What Condiments Really Need To Be Refrigerated?
Per JustAnotherDave's reply to the Mustard Topic regarding what condiments should or should not be refrigerated....I realize that some items state REFRIGERATE AFTER OPENING. But what really needs to be refrigerated after opening? I have Thai Sweet Chili Sauce in my pantry. I did not put that in the fridge once I opened it. I did put my Sesame Oil in the fridge because I've read it can become rancid otherwise. All my vinegars? In the pantry. Soy Sauce? In the fridge. But does it really need to be? Discuss!
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13 Comments:
Mayo- definitely mayo. Otherwise it turns this odd color, and gets these little droplets of oil on the top, and has a really, really bad smell. It could probably kill you. maybe.
beth1 at 12:28AM on 04/10/09
We've discussed it here, here and here... and I was too lazy to look for more :-).
I agree with @beth1 about mayo - it absolutely needs refrigeration. As I've mentioned in some of those threads, I keep soy sauce and sesame oil (as well as all my vinegars, of course) in the cupboard. Neither sesame oil nor soy sauce has ever gone bad, and I buy large tins/bottles of each.
brooke29 at 12:48AM on 04/10/09
I'm living in the UK at the moment, and from what I can tell, refrigerating mayo here is pretty optional (along with most other condiments that I would say have to be in the fridge). It kind of grosses me out every time I see a friend making a sandwich...
ChristineB at 2:57AM on 04/10/09
Ok brook29, you got me....I'm rather new to the food blogs so I wasn't around to read these discussions in the past. I will check out the threads you mentioned.
arm1970 at 6:29AM on 04/10/09
So now that we're established that this has been discussed to death before, what about pancake syrup? I NEVER put that in the fridge until I met my hubby and he insists on keeping it in the fridge. I think it's stupid. Now I have cold pancake syrup that has to be warmed up before using!
I won't take my Sesame Oil out of the fridge. But the Soy and Worcestershire? I think I'll move those guys to the pantry and make room in the fridge for something else.
arm1970 at 6:53AM on 04/10/09
I put it all in the fridge!
dharmon at 7:10AM on 04/10/09
@arm1970 - commercial pancake syrup doesn't need to be refrigerated....but real Maple syrup does or it will become moldy. (I've read it's still usable at that point, just skim the mold & boil, but it's never been in my house long enough for that!)
mepolo at 8:21AM on 04/10/09
Actually, mayo does NOT need to be refrigerated once open. Manufacturers recommend that you stick it in the fridge for food safety concerns, but mayo is perfectly shelf stable for up to a month on your counter.
That being said, I'm sure we'll all keep our mayo right where it is, but it's an interesting fact!
nosillak at 8:45AM on 04/10/09
It's Good Friday, I'm off work, and I'm lazy. Did any of the links brooke29 provided have the link to the website that details, at length, proper storage of about four zillion food products? I remember reading a discussion here and referring to that link that somebody included within it.
mollykate678 at 9:56AM on 04/10/09
I don't know if this one was previously mentioned, but stilltasty.com has a huge list of items and how long (and where) they should be stored, both open or unopened.
deetroitMI at 10:09AM on 04/10/09
Just found this site about food storage:
http://www.ag.ndsu.edu/pubs/yf/foods/fn579-1.htm
arm1970 at 10:12AM on 04/10/09
@nosillak - mayo may be shelf stable, but it does separate and becomes oily and rather unappealing if it says outside (I'm not talking a couple of hours), which is why I prefer keeping it in the fridge.
brooke29 at 11:36AM on 04/10/09
Yeah, I think the thing with people is not whether it's required but a personal issue on how safe one feels about stuff being left out.
Being raised in Hawaii, everything that was opened got thrown in the fridge. I could lick the floor because my mother was such a clean freak, but ants and roaches frolick everywhere all year long. As a habit, I throw potato chips in the fridge even though I've lived in Cleveland for 15 years and have yet to see a roach or an ant in the house. Although I leave shoyu and sesame/vegetable oil out...
Cassaendra at 12:49PM on 04/10/09