Kikkoman Soy Sauce: How to Take Off the Cap & Use It the Right Way

The hack you need to know to conquer the toughest lid in your pantry

Co-authored by Dan Hickey

Last Updated: December 19, 2022 References

Opening a New Bottle

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Pouring the Sauce

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Tips

You ordered in sushi after a long day at work and you’re salivating when you reach for your brand new Kikkoman soy sauce bottle but—ugh!—the cap won’t come off! Lots of people have trouble twisting that iconic red cap off to get to the awesome sauce inside, but thankfully there’s one simple hack that’ll have that bottle open in no time. In this article, we’ll walk you through how to get that stubborn dispenser off plus show you how to use it (there’s a reason it’s got 2 spouts. Who knew?). Read on so you can dig in!

Things You Should Know

Run the stubborn red cap under hot water for about 1 minute to dissolve the crystals that sometimes form in storage and prevent the cap from twisting.
Tap the cap on a countertop or the edge of your sink a few times and then twist to remove it. Use a rubber gripper or damp cloth to get a good grip on it.
Hold a finger over one of the spouts on the cap to prevent soy sauce from flowing out the other side. Release your finger to let the sauce flow.

Method 1

Method 1 of 2:

Opening a New Bottle

1
Remove the outer plastic seal and twist the red cap counterclockwise. Hold the Kikkoman soy sauce bottle firmly in one hand and turn the cap with the other. Use a rubber gripper or a damp cloth to get a good grip on the cap if your hand keeps slipping or the cap is stubborn.^{[1]
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- Try not to squeeze the cap too hard while you twist since the spouts can push into your hand and leave small marks that might hurt a little bit.
2
Run the red cap under hot water for about a minute if it’s stuck. Get your faucet running as hot as it will go and hold the cap under the flow for 1-2 minutes. If the water’s too hot, sit the bottle down in the sink in a spot where the water will hit it consistently.^{[2]
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- The water dissolves salt crystals that form around the cap in storage. These crystals make the cap hard to twist open sometimes.
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3
Try twisting the cap off counterclockwise again. The bottle might be hot, so use a gripper or damp cloth to hold it while you twist the cap. If the cap stays stuck, tap it against a countertop or the edge of your sink to help dislodge it or run it under hot water again (you may need to do this several times).^{[3]
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4
Pop the plastic insert out of the bottle once the cap is off. Look inside the rim of the bottle’s opening for a clear plastic stopper. If it’s not there, look inside the red dispenser cap (sometimes it comes out with it). Use your fingers to pop it out of place and discard it.^{[4]
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5
Twist the red cap back onto the bottle. Once the cap is back on, the bottle is ready for use. Pour away!^{[5]
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Method 2

Method 2 of 2:

Pouring the Sauce

1
Place a finger or thumb over one of the 2 spouts on the dispenser cap. First, grab the bottle with your pouring hand and hold it upright. Then, using a finger or thumb in that same hand, press tightly over one of the spouts to form a seal.^{[6]
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- While you hold the seal, no soy sauce will be able to flow out of the other spout.
2
Tilt and lower the opposite spout to your food or soy sauce dish. Keep your finger or thumb over the other spout while you move the bottle. This will keep the sauce from accidentally dripping or pouring onto your table or food.^{[7]
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3
Release your finger to let the soy sauce flow from the dispenser. When the pouring spout is in position, take your finger off the spout to release the seal. Keep an eye on the sauce while you pour—soy sauce is fast-flowing and has a tendency to splash and stain!^{[8]
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- Leave the second spout uncovered if you’re pouring a lot of sauce into a recipe. The more air that flows through the cap, the faster the sauce pours.^{[9]
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4
Pour your finger back over the spout to stop the flow. When you’ve got enough sauce, press firmly to reseal the spout. Once the sauce stops flowing, move the pouring spout to a new spot on your plate to add more sauce or return the bottle to an upright position on the table.^{[10]
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- Use your finger to control how you use your soy sauce. Raise and lower it quickly for small spurts over rice or sushi, or keep it up for a longer pour.