I have a bottle of Lea & Perrins Worcestershire Sauce in my refrigerator. I use Worcestershire Sauce to give Sloppy Joes their tangy taste – but apparently I’ve never really appreciated its ability to make foods more gourmet. According to this 1920 advertisement for Lea & Perrins Sauce, it gives canned meat, soup, fish, and vegetables a real “chef” taste.
I wonder when the word “Worchestershire” was added to the name. Back in 1920, Lea & Perrins was just called a sauce.
A Hundred Years Ago 
I have a bottle of it in the refrigerator, too, and the last time I used it was for sloppy joes. I know that it was considered a necessary ingredient in my mother’s sloppy joes. Today, I rarely come across recipes that call for it.
The fine print references Worcestershire. That said though, who would have thought such a cluttered lable would prove a time worthy seller. It is such a great product!
A few drops in my cheese sauce makes it better.
I use this frequently, but I never put it in the refrigerator! My mom didn’t either.
I don’t put it in the refrigerator either.
I add it to stew, hamburgers, “wimpies” (the NE PA name for sloppy joes, which are called “barbecue” in Central PA), and always to Welsh rarebit. I keep it in the fridge now, but never did in the old days. Because I had a father from New England, I was probably the only kid around who knew how to pronounce it!
Ha-this made me laugh. 🙂
Yes, barbecue. When I was growing up in PA, we all knew what we were getting when BBQ was going to be served. I moved to Texas and it all became very confusing.
I love L&P in my sloppy joes as well!
I put it in the sauce for sticky ribs. Fun post today, Sheryl.
“I have a bottle of Lea & Perrins Worcestershire Sauce in my refrigerator.”
I think everyone does. I know we have one, even though I have no idea what we use it for.
Last week we did the shopping for a home-bound neighbor. Her list had Worcestershire sauce on it, and I texted back asking if she wanted store brand or Lea and Perrins. The reply was immediate — the real stuff.
I put a dash of the sauce in a number of things. Grandson David grew up in a household that used it frequently, so I add it to things he likes.
Now, I am worried. Where does the sauce go? Fridge or pantry?
How amazing that this sauce has been around for one hundred years! Loved the ad and label, Sheryl. I have it in the cupboard and use it for many things. But I can imagine it really spruces up canned foods.
I use Lea & Perrins Worcestershire Sauce in stews or soups. I remember at one time people used to add a few drops to bottled French salad dressing. I wonder if anyone still does?
A classic for years. I put it in my Caesar salad dressing, amongst other things. Also, we have never kept ours in the refrigerator. If anything bad was going to come out of unrefrigerated Worcestershire sauce, it would have happened years ago.
Yep. I’ve got a bottle too! I like to use it with minute steaks and in beef vegetable soup as it does give a special “zing” to the food.
Apparently it was first made in Worcester in the UK, adapted from an Indian recipe. It’s still much appreciated in Britain.
“Cool” ad! I use it on hamburger patties if I’m frying them and in cheese and mushroom soups. I know I use it in other things, too. But I don’t keep mine in the refrigerator, should I?
I add Worcestershire sauce to lots of things. I even have ‘The Lea & Perrins Worcestershire Sauce Cookbook’. There’s a short history at the back of the book. It says that around 1830, when Lord Sandys returned from Bengal to his home in Worcestershire, he asked Lea and Perrins (both chemists) to make up a sauce recipe that he had picked up on his travels. They tasted the completed recipe and thought it tasted terrible. But they put aside a few jars and came upon them several years later. They discovered the mixture had matured into a wonderfully delicious sauce. Commercial production began in 1837.
I think my mom used to add it to meat loaf before baking:)
I grew up with it and still use it. Off hand I can’t think of what dish I use it in. I keep it in the cupboard.
Lea & Perrins brand is the best… I’ve tried other brands while they were okay ,they lacked . I use it in grilling, other sauces and it’s makes a delicious broiled chicken when rolled in butter,Worcestershire sauce then a salted flour. Chicken thighs are the best to use. It sits in my pantry.
I’ve never thought to add it to canned goods.xxx
I use this all the time. Once, when we ran out, my husband bought a store brand. I don’t know if it was psychological or what, but I could tell the difference. Now we only use Lea & Perrins.