# 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:** 3
**Author:** ![Alessan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alessan/32/465_2.png) [@Alessan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alessan)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2018, 11:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-refrigerate-your-ketchup/808035/41 "2018-02-02T23:00:46Z")
Peanut butter tastes better cold. If you have problems spreading it, get better bread. ---
**Author:** ![flaming\_yawn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/cab0a1/32.png) [@flaming\_yawn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/flaming_yawn)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2018, 11:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-refrigerate-your-ketchup/808035/42 "2018-02-02T23:24:52Z")
I thought only natural peanut butter had to be refrigerated. Ketchup in fridge mustard in fridge syrup not ---
**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, 11:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-refrigerate-your-ketchup/808035/43 "2018-02-02T23:28:46Z")
> [@silenus](#): > > We refrigerate all opened liquids around Casa **Silenus** , except hot sauces, which can fend for themselves. This includes not only regular ketchup but my go-to Heinz Caramelized Onion and Bacon ketchup. I have never encountered this magnificent sounding concoction before. Where do you find it? > [@Two\_Many\_Cats](#): > > 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. Even from a squeeze bottle? ---
**Author:** ![Noelq](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/noelq/32/16438_2.png) [@Noelq](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Noelq)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2018, 12:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-refrigerate-your-ketchup/808035/44 "2018-02-03T00:20:49Z")
> [@rat\_avatar](#): > > 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. +1 Back when I lived at home with siblings, a bottle of ketchup would last about a week, so refrigeration wasn’t an issue. Living single, a bottle can go for a few months, and leaving it out would make it go fuzzy. ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2018, 12:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-refrigerate-your-ketchup/808035/45 "2018-02-03T00:27:30Z")
> [@cochrane](#): > > I have never encountered this magnificent sounding concoction before. Where do you find it? It’s part of the Heinz expanded line, which includes sriracha, jalapeno and other flavored ketchups. The problem is, just after I got hooked on the stuff, my local stores stopped carrying it! I had to order it by the 6-pack from [Amazon](https://www.amazon.com/Heinz-Tomato-Ketchup-Caramelized-Onion/dp/B01KK0CX68/ref=sr_1_4_a_it?ie=UTF8&qid=1517617615&sr=8-4&keywords=heinz+tomato+ketchup+with+caramelized+onion+and+bacon). I figure I’ll end up throwing half the bottles away, but it was still cheaper than buying it at the store when I could find it. ---
**Author:** ![Fleetwood](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fleetwood/32/271_2.png) [@Fleetwood](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fleetwood)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2018, 12:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-refrigerate-your-ketchup/808035/46 "2018-02-03T00:33:26Z")
At home, condiments are generally refridgerated. At camp they are stored in a propane fridge that is turned off with doors opened between visits. ---
**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 3, 2018, 1:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-refrigerate-your-ketchup/808035/47 "2018-02-03T01:01:46Z")
> [@silenus](#): > > It’s part of the Heinz expanded line, which includes sriracha, jalapeno and other flavored ketchups. The problem is, just after I got hooked on the stuff, my local stores stopped carrying it! I had to order it by the 6-pack from [Amazon](https://www.amazon.com/Heinz-Tomato-Ketchup-Caramelized-Onion/dp/B01KK0CX68/ref=sr_1_4_a_it?ie=UTF8&qid=1517617615&sr=8-4&keywords=heinz+tomato+ketchup+with+caramelized+onion+and+bacon). I figure I’ll end up throwing half the bottles away, but it was still cheaper than buying it at the store when I could find it. I remember about 30 years ago when Heinz put out a ketchup with diced onions. It must have been a test market item because it was out for only a brief period of time. I really liked that ketchup. ---
**Author:** ![BobBitchin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7ea924/32.png) [@BobBitchin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BobBitchin)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2018, 1:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-refrigerate-your-ketchup/808035/48 "2018-02-03T01:05:30Z")
> [@StrTrkr777](#): > > We generally refrigerate it, but it does not always get put back in the refrigerator immediately after use and sometimes the kids leave it out for a couple of days, never had an issue. BAM! There it is. 🆒I got no kids, so it’s all on me,:dubious: I leave it out all the time, never had a problem. Mrs Bitchin’ does not have my Billy goat type constitution and she’s never had a problem with it either. It does taste better cold. ---
**Author:** ![Mahaloth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mahaloth/32/1079_2.png) [@Mahaloth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mahaloth)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2018, 1:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-refrigerate-your-ketchup/808035/49 "2018-02-03T01:13:38Z")
Do refrigerate: Ketchup Mustard(s) Mayonnaise Sriracha Opened Hot Sauces Do not: Honey Peanut Butter Pancake Syrup ---
**Author:** ![elfkin477](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/a9a28c/32.png) [@elfkin477](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elfkin477)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2018, 1:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-refrigerate-your-ketchup/808035/50 "2018-02-03T01:15:24Z")
Yes, but just because I prefer it cold, not because I think it’d go bad if I don’t. ---
