Tomato ketchup should be stored in the cupboard and not in the fridge experts reveal

Where do YOU keep your ketchup? Experts reveal millions are wrongly storing their tomato sauce in the fridge (but it should be eaten within eight weeks)

Which? survey found consumers are incorrectly placing ketchup in the fridge
Poll found one in five people checked the labels on their favourite condiments
Naturally acidic tomatoes and vinegar in ketchup helped preserve the item

By Bhvishya Patel For Mailonline

Published: 10:30 GMT, 4 March 2020 | Updated: 10:47 GMT, 4 March 2020

If you religiously place your ketchup in the fridge in the hope of making it last longer, you’re just taking up unnecessary space, food experts have revealed.

A survey conducted by the independent consumer choice organisation Which? found just one in five people in the UK check the labels on their favourite condiments to see where they should be stored.

Among the condiments making in on the list was the nation’s favourite ketchup, which according to the experts can be safely kept in the cupboard once opened.

The experts revealed that the naturally acidic tomatoes and the vinegar inside the condiment helped preserve the item in room temperature.

Where should you keep your condiments?

In the cupboard

Tomato Ketchup: The tomatoes inside the nation’s favourite ketchup are acidic and therefore help to preserve the product in room temperature. Once opened it should be eaten within eight weeks

Brown Sauce: The condiment contains preservatives such as malt vinegar and spirit vinegar which can help preserve the item

Honey: The item contains the preservative hydrogen peroxide which means it can be safely stored at room temperature

Mint Sauce: The spirit vinegar in mint sauce acts as a natural preservative and means it can be safely stored in the cupboard after it has been opened. Experts do advise customers throw the item away after four weeks

Pickle: Experts have revealed the condiment can be safely kept outside of the fridge because it contains preservatives such as vinegar

Olive oil: The oil should be stored away from direct sunlight at room temperature

Soy Sauce: The high salt content in soy sauce mean it can be storied in the cupboard, the experts said

Mango Chutney: The acetic acid and a high sugar content mean the items can be preserved in a cupboard

Malt Vinegar: The high acidity of vinegar means the item can be safely store in the cupboard at room temperature

Hot Pepper Sauce: Chilli sauces contain vinegar which helps to preserve it at room temperature

Worcestershire Sauce: The condiment is a fermented product and can therefore be kept in the cupboard

In the fridge

Mayonnaise: While the creamy egg-rich condiment contains vinegar, experts advise users to keep it refrigerated after it has been opened in order to limit the growth of bacteria

Pesto: A jar of pesto should be refrigerated for two weeks after it has been opened as the nits in the condiment mean it can develop mould

Salad Cream: The condiment which contains egg should be kept in the fridge once it has been opened and thrown away after eight weeks.

Maple Syrup: The experts revealed that the syrup should be stored in the fridge as keeping it in the cupboard may lead to mould forming- especially around the lid. It should also be used within four weeks of opening.

Tartare Sauce: The popular condiment contains egg and a has a high water content and therefore should be kept in the fridge after opening.

Redcurrant jelly: The experts revealed that the jelly can see a separation of water on the surface which in turn created a layer of low sugar content and increased the chances of mould growing.

Source: Which?

A survey conducted by the independent consumer choice organisation Which? has found many consumers in the UK are incorrectly placing their bottles of tomato ketchup in the fridge. (Stock image)

Registered dietitian Dr Sarah Schenker told Which?: ‘Sometimes people keep ketchup in the fridge, simply because they prefer a chilled taste, but otherwise it doesn’t need to be refrigerated.’

The survey, which was conducted via a Twitter poll and collected data from 444 respondents, asked social media users: ‘Do you ever look at the label of condiments to check where they should be stored and for how long?’

The results found there was a cloud of confusion when it came to how to store condiments, with many respondents not checking the manufacture labels on their sauces.

Dr Schenker said items such as salad cream, which contain egg, were best kept in a chilled environment.

The expert said: ‘Condiments like salad cream might be left outside during summer parties and barbecues, so it’s best to decant some into a bowl to use, to prevent the entire bottle standing in warm conditions.’

She also advised consumers to keep condiments such as mayonnaise in the fridge in order to reduce the chances of bacteria growing inside.

She added: ‘Pasteurisation provides an extra layer of safety, but it should still be refrigerated.’

The experts also advised that consumers check the ‘use by’ dates on their condiments and to choose ‘top down’ bottles with silicone valves in order to keep their items fresher for longer.

IN THE CUPBOARD