Ketchup is one of the most popular condiments used around the world to enhance food, but despite so many people owning a bottle of ketchup, they may not know how to store ketchup.
For instance, you may be wondering if your ketchup needs to be refrigerated. I did the research, and here is what I found!
Does Ketchup Need To Be Refrigerated?
Ketchup does not need to be refrigerated since an opened bottle of ketchup can stay fresh for a month out of the fridge. However, it is ideal to keep ketchup in the fridge if you do not consume ketchup within a month because refrigerated ketchup can last for six months.
Do you want to learn why you should keep ketchup in the fridge, what part of the fridge you should keep ketchup, and what happens if you do not refrigerate ketchup? Keep reading!
Should You Keep Ketchup In The Fridge?
Ideally, ketchup should be kept in the fridge because the fridge is cold, and colder temperatures keep food fresh for longer, including ketchup.
While most store-bought ketchup contains enough preservatives and acidity to stay fresh even without refrigeration, keeping ketchup in the fridge can further extend ketchup’s shelf life.
What Part Of The Fridge Should Ketchup Be In?
Ideally, you should keep your ketchup on the door of your fridge as most condiments are typically best kept on the fridge’s door.
Generally, the fridge’s door has the perfect temperature for ketchup since it is just cool enough to keep the ketchup cold.
If you were to keep your ketchup in the back of the fridge, the ketchup could freeze, which is not directly harmful to ketchup but you will have to wait for your ketchup to defrost before using it.
How Long Does Ketchup Last In The Fridge?
Typically, you can expect an opened bottle of ketchup to stay usable in the fridge for up to six months since refrigeration can slow down the deterioration process.
Despite being kept in the fridge, your ketchup will not last forever and begin to deteriorate after six months.
Refrigeration only delays mold, bacteria, and deterioration from occurring, so refrigerating ketchup will not stop ketchup from spoiling altogether.
How Long Can Ketchup Stay Out Of The Fridge?
Generally, ketchup can stay out of the fridge for up to a month, but the exact time will depend on external factors.
For instance, keeping an opened bottle of ketchup on a counter in a cool kitchen away from sunlight means your ketchup would last for around a month.
On the other hand, keeping an opened bottle of ketchup on a counter in a hotter kitchen next to sunlight would mean your ketchup may only last for a week.
Can You Eat Ketchup That Has Been Left Out Of The Fridge?
Normally, it is fine to eat ketchup that has been out of the fridge but that will mostly depend on the temperature, how long the ketchup has been out for, etc.
For instance, if you initially kept your ketchup in the fridge but left the ketchup bottle on the counter overnight, the ketchup is likely still fine to consume.
However, if you have a bottle of opened ketchup that has been out of the fridge for over a month, your ketchup has likely gone rancid.
What Happens If You Do Not Refrigerate Ketchup?
Generally, nothing much will happen at first to unrefrigerated ketchup, especially if the ketchup is still sealed and the bottle has not gotten tampered with.
Additionally, an opened bottle of ketchup can stay usable out of the fridge for up to a month, but this will depend on the external factors in your home.
For instance, if your kitchen is hot, your opened bottle of ketchup may only be good out of the fridge for 1-2 weeks.
Moreover, the ketchup will spoil quickly if you leave the ketchup under direct sunlight or expose the ketchup to temperature changes, such as next to hot appliances.
Eventually, your ketchup will slowly deteriorate and spoil even if you kept the ketchup in the fridge, but the deteriorating process will be much faster if you leave your ketchup out of the fridge.
How Do You Know If Ketchup Is Safe To Eat?
Usually, you will know that your ketchup is safe to eat if your ketchup looks, tastes, and smells the same as normal ketchup.
If there is something odd about the appearance, scent, or flavor of your ketchup, it is always best to throw the ketchup away.
For instance, if you open your ketchup bottle and notice a distinctly rancid smell, your ketchup has likely gone bad.
Does Heinz Ketchup Need To Be Refrigerated?
Heinz ketchup does not need to be refrigerated, especially if the bottle has not been opened, because of Heinz ketchup’s natural acidity, making Heinz ketchup a shelf-stable product.
An open bottle of Heinz ketchup can stay fresh for about 1-2 months out of the fridge. However, Heinz does recommend that you refrigerate Heinz ketchup once you open the bottle.
If you refrigerate Heinz ketchup, you will preserve the peak quality of the ketchup while also further extending the shelflife of the ketchup.
Read our related articles if you want to learn if ketchup goes bad, what ketchup tastes like, and if ketchup packets go bad.
Conclusion
Generally, you do not have to refrigerate ketchup because most store-bought ketchup brands are naturally acidic and contain preservatives, so must ketchup can stay out of the fridge for up to a month after opening.
However, keeping your ketchup refrigerated will extend the shelf life of your ketchup since opened bottles of ketchup can stay fresh for up to six months in the fridge.