**Author:** ![Dendarii\_Dame](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/bbce88/32.png) [@Dendarii\_Dame](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dendarii_Dame)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2018, 1:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-refrigerate-your-ketchup/808035/51 "2018-02-03T01:16:40Z")
I refrigerate it, and yet I have no problem using it in a restaurant when it hasn’t been. ---
**Author:** ![Grumbacher\_Red](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/85e7bf/32.png) [@Grumbacher\_Red](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Grumbacher_Red)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2018, 2:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-refrigerate-your-ketchup/808035/52 "2018-02-03T02:01:39Z")
> [@Dendarii\_Dame](#): > > I refrigerate it, and yet I have no problem using it in a restaurant when it hasn’t been. Same here. My mother never refrigerated ketchup, and my (now Ex) thought that was a nasty habit. It was one of the many things they fought about. I never heard of refrigerating syrup, though. Doesn’t it get too thick to flow from the bottle? Or get sugar crystals in it? ---
**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 3, 2018, 2:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-refrigerate-your-ketchup/808035/53 "2018-02-03T02:19:12Z")
Peeps refridge your Mayo. You could really sick with that one. I kinda/sorta worry about mustard too. I don’t like the eating of raw cookie dough either, just saying. ---
**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 3, 2018, 3:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-refrigerate-your-ketchup/808035/54 "2018-02-03T03:23:27Z")
Yeah, refrigerate the mayo. I refrigerate mustard, too, but I’ve never heard of it going bad if left out. ---
**Author:** ![Suburban\_Plankton](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/suburban_plankton/32/219_2.png) [@Suburban\_Plankton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Suburban_Plankton)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2018, 3:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-refrigerate-your-ketchup/808035/55 "2018-02-03T03:39:48Z")
> [@flaming\_yawn](#): > > I thought only natural peanut butter had to be refrigerated. Nope, natural peanut butter does fine in the cupboard. I suppose if you don’t eat it fast enough, the oil might start to separate…but we’ve never had a problem in our house. ---
**Author:** ![Grumbacher\_Red](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/85e7bf/32.png) [@Grumbacher\_Red](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Grumbacher_Red)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2018, 3:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-refrigerate-your-ketchup/808035/56 "2018-02-03T03:47:20Z")
> [@Beckdawrek](#): > > Peeps refridge your Mayo. You could really sick with that one. I kinda/sorta worry about mustard too. Yes, mayo & mustard are always in the fridge. Mustard would probably be fine if not kept cold, but since it takes us about 2 years to use up a bottle, it needs help. ---
**Author:** ![BigT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bigt/32/12044_2.png) [@BigT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BigT)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2018, 4:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-refrigerate-your-ketchup/808035/57 "2018-02-03T04:00:22Z")
When we regularly bought ketchup, we kept it in the fridge… I think it might be because we kept it for so long. It definitely tastes worse cold. ---
**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 3, 2018, 4:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-refrigerate-your-ketchup/808035/58 "2018-02-03T04:14:17Z")
I’ve never kept syrup or honey in the box, though. ---
**Author:** ![thelurkinghorror](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/7c8e57/32.png) [@thelurkinghorror](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/thelurkinghorror)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2018, 5:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-refrigerate-your-ketchup/808035/59 "2018-02-03T05:04:55Z")
> [@Beckdawrek](#): > > Peeps refridge your Mayo. You could really sick with that one. I kinda/sorta worry about mustard too. > [@cochrane](#): > > Yeah, refrigerate the mayo. I refrigerate mustard, too, but I’ve never heard of it going bad if left out. Again, I do put it in the fridge, but despite everyone _knowing_ that you’re supposed to “because it contains eggs,” you really don’t have to. Commercial mayonnaise really is too acidic to spoil easily due to vinegar. SDMB [1](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=79006) [2](https://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=372790) [Press Release](https://www.npd.com/wps/portal/npd/us/news/press-releases/2016/mayo-is-finally-a-member-of-the-restaurant-table-top-condiment-clique/) [Journal article (paywall)](https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/10945595) None of that is necessarily true if you make your own mayo. Also if you regularly cross-contaminate your jars, like with dirty knives, any risk is increased. I’m not saying you **shouldn’t** refrigerate it, but that you don’t **need** to. ---
**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 3, 2018, 5:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-refrigerate-your-ketchup/808035/60 "2018-02-03T05:29:16Z")
> [@Suburban\_Plankton](#): > > Nope, natural peanut butter does fine in the cupboard. I suppose if you don’t eat it fast enough, the oil might start to separate…but we’ve never had a problem in our house. Most natural peanut butter I buy is so thoroughly homogenized that it doesn’t even separate. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-refrigerate-your-ketchup/808035.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-refrigerate-your-ketchup/808035.md?page=4)