Refrigerator or pantry? When it comes to condiments, you might have questions about where exactly they go
Pull out your butter keepers and honey dippers. We've got the answers. As for condiments that do not need to be refrigerated, the household staple vinegar is fine at room temperature
According to the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, unopened vinegar can be stored in a pantry or cupboard for two years
while open vinegar can be kept for one year. Many other sources, including the Vinegar Institute, argue that vinegar's shelf life
is indefinite. Since vinegar is so acidic, it inhibits the growth of mold and bacteria
While it might change color or flavor over time, this will not make it unsafe to consume
You might notice that some types of vinegar, such as balsamic or apple cider
are sold in dark glass bottles. This is because light can cause these kinds of vinegar to
deteriorate more quickly. The shelf life of balsamic, for example, is only three to five
beers, as opposed to the endless time frame of the plain white stuff. If your vinegar is stored
in a clear bottle, you should consider transferring it to a dark container if you plan on keeping it
for a long time. Since mustard has limited ingredients and is very acidic, it seems like
a product that doesn't need to be refrigerated. And that's because it doesn't, really. According
to Yahoo!, you don't have to refrigerate mustard for safety reasons. However, you'll still want to
keep those bottles and jars in the fridge for the ideal taste experience. The McCormick Company
which sells French's mustard, notes that the flavor of Dijon or horseradish mustard will fade
if not chilled, while other types simply keep longer in the cold. Mustard is made from ingredients
that don't really spoil, like vinegar, mustard seed, and other spices, so this condiment won't
go bad like French dressing does. While unrefrigerated mustard can last for several months
past the sell-by date, the flavor will start to change and the consistency will become more watery
over time. Dry, unpleasant mustard will probably go in the trash, so keeping it in the fridge will
guarantee it lasts as long as possible. If you want your mustard to retain the sharp
tangy taste we all know and love, store it with these extra precautions. Mr. Simpson, it's a felony to lie to the FBI
We were sitting in Barney's car eating packets of mustard. You happy? Much like vinegar, hot sauce is extremely acidic, meaning bacteria and mold have a hard time growing
in it. Given this fact, most hot sauces do not need to be refrigerated. There are many different
varieties of hot sauce, but most can last for several years after opening before losing their
flavor. Cholula hot sauce, for example, can be enjoyed for up to six months after being opened
while Louisiana hot sauce can last up to five years. If you're unsure whether or not your hot
sauce needs to be refrigerated, check the ingredient list. If it contains vinegar
water and salt as its main ingredients it doesn need to be refrigerated However if your hot sauce also consists of dairy products or fresh vegetables it should be stored in the fridge Jelly and jam are some of the most popular condiments out there responsible for creating delicious toasts and the famous PB While some types of jelly can
be stored at room temperature, most people prefer to keep their preserves in the fridge
and for good reason. According to food safety specialist Nicole Richard, an open jar of jelly
will develop mold more quickly if left unrefrigerated. Keep in mind that these products can still grow
mold in the fridge, so you're best off using them within a reasonable time frame
As with other items, most store-bought jams and jellies can be kept outside of the refrigerator
as long as the jars remain sealed. However, once you open the jar, it's best to stick it in the fridge
Honey is known as one of the only food products that doesn't spoil. Honey stored in a sealed container and kept away from sunlight can last indefinitely
Keeping your honey in the refrigerator can actually be bad for it. Since the cool temperature thickens the consistency, it makes it impossible to squeeze out of the
bottle until it warms up again. If you notice your honey is starting to crystallize or has changed color, this doesn't necessarily
mean it has gone off. You can simply place the jar of honey in a pot of hot water for a few minutes to reverse
the process. The only reason you should discard honey is if it has clearly spoiled and shows a significant
color change or even visible mold. This should not happen with pure honey, as the bacteria that cause food to go bad cannot
survive in pure honey. However, some honey products may contain other ingredients that can indeed spoil
Be sure to check the ingredient list and store the container according to the manufacturer's
instructions if it isn't pure honey. I trust that this handsome, young customer knows what he's talking about
Oh my, and I thought only bees pour on the honey. There are plenty of varieties of salad dressing, and most need to be kept in the refrigerator
Many contain dairy for added creaminess and flavor. Rance dressing, for example, contains buttermilk, while Caesar dressing traditionally contains
Parmesan cheese. The U.S. Department of Agriculture lists dairy products as perishable foods that must be
refrigerated for safety reasons. Therefore, if salad dressing contains any dairy product
including milk, yogurt, or cheese, it needs to be in the fridge. The USDA lumps salad dressing with mayonnaise among the products that need to be refrigerated
after opening, regardless of the specific brand or type. Like mayonnaise, you can find some dairy-based
salad dressing sold as shelf-stable products in the grocery store. Similarly, these need to be
refrigerated after opening. Even if your salad dressing doesn't contain dairy, it probably still
belongs in the refrigerator. Many salad dressings contain other perishable ingredients such as fruit
and citrus that can go bad more quickly when left unrefrigerated. Unless your salad dressing
only consists of vinegar and olive oil, it's best to stick it in the fridge
Like honey, olive oil is another condiment that really should be kept out of the fridge for
