In terms of safety, there's no real need to refrigerate ketchup. Tomatoes and vinegar, the main components in ketchup, help preserve the condiment at room temperature due to their natural acidity.
Ketchup is said to be shelf stable
However, its stability after opening can be affected by storage conditions. We recommend that this product, like any processed food, be refrigerated after opening. Refrigeration will maintain the best product quality after opening" (via Today).
Depending on your eating habits and the size of the bottle, a bottle of ketchup at home might last months, or even years, and refrigeration slows the degradation process, even if it's pretty slow to begin with. Restaurants go through it much faster. It doesn't.
It turns out, it's totally fine to keep ketchup at room temperature, but keeping it in the fridge will preserve its shelf life—something that's a lot more important for people at home than for restaurants.
However, in 2013 Heinz was acquired by a new company with a new CEO, Bernado Hees. Hees was the former CEO of Burger King, McDonald's fast food rival. Because of Hees' history with Burger King, McDonald's decided to end its 40-year partnership with Heinz and produce its own ketchup instead.
Common condiments that don't require refrigeration include soy sauce, oyster sauce, fish sauce, honey and hot sauce. Feingold says vinegars and olive oil (stored in a cool, dark place) are pantry-bound; coconut oil is actually best kept out of the fridge since it hardens below room temperature.
It is a solution that tomato ketchup users hit upon years ago. Heinz's inspiration for the innovation came from its discovery that seven out of ten customers keep their bottles upside down so that they do not have to wait for the ketchup to reach the plate.
Mayonnaise. You may buy mayonnaise off a non-refrigerated shelf, but the second you pop the top, you must put it in the refrigerator. In fact, the USDA recommends opened mayo be tossed in the trash if its temperature reaches 50 degrees or higher for more than eight hours.
People are less divided when it comes to tomatoes - 71 per cent store them in the fridge -, ketchup - 61 per cent refridgerate them - and grapes or fruit, who 74 per cent say should be kept chilled.
While refrigeration will help maintain flavor, it's not necessary to refrigerate if you prefer to consume your mustard at room temperature. The recommended shelf life from the date of manufacture of French's Mustard is 18 months in a squeeze bottle, and 24 months in a glass jar.”
According to food safety experts, once you open a bottle of Worcestershire sauce, it's best to store it in the refrigerator to prevent spoilage. The cold temperature slows down the growth of bacteria and other microorganisms that can cause the sauce to spoil.
An open jar of peanut butter stays fresh up to three months in the pantry. After that, it's recommended to store the peanut butter in the fridge (where it can maintain its quality for another 3-4 months). If you don't refrigerate, oil separation can occur.
The final verdict. In short, everyone is right. Your ketchup can stay in the pantry when it's unopened and even after it's opened for up to a month, but it will last longer and taste fresher if you keep it in the fridge after it's been opened.
Shelf life: 1 month
If you use ketchup often, do as restaurants and diners do — just leave it out. Ketchup can be kept unrefrigerated for up to one month, but if you don't think you'll finish the bottle in that timeframe, it's best to keep it in the refrigerator.
Ketchup: 1 years; 6 months (see note above on shelf-stable). Maple syrup: Consume within 12 months if stored in pantry, refrigeration will extend life.
Store whole eggs in a cool dry place, ideally in the fridge, until you use them. Storing eggs at a constant cool temperature will help to keep them safe. Do not use eggs after their 'best before' date. Make sure you rotate stock and use the oldest eggs first.
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.
The watery stuff in ketchup occurs when the tomato solids separate from their fibers. The same phenomenon occurs with applesauce and many other processed fruits and vegetables. The Heinz Trap Cap uses an extension tube on the inside of the cap to direct the ketchup away from the watery stuff.
Tomato ketchup is invented
James Mease, a Philadelphia scientist, is credited with developing the recipe. He wrote that the choicest ketchup came from “love apples,” as tomatoes were then called.
Glazing protects the contents of a container from the air, moisture, and other liquids that can create a breeding ground for microorganisms in sauces/bottles of ketchup. Since glass bottles do not affect the taste or smell of sauces and ketchup, their owners do not have to worry about this.
Even Heinz weighed in on the subject a few years ago, stating that “because of its natural acidity, Heinz® Ketchup is shelf-stable. However, its stability after opening can be affected by storage conditions. We recommend that this product, like any processed food, be refrigerated after opening.
You don't have to refrigerate apple cider vinegar once it's opened. Instead, store it in a pantry or cabinet, away from direct sunlight. Apple cider vinegar is highly acidic. Because of this, it's unlikely to be contaminated with pathogens.
Calcium acetate crystals form. If the deposit is soapy feeling, it may be soap. There is a small amount of fat in the tomato seeds and this combines with an alkaline substance to form soap. In all cases, the products are safe to eat as long as they were processed correctly.