Excess sweetness can ruin the taste of a sauce. Whether the sauce is prepackaged or homemade, too much sugar can lower its quality and overpower the taste of its other spices, herbs and seasonings. When dishes are too sweet, many people consider adding salt to diminish sweetness; however, salt can actually enhance the sweet taste in foods. The best way to combat sweetness is to dilute your sauce or balance the sweetness with an acidic substance.
Add vinegar, which adds zest and enhances flavors while diminishing the sweetness of food. Include a teaspoon of white or cider vinegar into your sauce until you achieve the desired flavor.
Squeeze lemon or lime juice into your sauce. Citrus fruits offset the sweetness of your sauce while enhancing natural flavors.
Add small amounts of water, more vegetables or some broth to your sauce. The extra ingredients will outweigh the sweetness.