Does Ketchup Need to Be Refrigerated? A Food Safety Expert Weighs In (2024)

FAQs

Does Ketchup Need to Be Refrigerated? A Food Safety Expert Weighs In? ›

The bottom line is that while ketchup is a shelf-stable product, refrigerating it after it's opened is recommended by food scientist and food safety experts in order to preserve its trademark taste, color, and flavor.

If you keep your ketchup out all day at a barbecue, do you need to throw it away? Sargent clarifies that “for ketchup that is kept at room temperature, it should be consumed within 30 days.” Even without preservatives, most all-natural ketchups can handle some time stored at room temperature, Wagner says.

He said that while it's unlikely anyone would get sick after eating room-temperature ketchup, the condiment holds up better when kept cold. “You're not going to have pathogens grow in room-temperature ketchup, though some mold could grow there,” he said.

Because restaurants that offer ketchup as a condiment go through the item much more quickly than even the most ketchup-loving folks among us, there's little to no danger of it spoiling.

Shelf-stable condiments, like stone ground mustard, red wine vinegar, strawberry preserves, and wing sauce, don't need to be as cold as other perishable foods like milk, eggs, and meat, so they can hang out on your refrigerator door.

Yes, ketchup can go bad. If unopened, commercial ketchup “can last for up to a year in your pantry,” says Okegbe, but once opened and refrigerated, it should ideally be consumed within six months. If left in the pantry once opened, use up the ketchup within a month to be safe.

The guidelines at FoodSafety.gov state that shelf-stable products like mustard, mayo, barbecue sauce, ketchup, soy sauce, teriyaki sauce, Worcestershire sauce and salsa will benefit from being stored in the fridge. "Refrigeration ensures that commercial sauces and condiments stay fresh for a longer period of time."

According to The National Peanut Board, an unopened jar of peanut butter can last six to nine months at room temperature. Once opened, they say that it can last two to three months in the pantry before you should move it to the fridge, where it can maintain quality for another three to four months.

Keep unopened mayo in a cool, dry place, such as the pantry or cabinet. Refrigerate after opening. After opening, always refrigerate mayonnaise in order to maintain freshness, flavor, and texture, and food safety measures or protocol.

Like vinegar, Worcestershire sauce does not need to be refrigerated. Whether unopened or open it can be stored in the pantry for two years.

Why not refrigerate mustard? ›

sometimes. Dijon and horseradish-based mustards should be refrigerated, but others are OK to leave out if you prefer them at room temperature. Refrigerating yellow mustard will help maintain its flavor, but it doesn't contain any ingredients that spoil.

Butter and margarine are safe at room temperature. However, if butter is left out at room temperature for several days, the flavor can turn rancid so it's best to leave out whatever you can use within a day or two.

Do Fresh Eggs Need to Be Refrigerated? Freshly laid eggs need to be refrigerated immediately. Fresh eggs purchased from a farmers market need to be refrigerated as soon as you get home. Per USDA guidelines, eggs should be stored at 40 degrees F or below to help minimize the risk of Salmonella.

Opened Bottles

Once your ketchup bottle has been opened, you can either store it in the refrigerator or out in the open. As we mentioned, the air tight seal will help to ensure the quality, however, the fridge is always the best bet for keeping products fresher for longer.

Ketchup Specifics: Shelf-Life and Spoilage

Ketchup has a high acidity level due to ingredients like vinegar, which extends its shelf life. An unopened bottle of ketchup can typically last well beyond the printed date when stored properly.

However, once they're opened, they should be used quickly. "After opening a high-acid canned food, like a tomato sauce, it can be stored safely in the refrigerator for five to seven days before being used," says Shelley Feist, executive director of the Partnership for Food Safety Education.

"Placing ketchup in the refrigerator helps to significantly slow down the growth of these spoilage microorganisms,” Le says. He notes that refrigeration is only necessary once the product has been opened.