Food expert finally ends debate on whether ketchup should be kept in fridge or cupboard
The long-standing household debate of whether bottled sauces should be stored in the cupboard or the fridge is always sure to cause a divide.
With sauce being an important condiment for most people in their meals, it's crucial that you are aware of how to correctly store it for your own health.
And while arguments are strong on both sides on whether sauce should be kept chilled in the fridge or left in a room temperature cupboard, similarly to how they are found in stores, an expert has finally put an end to the debate as he reveals the correct answer.
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Joshua Houston, Food Storage Expert at Households Quotes has explained you can actually do both - but it depends on whether or not the sauce has been opened.
For sauces that are still sealed, the cupboard is okay to store them in but anything that has been opened should be kept in the fridge as he warned that not storing sauce properly can actually have 'dangerous' repercussions.
Do not store unsealed bottled sauce in your cupboard
Joshua explains unopened sauce bottles can be stored in cupboards at room temperature - however, once they’ve been opened, they can’t.
Once unsealed, they should be stored inside your refrigerator, and if you read the packaging of a sauce bottle closely, you’ll notice it is also recommended on there. But due to the small writing, many people miss this, and assume it’s alright to store in your cupboard when it actually could be dangerous.
Can bottled sauce go bad?
Bottled sauces go off quicker when stored in a cupboard than in a fridge. Room temperature can cause mould to grow inside the bottle, which is extremely hazardous to those who consume it.
Bottled sauce should also be used within a month of it being opened, even if it’s stored in a fridge. To identify if your sauce has gone off, you remove the bottle lid and check for any unusual signs.
Alternatively, if the taste is more sour than usual, then this is usually an indication that the sauce is past its best.
Why should bottled sauce be refrigerated?
Bottled sauce should be refrigerated as it keeps it fresh for longer and also prevents mould from building up. Many people also enjoy the taste of chilled sauce to that of room temperature which helps preserve its ‘kick’.
More importantly, not refrigerating your sauce could lead to you and other members of your household becoming ill.
Joshua advised: "The last thing you want is to get ill from consuming something that has gone off. Refrigerating also allows you to get more for your money, as it gives you more time to finish the sauce before binning".
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