# 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:** 2
**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, 10:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-1-vs-heinz-57/736842/21 "2015-11-06T22:14:24Z")
> [@Procrustus](#): > > You had me until the last sentence. Burgers don’t need condiments either. A.1. Sauce is good on ground beef. My burger-making habits have changed, though. I used to make _humongous_ burgers. Though I didn’t use steak sauce on them, it wouldn’t have been out of place. Nowadays a smash a quarter-pound ball of ground beef, and make traditional thin burgers with salt and pepper. I would not like steak sauce on one of those. With the smashburgers, it’s all about the flavour of the meat. ---
**Author:** ![Northern\_Piper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/northern_piper/32/5304_2.png) [@Northern\_Piper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Northern_Piper)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2015, 10:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-1-vs-heinz-57/736842/22 "2015-11-06T22:18:52Z")
Meh. HP sauce is the only one worth using. 😉 ---
**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, 10:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-1-vs-heinz-57/736842/23 "2015-11-06T22:27:43Z")
> [@Northern\_Piper](#): > > Meh. HP sauce is the only one worth using. 😉 Yeah, but then the poll would be **A.1. vs. Heinz 57 vs. HP**. Which it isn’t. 😛 . ---
**Author:** ![Fleetwood](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fleetwood/32/271_2.png) [@Fleetwood](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fleetwood)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2015, 10:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-1-vs-heinz-57/736842/24 "2015-11-06T22:35:43Z")
> [@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\*\*. The high price of marital harmony. ---
**Author:** ![CT\_Damsel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/dfb087/32.png) [@CT\_Damsel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CT_Damsel)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2015, 10:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-1-vs-heinz-57/736842/25 "2015-11-06T22:56:22Z")
I like both. For me they are like apples and oranges: used for different foods. Heinz 57 is the secret ingredient in my much loved meatloaf. ---
**Author:** ![May\_20](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ce7236/32.png) [@May\_20](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/May_20)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2015, 11:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-1-vs-heinz-57/736842/26 "2015-11-06T23:04:09Z")
While I agree that a good steak needs no sauce, sometimes my steaks don’t turn out as I would have liked them to. So, it’s usually A1 to the rescue. I like A1 with beef, but I prefer Heinz 57 with pork or chicken. ---
**Author:** ![Tamerlane](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tamerlane/32/7602_2.png) [@Tamerlane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tamerlane)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2015, 11:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-1-vs-heinz-57/736842/27 "2015-11-06T23:16:28Z")
I’m kind of torn between “I like them about the same” and “I loathe them” as the closest points. In actual fact I think they’re both okay but unexceptional, I prefer A-1 just a bit and I never really use either. My memories are entirely from childhood. ---
**Author:** ![bobot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bobot/32/21622_2.png) [@bobot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bobot)\ **Post date:** [November 7, 2015, 12:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-1-vs-heinz-57/736842/28 "2015-11-07T00:52:02Z")
I was gong to vote for A1, because it’s awesome when called for, but realized that I don’t remember ever trying Heinz 57. ---
**Author:** ![hogarth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hogarth/32/1773_2.png) [@hogarth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hogarth)\ **Post date:** [November 7, 2015, 1:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-1-vs-heinz-57/736842/29 "2015-11-07T01:01:56Z")
I voted for disliking them both (“loathe” isn’t the word I would use), but I suspect I’m thinking of HP sauce instead of Heinz 57. I don’t really like ketchup either. ---
**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 7, 2015, 1:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-1-vs-heinz-57/736842/30 "2015-11-07T01:08:16Z")
> [@Procrustus](#): > > You had me until the last sentence. Burgers don’t need condiments either. Eh, a hamburger is a sandwich, sandwiches generally benefit from the right condiment. I can’t think of any of the various “gourmet” burgers at local restaurants that have no condiments at all. I’ll have to respectfully disagree. ---
