enhanced by a condiment. Mrs. L.A. likes A.1. sauce, though. I don’t say anything. ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2015, 7:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-1-vs-heinz-57/736842/5 "2015-11-06T19:42:38Z")
I don’t use either as a steak sauce, but both are in the pantry as components of other sauces. A-1 Garlic is used the most, followed by HP. I actually prefer 57 on chicken rather than beef. ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2015, 7:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-1-vs-heinz-57/736842/6 "2015-11-06T19:53:51Z")
I prefer A1 over Heinz Spicy Ketchup sauce. ---
**Author:** ![Ponch8](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ponch8/32/9883_2.png) [@Ponch8](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ponch8)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2015, 8:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-1-vs-heinz-57/736842/7 "2015-11-06T20:18:03Z")
A1 whips 57’s buttocks. ---
**Author:** ![Typo\_Negative](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/typo_negative/32/484_2.png) [@Typo\_Negative](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Typo_Negative)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2015, 8:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-1-vs-heinz-57/736842/8 "2015-11-06T20:20:13Z")
> [@Johnny\_L.A](#): > > FTR: I almost never use either sauce on my steak. In my arrogant opinion, my steaks can’t possibly be enhanced by a condiment. A good steak shouldn’t need any sauce. A properly cooked steak (rare) is one of the greatest tastes known to man. Why let anything get in the way of that? ---
**Author:** ![mbh](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a6a055/32.png) [@mbh](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mbh)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2015, 8:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-1-vs-heinz-57/736842/9 "2015-11-06T20:21:12Z")
I would never desecrate a good steak with either, but Heinz is better on ground beef. ---
**Author:** ![moldmonkey](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ee59a6/32.png) [@moldmonkey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/moldmonkey)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2015, 8:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-1-vs-heinz-57/736842/10 "2015-11-06T20:21:49Z")
I voted like them both but I’m from the only thing needed on a good steak is a little salt school of thought. Heinz 57 on hashbrowns is something I’ve loved since I was a kid. A1 is good on chicken or a burger but I rarely use it. ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2015, 8:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-1-vs-heinz-57/736842/11 "2015-11-06T20:42:14Z")
> [@mbh](#): > > I would never desecrate a good steak with either, but Heinz is better on ground beef. Yeah, I don’t use either of these sauces on steak, but I like either with something like meatloaf. On a burger or pork or chicken or even with French fries, I do prefer Heinz 57. As an ingredient, A1 adds a good bit of zip to a sauce when used sparingly, and I find it more useful than Heinz in that particular regard. ---
**Author:** ![ivylass](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/9de053/32.png) [@ivylass](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ivylass)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2015, 8:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-1-vs-heinz-57/736842/12 "2015-11-06T20:43:21Z")
If a steak is cooked right, it needs neither. ---
**Author:** ![Death\_of\_Rats](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a6a055/32.png) [@Death\_of\_Rats](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Death_of_Rats)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2015, 8:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-1-vs-heinz-57/736842/13 "2015-11-06T20:48:21Z")
I rarely use it on steak, but I prefer Heinz 57 for ground beef or leaner cuts of beef. The only time I use A1 is for breakfast. Mixing it together with hash browns and over easy eggs into one big mushing mess is heaven. ---
**Author:** ![Lobohan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lobohan/32/79_2.png) [@Lobohan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lobohan)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2015, 8:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-1-vs-heinz-57/736842/14 "2015-11-06T20:49:22Z")
I like my steaks well-done, and I usually just dip them in ketchup and eat them on hot rice. Okay, now that I’ve exploded the heads of the purists, I’d say of the two, I prefer 57. ---
**Author:** ![AHunter3](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ahunter3/32/368_2.png) [@AHunter3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AHunter3)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2015, 9:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-1-vs-heinz-57/736842/15 "2015-11-06T21:18:59Z")
> [@Johnny\_L.A](#): > > FTR: I almost never use either sauce on my steak. In my arrogant opinion, my steaks can’t possibly be enhanced by a condiment. Mrs. L.A. likes A.1. sauce, though. I don’t say anything. Agree about steaks, but A1 is nice on a burger or on top of meat loaf. ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2015, 9:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-1-vs-heinz-57/736842/16 "2015-11-06T21:40:32Z")
A-1, hands down. Love the stuff. ---
**Author:** ![JohnT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnt/32/15048_2.png) [@JohnT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JohnT)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2015, 9:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-1-vs-heinz-57/736842/17 "2015-11-06T21:47:03Z")
This one is hard. A1 is a taste of childhood, while 57 is much more versatile. Gonna go with A-1 though… ---
**Author:** ![Martin\_Hyde](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/47e85d/32.png) [@Martin\_Hyde](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Martin_Hyde)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2015, 9:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-1-vs-heinz-57/736842/18 "2015-11-06T21:51:29Z")
I like A1 better, like everyone else I don’t eat it on steaks. Does it feel like that’s something from “the past”? When I was growing up steaks were typically overcooked and everyone in my family and who I happened to eat steaks around used A1. Sometime in adulthood I learned that medium rare actually tastes a lot better and isn’t “dangerous” or “bad for you”, and that a well seasoned steak doesn’t need sauce. A1 is a great burger condiment, though. ---
**Author:** ![sitchensis](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sitchensis/32/4892_2.png) [@sitchensis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sitchensis)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2015, 9:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-1-vs-heinz-57/736842/19 "2015-11-06T21:57:20Z")
I’m not a fan of the 57. I like A1 on pork and sometimes chicken but I’m not a regular user. I kind of go in spurts where I might not use it for months and then use it three times in a week. > [@TriPolar](#): > > Mixing with honey it makes a great glaze for chicken, > I don’t recall the last time I had any Heinz 57. Thanks, I’m going to try this. …my meatloaf is glaze is a mixture of ketchup, brown sugar, and a squirt of yellow mustard. ---
**Author:** ![Procrustus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/procrustus/32/2994_2.png) [@Procrustus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Procrustus)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2015, 9:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-1-vs-heinz-57/736842/20 "2015-11-06T21:57:29Z")
> [@Martin\_Hyde](#): > > I like A1 better, like everyone else I don’t eat it on steaks. Does it feel like that’s something from “the past”? When I was growing up steaks were typically overcooked and everyone in my family and who I happened to eat steaks around used A1. Sometime in adulthood I learned that medium rare actually tastes a lot better and isn’t “dangerous” or “bad for you”, and that a well seasoned steak doesn’t need sauce. A1 is a great burger condiment, though. You had me until the last sentence. Burgers don’t need condiments either. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-1-vs-heinz-57/736842.md?page=2)