# Do you refrigerate your ketchup **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [February 2, 2018, 3:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-refrigerate-your-ketchup/808035 "2018-02-02T15:07:11Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![StrTrkr777](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/fbc32d/32.png) [@StrTrkr777](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/StrTrkr777)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2018, 5:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-refrigerate-your-ketchup/808035/21 "2018-02-02T17:54:42Z")
Definitely do not refrigerate syrup. Mustard yes. Jelly/jam yes. General Tso’s sauce, no. Hot sauce seldom gets used, so it goes into the fridge. ---
**Author:** ![Tzigone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/839c29/32.png) [@Tzigone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tzigone)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2018, 6:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-refrigerate-your-ketchup/808035/22 "2018-02-02T18:10:22Z")
I refrigerate ketchup generally. Because that’s what my parents did. Don’t worry about putting it away and have intentionally kept it in the pantry before (so I won’t have cold ketchup and hot food), but thanks to a lifetime of habit, I usually stick it back in the fridge next time. I don’t refrigerate pancake syrup (Log Cabin, Mrs. Butterworth, etc.). I do refrigerate maple syrup, because it says to. I’m thinking of maybe trying cane syrup if it doesn’t have to refrigerated because I don’t really want cold syrup on my pancakes. ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2018, 6:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-refrigerate-your-ketchup/808035/23 "2018-02-02T18:13:59Z")
> [@Tzigone](#): > > I don’t refrigerate pancake syrup (Log Cabin, Mrs. Butterworth, etc.). I do refrigerate maple syrup, because it says to. I’m thinking of maybe trying cane syrup if it doesn’t have to refrigerated because I don’t really want cold syrup on my pancakes. Whenever I make pancakes or waffles for breakfast, I serve the syrup microwaved in a little pitcher. ---
**Author:** ![panache45](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/panache45/32/64_2.png) [@panache45](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/panache45)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2018, 6:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-refrigerate-your-ketchup/808035/24 "2018-02-02T18:23:20Z")
I refill the small ketchup container from a much larger one, both refrigerated. It’s easier to find the small container in the fridge’s door, rather than getting pushed back in the pantry. ---
**Author:** ![Beckdawrek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beckdawrek/32/3647_2.png) [@Beckdawrek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beckdawrek)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2018, 6:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-refrigerate-your-ketchup/808035/25 "2018-02-02T18:58:33Z")
Stays out at my house. I just read somewhere that peanut butter should be kept refrigerated. Nooooo! You couldn’t spread it on bread cold. I stand by my non-refrigeration, for proof, no one has ever died in my kitchen. ---
**Author:** ![cochrane](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cochrane/32/10441_2.png) [@cochrane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cochrane)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2018, 7:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-refrigerate-your-ketchup/808035/26 "2018-02-02T19:25:50Z")
Ketchup, yes. Peanut butter, no. Cold peanut butter doesn’t spread. It’ll tear holes in your bread. ---
**Author:** ![furryman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/furryman/32/99_2.png) [@furryman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/furryman)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2018, 7:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-refrigerate-your-ketchup/808035/27 "2018-02-02T19:41:37Z")
I’ve found that peanut butter is easier to spread when it’s room temperature. It’s never gone bad. This is coming from a guy that generally eats a peanut butter and jelly sandwich once every other month. ---
**Author:** ![Rhiannon8404](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rhiannon8404/32/17929_2.png) [@Rhiannon8404](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rhiannon8404)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2018, 8:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-refrigerate-your-ketchup/808035/28 "2018-02-02T20:04:22Z")
No. Ketchup, yellow mustard, soy sauce, hot sauce, BBQ sauce, peanut butter all go in the cupboard. ---
**Author:** ![Fear\_the\_Turtle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fear_the_turtle/32/2926_2.png) [@Fear\_the\_Turtle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fear_the_Turtle)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2018, 8:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-refrigerate-your-ketchup/808035/29 "2018-02-02T20:16:54Z")
Like most things in life, I assume the people that make it, bottle it and ship it know more about it than I do. Since it says “Refrigerate After Opening” on it - I refrigerate it after I open it. Before opening, I store it however it was displayed in the store. ---
**Author:** ![thelurkinghorror](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/7c8e57/32.png) [@thelurkinghorror](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/thelurkinghorror)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2018, 8:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-refrigerate-your-ketchup/808035/30 "2018-02-02T20:42:25Z")
Ketchup, mustard, mayonnaise, maple syrup all go in the fridge. Hot sauce stays in cupboard. None of these need to be refrigerated (yes, even store bought mayo can stay out!) No, I don’t pretend it’s logical or anything. I do think it depends on how fast you use it. Mayonnaise and ketchup can darken over time, and I feel like the fridge slows it as we don’t go through them _that_ fast. ---
