Peanut sauce made from peanut butter, water, and soy sauce is a dense emulsion typical of Southeast Asian cooking. At 1.217 g/ml — the same as teriyaki sauce — its density is driven by the peanut butter fraction (dense from fat and protein) combined with the dissolved solids in soy sauce. A tablespoon weighs approximately 18 g; a cup weighs approximately 288 g. Consistency varies significantly: thin versions (more water) are pourable and lighter; thick versions (more peanut butter) are closer to a paste and may weigh more per cup due to denser packing. Used in satay, cold noodle dishes, spring rolls, and stir-fries.
What is Sauce, Peanut, Made From Peanut Butter, Water, Soy Sauce?
Peanut sauce made from peanut butter, water, and soy sauce is a dense emulsion typical of Southeast Asian cooking. At 1.217 g/ml — the same as teriyaki sauce — its density is driven by the peanut butter fraction (dense from fat and protein) combined with the dissolved solids in soy sauce. A tablespoon weighs approximately 18 g; a cup weighs approximately 288 g. Consistency varies significantly: thin versions (more water) are pourable and lighter; thick versions (more peanut butter) are closer to a paste and may weigh more per cup.
Viscous condiments like ketchup, BBQ sauce, or dips tend to cling stubbornly to measuring cups. This leads to waste and messy cleanup. Weighing directly into your dish or pan is the professional, clean, and accurate method.
How do I measure sticky sauces without the mess?Place your bowl on the scale, press 'Tare' (Zero), and squeeze/pour the sauce directly until you hit the target gram weight. No measuring spoons to wash!
FAQ
Why does peanut sauce have such high density despite being liquid?
Peanut sauce's high density (1.217 g/ml) comes from peanut butter, which contains dense fats and proteins (density ~1.1–1.2 g/ml when measured as a solid). When emulsified with water, the emulsion's density depends on the ratio — more peanut butter means higher density. Soy sauce also contributes ~1.08 g/ml. The result is considerably heavier per cup than most other liquid sauces.
Does the consistency of peanut sauce affect its gram weight per cup?
Yes, significantly. A thin restaurant-style peanut sauce (mostly water with a small amount of peanut butter) may be closer to 1.10 g/ml (~260 g/cup), while a thick paste-style peanut sauce can exceed 1.30 g/ml. The USDA value (1.217 g/ml) is a reference average for the peanut butter + water + soy sauce formulation. Always measure your specific preparation by weight.
How many grams is a quarter cup of peanut sauce?
At 1.217 g/ml, a quarter cup (59.1 ml) of peanut sauce weighs approximately 72 g. This is about 12 g more than a quarter cup of water (59 g) — a meaningful difference when scaling recipes that call for peanut sauce in tablespoon or cup amounts.