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Miso is in every big supermarket now. The trouble is that no two chains agree on which shelf it belongs on.
Which aisle is miso paste in?
Miso paste is in the world food aisle of UK supermarkets, on the shelf with the Japanese ingredients near the soy sauce and rice vinegar. A few brands sit with the Asian cooking sauces instead. Some larger stores also keep a chilled tub near the fresh soups and tofu, so check both if the first spot draws a blank.
Where to look, supermarket by supermarket
The pattern is the same in Tesco, Sainsbury’s, Asda, Morrisons and Waitrose. Work through these four spots in order and you will find it, or establish the store does not stock it.
- World food aisle, Japanese section. Small jars and tubs next to the soy sauce, mirin and rice vinegar. This is where most brands sit.
- Asian cooking sauces. Some supermarket ranges shelve their miso with the stir fry sauces rather than the Japanese ingredients.
- The chiller, near fresh soup and tofu. Larger branches sometimes carry a refrigerated tub here.
- Free from or health food bay. A few stores group miso with other fermented and soy products.
Aisle numbers move between branches of the same chain, so the section is a more reliable instruction than any number. Small Express, Local and Metro shops rarely carry it at all.
Where miso is in Asda
Asda shelves miso in the world food aisle under its Japanese range, which is where the Yutaka white miso sits. Blue Dragon miso paste is filed under cooking sauces instead, so it can turn up a couple of aisles away with the stir fry jars. Itsu miso sachets are usually with the instant soups.
If one spot is empty, try the other before giving up. Two Asda categories means two possible shelves.
How to find the exact aisle in your store
Use the supermarket’s own app. The Tesco Grocery and Clubcard app shows product location and live stock for the store you pick, and can put a shopping list in aisle order. Searching the product on the app before you leave the house is quicker than walking the world food aisle twice.
Which miso to buy
| Type | Tastes like | Use it for |
|---|---|---|
| White (shiro) | Mild, sweet, light | The all rounder. Soups, dressings, marinades |
| Red (aka) | Strong, salty, deep | Hearty stews, braises, glazes |
| Awase | A blend of the two | Everyday cooking if you only want one tub |
| Barley (mugi) | Earthy, savoury | Soups and slow cooked dishes |
Buy white miso first. It is the mildest and the most forgiving, and it is what most recipes assume unless they say otherwise.
What to ask a member of staff
Say miso paste rather than just miso, and say Japanese. Asking for miso on its own sometimes sends people to the instant soup sachets, which are a different product and no use for cooking.
Asian supermarkets
A Japanese, Korean or Chinese grocer is the better trip if you cook with miso regularly. The tubs are far larger, the price per spoon is much lower, and you get the full range of white, red, awase and barley rather than one token jar.
Look in the chilled cabinet as well as the dry shelves. Japanese grocers often refrigerate the better miso.
Buying miso online
Miso keeps for months, so it posts well and buying a large tub online usually works out cheaper per spoon than a supermarket jar. Supermarket delivery is the simplest route if you only want a small one. Specialist Japanese grocers ship the wider range.
Storing it
Keep the tub in the fridge once opened and smooth the surface flat each time so less air sits on it. Miso is heavily salted and fermented, so it lasts a long time, though the colour darkens and the flavour strengthens with age. Some brands specify using it within a few weeks of opening, so read the label.
Frequently asked questions
Which aisle is miso paste in at Asda?
The world food aisle, with the Japanese ingredients. Asda also lists one miso under cooking sauces, so if the world food shelf is empty, check the stir fry sauces. Aisle numbers differ store to store, so use the section rather than a number.
Is miso paste refrigerated in the supermarket?
Usually not. Most UK supermarkets sell it from an ambient shelf and tell you to refrigerate after opening. A few larger stores stock a chilled tub as well, so it is worth a look in both places.
Do all supermarkets sell miso paste?
Larger branches of the main chains do. Convenience format stores often do not, and the range in a small store is usually one white miso at most. A big branch or an Asian grocer is the safer trip.
Where is miso paste near me?
Check your supermarket’s app before travelling. Tesco, Sainsbury’s, Asda and Morrisons all let you search a product and see whether your local branch has it, which saves a wasted trip.
What can I use instead of miso paste?
There is no clean swap, because miso is fermented. Tahini with soy sauce gets the body and salt, and a spoonful of doubanjiang or gochujang works in savoury cooking if you can live with the extra heat.
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- Miso paste. A tub that keeps for months in the fridge.