optimal results Storing olive oil in the fridge can cause it to solidify and form crystals While While this can be reversed by bringing the oil back up to room temperature it will add extra steps to your cooking process and won give you the best oil experience If you looking to prolong the
shelf life of your olive oil, the best way to do so is by storing it in a cool, dark place
Another way to make sure your olive oil lasts as long as possible is by investing in a dark glass
bottle with a tight-fitting lid. Light and oxygen are two of the main factors that cause olive oil
to go bad, so storing it in a sealed container will help it last longer. Also, be sure to avoid
vessels made from reactive metals such as copper or iron, as these can produce toxins that make
your oil unhealthy to consume. Mayonnaise is made from an emulsion of eggs, oil, and vinegar. When
you purchase mayo at the grocery store, it is not refrigerated, so you may wonder if it's necessary
to put your jar in the fridge when you get home. According to Amy C. Keating, a registered dietitian
and nutritionist, this condiment is shelf-stable after being packaged in sterile, airtight containers
That being said, the sterile environment disappears once you open the jar
Freeze, sucker! Put down the mayonnaise. Although the acid in mayonnaise makes it more difficult for bacteria to grow
this condiment can still go bad when left outside of the fridge. Keeping it cool in
the refrigerator slows down bacterial growth and reduces the risk of catching a bug after
making a sandwich. So while you can keep your mayonnaise in the pantry after purchasing it
from the grocery store, make sure to stick it in the fridge immediately after you open it
Whereas spare soy sauce packets from old takeout orders probably sit in a drawer in your kitchen
your bottle of soy sauce might be in the fridge. So where does this condiment really belong
While you're free to keep it chilled if you want, soy sauce can safely be stored in your pantry
Because this condiment is made through a fermentation process, it is able to be left
at room temperature for a year without spoiling. However, it's important to note that soy sauce
will change color and flavor over time, especially when exposed to oxygen and sunlight
If you notice your soy sauce has started to turn brown or taste different than usual
it's probably time to toss it. Other signs of spoiled soy sauce include white floaties, an odd smell, or a difference in texture
If you're not going to refrigerate your soy sauce, keep it in a cool dark cabinet for
the best results. There has been a long debate about where to keep ketchup
Most people seem to prefer to keep it refrigerated, and Heinz, the leading manufacturer of ketchup
recommends refrigerating it after opening for the best results. Other people, however, prefer to keep ketchup in the pantry, as do many restaurants that
leave it out all day and night. Given the high acid ingredients it contains, ketchup is actually shelf-stable
Of course, many people still recommend that you keep your ketchup in the fridge
Like mustard, this condiment can dry out and separate more quickly when left on the counter
While you probably won get sick it can negatively affect the flavor and texture of the product Today leaves it up to personal preference If you like room temperature ketchup then keep it on the counter And if you like it cold then keep it in the fridge Just be sure to use it up as quickly as possible if you not
refrigerating it. Since nuts can go rancid over time, it's not crazy to store your peanut butter
in the refrigerator. This product, however, does not need to be refrigerated. Ideally
peanut butter should be stored in a cool dark place in an airtight container though. Again
light and oxygen are two of the main factors that cause peanut butter to go bad
so storing it in a sealed vessel will help it last longer. Keep in mind that homemade and natural peanut butter should ideally be kept cool
since both are made without preservatives. According to the National Peanut Board
a jar of peanut butter that has not yet been opened can last for six to nine months in the pantry
Meanwhile, an open jar of peanut butter will last about two to three months before it begins to deteriorate in quality. One perk of refrigerating your peanut butter
is that it can last longer, but the downside to chilling this condiment is that it becomes firm
and harder to spread until it warms up again. If you're used to storing your butter in the
refrigerator, you were probably shocked the first time you saw someone storing it on the counter
Most dairy products need to be refrigerated after all. Butter, however, is the exception
According to the USDA, butter and margarine are safe to consume at room temperature. The department
does recommend using it within two days, though, because the flavor can go rancid when it's left
out any longer than that. According to Healthline, the safest kind of butter to leave on the counter
is salted butter, because salt can ward away bacteria growth. Since light can cause butter
to go rancid more quickly, be sure to infest in a butter tray with a lid to protect it from
oxygen and light. You'll also want to keep it away from the stove in the coolest, darkest part
of your kitchen for the best results. If you can't create these optimal conditions or won't use up
the butter in two days, it's best to keep it in the fridge for safety. You can always pull out a
stick of butter and warm it up on the counter when you need it. Most people probably don't
think twice about where they store maple syrup. However, you should know that unrefrigerated maple
syrup will spoil much more quickly than if it's kept in the fridge. Pure maple syrup does not
contain any preservatives, so it needs to be refrigerated after opening in order to prevent
mold and bacteria from growing. Keeping it cool can also reduce the likelihood that some of the
moisture in the container will evaporate and turn the syrup into crystals. I love syrup. Oh, I love it
Table syrup, or the fake stuff made from sugar, water, and other flavors
may contain enough preservatives to safely stay outside of the fridge. But you should always
follow the manufacturer's guidelines on the back of the bottle to be safe. Given that some brands
recommend refrigerating it and others indicate it's safe to keep it in the pantry, you're best
off approaching each product individually