**Author:** ![TBG](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/c89c15/32.png) [@TBG](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TBG)\ **Post date:** [November 7, 2015, 1:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-1-vs-heinz-57/736842/31 "2015-11-07T01:23:59Z")
Without A1 it’s not a steak. ---
**Author:** ![Frank](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Frank](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frank)\ **Post date:** [November 7, 2015, 1:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-1-vs-heinz-57/736842/32 "2015-11-07T01:30:05Z")
I like A-1. Not on steak, for heaven’s sake! On steak sandwiches, or hamburgers, or similar. ---
**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 7, 2015, 3:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-1-vs-heinz-57/736842/33 "2015-11-07T03:04:30Z")
> [@TBG](#): > > Without A1 it’s not a steak. Yes, I know we’re in a distinct minority here (and perhaps everywhere), but I agree. Virtually every steak I’ve ever had has been made even better by A-1. Heinz 57 is too sweet by comparison IMHO. ---
**Author:** ![Spud](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spud/32/347_2.png) [@Spud](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spud)\ **Post date:** [November 7, 2015, 3:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-1-vs-heinz-57/736842/34 "2015-11-07T03:12:53Z")
I don’t know what it is about my taste buds, because I usually think I have a fairly discerning palate, but A1, HP, and even Pick a Pepper are really hard for me to distinguish between. I’m sure if I had a taste test side by side I could tell a difference, but for most things I would say they are interchangeable. I can’t really comment on Heinz 57 since I don’t think I’ve tried it in years. ---
**Author:** ![Cub\_Mistress](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ea666f/32.png) [@Cub\_Mistress](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cub_Mistress)\ **Post date:** [November 7, 2015, 4:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-1-vs-heinz-57/736842/35 "2015-11-07T04:01:30Z")
My parents preferred and served well done steaks so I grew up with A.1. sauce. When I started dating I discovered rare steaks and never looked at A.1. again…unless I was served a well done steak at home or someone else’s house. In those cases, I use the proffered A.1. to lube it enough to get it down while smiling and making appreciative noises. ---
**Author:** ![SeaDragonTattoo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/df705f/32.png) [@SeaDragonTattoo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SeaDragonTattoo)\ **Post date:** [November 7, 2015, 5:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-1-vs-heinz-57/736842/36 "2015-11-07T05:20:37Z")
I use them differently so they’re not competitors in my book. A1 is for beef and pretty much just that. I’ll use 57 on fries, chicken and eggs. I don’t have either in my pantry, though. I tend to use a balsamic reduction on steaks (if I use anything) and other options for fries or other proteins. ---
**Author:** ![Carryon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/9fc29f/32.png) [@Carryon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Carryon)\ **Post date:** [November 7, 2015, 3:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-1-vs-heinz-57/736842/37 "2015-11-07T15:12:02Z")
I could use Heinz 57 on anything I put ketchup on. A-1, is just OK to me. ---
**Author:** ![cmyk](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cmyk/32/3353_2.png) [@cmyk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cmyk)\ **Post date:** [November 7, 2015, 3:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-1-vs-heinz-57/736842/38 "2015-11-07T15:49:36Z")
> [@May\_20](#): > > While I agree that a good steak needs no sauce, sometimes my steaks don’t turn out as I would have liked them to. So, it’s usually A1 to the rescue. Yep, same here. I love my steaks grilled medium, salt & pepper. But if it turns out overcooked or if it’s a cut I don’t particularly like over others, break out the A1 (though, lately, I’ve been using Famous Dave’s “Devil’s Spit” BBQ Sauce). ---
**Author:** ![Jamicat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/c67d28/32.png) [@Jamicat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jamicat)\ **Post date:** [November 7, 2015, 7:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-1-vs-heinz-57/736842/39 "2015-11-07T19:37:12Z")
I would have voted for Worcestershire out of the three. 😉 A good steak needs nothing but a little salt n peppa. ---
**Author:** ![ekedolphin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ekedolphin/32/10003_2.png) [@ekedolphin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ekedolphin)\ **Post date:** [November 7, 2015, 10:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-1-vs-heinz-57/736842/40 "2015-11-07T22:26:08Z")
I’ve never tried either. Actually I like L&P on steak. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-1-vs-heinz-57/736842.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-1-vs-heinz-57/736842.md?page=3)