**Author:** ![Dinsdale](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/97f17d/32.png) [@Dinsdale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dinsdale)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2018, 8:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-refrigerate-your-ketchup/808035/31 "2018-02-02T20:46:08Z")
Refrigerated. But I don’t think I have ever voluntarily put ketchup on anything in my life, so I wouldn’t know/care if it went “bad.” ---
**Author:** ![Biffster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/biffster/32/339_2.png) [@Biffster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Biffster)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2018, 8:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-refrigerate-your-ketchup/808035/32 "2018-02-02T20:53:17Z")
> [@John\_Mace](#): > > I learned my lesson with Sesame Oil and Soy Sauce, though. Best not to refrigerate those. But you probably don’t keep olive oil in the fridge either, do you? Why not soy sauce? I’ve never had a problem refrigerating it. ---
**Author:** ![rat\_avatar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rat_avatar/32/255_2.png) [@rat\_avatar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rat_avatar)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2018, 8:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-refrigerate-your-ketchup/808035/33 "2018-02-02T20:55:57Z")
I do, just because I don’t use it often enough so a bottle will go fuzzy before I can use it all which results in waste. ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2018, 8:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-refrigerate-your-ketchup/808035/34 "2018-02-02T20:59:08Z")
I refrigerate mine, but not because it needs it, mostly just because the fridge is a convenient place to keep it. ---
**Author:** ![Patx2](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/73ab20/32.png) [@Patx2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Patx2)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2018, 9:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-refrigerate-your-ketchup/808035/35 "2018-02-02T21:05:28Z")
> [@Beckdawrek](#): > > Stays out at my house. I just read somewhere that peanut butter should be kept refrigerated. Nooooo! You couldn’t spread it on bread cold. I stand by my non-refrigeration, for proof, no one has ever died in my kitchen. I support you 100% on this. There’s no way peanut butter ever goes in the fridge in my house. It never has and it never, ever will. ---
**Author:** ![Patx2](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/73ab20/32.png) [@Patx2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Patx2)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2018, 9:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-refrigerate-your-ketchup/808035/36 "2018-02-02T21:07:32Z")
I refrigerate ketchup, mustard and soy sauce. Syrup never goes in the fridge here. I saw something upthread about soy sauce. Should I not keep it refrigerated or is it just personal preference? ---
**Author:** ![Asimovian](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/asimovian/32/172_2.png) [@Asimovian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Asimovian)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2018, 10:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-refrigerate-your-ketchup/808035/37 "2018-02-02T22:06:35Z")
Thread relocated from IMHO to Cafe Society. And yes, we refrigerate it in our house most of the time, although it sometimes gets left out for a couple of days. ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2018, 10:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-refrigerate-your-ketchup/808035/38 "2018-02-02T22:14:26Z")
This is a good first date question. “So, do you refrigerate your ketchup?” “Well, yeah, of course, why?” “Finish your drink and I’ll take you home.” ---
**Author:** ![bobot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bobot/32/21622_2.png) [@bobot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bobot)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2018, 10:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-refrigerate-your-ketchup/808035/39 "2018-02-02T22:34:48Z")
Once opened, I refrigerate mine. I don’t use a lot of ketchup, so anything that might help it stay useable for longer is ok with me. _checks ketchup bottle currently in fridge_ The 14 oz. bottle in my fridge which is still mostly full expired 7/28/2016. :eek: I’ll be throwing it away now, thanks for the nudge. (Maybe this weekend I’ll pick up another small bottle to get me through the next 3 years or so.) ---
**Author:** ![Two\_Many\_Cats](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/8dc957/32.png) [@Two\_Many\_Cats](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Two_Many_Cats)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2018, 10:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-refrigerate-your-ketchup/808035/40 "2018-02-02T22:45:03Z")
No, never have. Never had a problem either, although I have thrown ketchup away for looking too old. I don’t like cold ketchup. It seems to me that chilling ketchup makes it thicker and more of a pain to get out of the bottle. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-refrigerate-your-ketchup/808035.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-refrigerate-your-ketchup/808035.md?page=3)