My wife and I have had a longstanding disagreement that I hope some of you may be able to settle. I'm sure you realize ketchup and other foods contain the caution, "Refrigerate After Opening." Yet my wife and her family have never refrigerated ketchup. Even after opening, they keep it warm in the pantry. She claims that over a lifetime neither she nor any other members of her family have never gotten sick from this practice.

OTOH, I've always religiously refrigerated ketchup, and even thrown it out if its been in the fridge too long. Am I being anal? Or is my wife being careless? I feel that they put that warning on the label for a reason. But my wife thinks Heinz puts that on the label just to protect themselves against lawsuits, however remote the possibility.

It's true that some restaurants leave unrefrigerated ketchup on the table, but then the ketchup is used up much quicker than in a typical home.

Any food service experts out there? Any info would be appreciated! Thanks!

Heinz says (http://www.askhj.com/html/ask_hj/home.asp):Should ketchup be refrigerated?

Because it is a very acidic product, ketchup does not spoil easily. Once opened, in order to maintain the product's quality more effectively, we do suggest that ketchup (and any other processed food) be refrigerated after opening because refrigeration retards spoilage.

I prefer to refrigerate it. My friend keeps it warm.

I refrigerate as well, but I'm sure that no one takes the time to move all the bottles of ketchup from restaurant tables into a refrigerator at night, every night... .

Better yet, what is the best way to get ketchup out of a glass bottle?

We refrigerate because the sweetness in it attracts ants.

We have found that living in Vancouver we had no problem leaving it out but here in a warmer climate it changes taste quickly.

Found that true with many foods.

Growing up, my parents stored opened ketchup, mustard and relish in the cupboard. I refrigerate all 3 after opening, mostly because that is the tradition that Mrs BamaVol grew up with and she was worried about doing anything different. I never experienced a problem with what my parents did, but maybe I developed a tolerance for b. catsupcoccus. :cool:

Why not refrigerate? It lasts longer and protects flavor. If you like to use it warm, take it out an hour or two before use.

Cornell Cooperative Extension

The Food Keeper contains valuable food safety and storage advice to help you maintain the freshness and quality of foods.

http://counties.cce.cornell.edu/onondaga/document/pdf/nutri/foodkeeper.pdf

Better yet, what is the best way to get ketchup out of a glass bottle?

http://www.lifehack.org/articles/lifehack/pouring-ketchup-technique.html

The traditional, holding the bottle upside down, and tapping the bottom is not the most effective way to pour the ketchup. The most effective way is to hold it side way and tap at the lower of the neck

I have just returned from the kitchen where I looked at two different bottles of Heinz ketchup. (They were not in the refrigerator - Cold ketchup :td: ) I carefully examined every label on them and "refrigerate after opening" or other similar phrases were nowhere to be seen. I will continue to non refrigerate ketchup and similar condiments.

I refrigerate it because I don't use much of it but i do try and take it out to warm a bit before using, I hate putting ice cold ketchup on anything especially anything that should be hot (fries)

I've never refrigerated ketchup, or any type of sauce or relish, even if the bottle/jar says to, and I've never been sick from it. Neither has anyone else in my family. It still maintains its flavor, and things like that do last a long time in the cupboard.

[QUOTE=jwillett13;7013375]Better yet, what is the best way to get ketchup out of a glass bottle?[/QUOTE

Skip the glass bottle and buy it in the squeezable plastic bottle.

MisterNice

Ketchup doesn't need to be refrigerated. Lots of people do, but it's really not necessary. I've never seen it go green and fuzzy, and that includes spills outside that were there for weeks.

There are of course things that do, milk for example doesn't do well out on the counter for a couple weeks after you open the container of paramlait (as they continue to prove in the office every few weeks), but ketchup isn't one of them.

Salsa, on the other hand doesn't havethe same amount of acid in them, I've seen those go bad even in the fridge.

Ketchup, as mentioned, doesn't spoil easily. It's laced with vinegar and salt. Essentially, it's sweet pickled liquid tomato. Are you really using this as an argument with your wife? You realize now that she'll bring up that you were wrong on this for the rest of your marriage, right? :D

We refrigerate.... out of habit I suppose but I agree most all restaurants likely do not

I always refrigerate ketchup after opening it.

Why not refrigerate? It lasts longer and protects flavor.
Yup. Actually I like the taste of my ketchup more when it is cold.

I refrigerate ketchup and leave it out an hour before I use it.

I'm pretty sure this cycle increases the likelihood of spoilage, but I haven't had a bad stomach from it ever.

I refridgerate all relishes,chutney,sauces,condiments, etc...
As a bachelor who lives alone I often have to throw items out for non use-past expiration.
At work I go through the pantry and fridge every three months and toss things that are even close to their expiry date.I know this is a horrid waste-I sometimes do take then to a food closet-but really do poor folks want black raspberry preserves flavored with cognac,or Nutella ?

As others have pointed out, refrigeration tends to lengthen the shelf life of most products.

But any condiment that has a high degree of salt or vinegar, like soy sauce or hot sauce, doesn't have to be refrigerated.

It's more a matter of personal taste or preference than a matter of food safety.

In addition to ketchup, I also refirgerate mayos and mustards after opening them.

Better yet, what is the best way to get ketchup out of a glass bottle?

Either stick a knife up the bottle to help get the ketchup flow started or tilt it on an angle at whack it on the number 57