No matter when you open it, the quality of the ketchup will typically remain at least until the date that is printed on the jar. Ketchup has a shelf life of roughly a year. And in most cases, it stays safe for a somewhat longer period of time, but its quality eventually declines.
If you have a bottle that has been partially opened and has been stored in the refrigerator for more than six months, there is a good probability that it can still be consumed safely. And I imagine that it tastes quite decent even now.
Are you curious about the specifics of ketchup’s storage, how quickly it goes bad, and how long it can be kept on the shelf?
If that’s the case, you’ve come to the correct place. Keep reading to learn more about how long ketchup may be stored in the refrigerator.
Can ketchup go bad?
As I was younger, I went to a diner and witnessed a man open a bottle of ketchup, and when he did, it splattered all over his shirt. His children were making fun of him, his shirt was damaged, and he was in a fairly bad mood as a result.
The diner’s practice of refilling ketchup bottles rather than allowing them to become depleted and discarded contributed to the disaster that occurred as a result of this practice.
When someone replaces partially empty bottles with ketchup from a bulk ketchup machine, they are said to be topping off the bottles.
It is a poor idea to fill ketchup bottles all the way to the top because the ketchup that settles at the bottom of the bottle is never consumed and will ultimately go rotten.
The pressure inside the bottle will continue to increase as the fermentation process gets underway.
At some point, either the bottle will burst open, releasing all of the ketchup inside, or someone unlucky will open the bottle, releasing all of the ketchup inside.
Therefore, the answer is that ketchup can become bad.
How long will a bottle of ketchup last if it is stored in the fridge?
It is safe to keep an opened bottle of ketchup in the refrigerator for anywhere from one month to six months without seeing any changes in color or consistency.
It goes without saying that you should toss it out if it smells rotten or appears to be “odd.” However, because to the high acidity content, ketchup has a rather long shelf life.
You are welcome to store unopened bottles in the pantry.
The majority of bottles have a sell-by date printed on them that is 15 months after the production date.
How long can ketchup be stored at room temperature before it goes bad?
If you are using the manufactured stuff, the only reason to put it into a fridge would be to make it thicker if the weather is warm; other than that, there is no reason to put it into a fridge in the first place. Since it contains vinegar, a natural preservative, this is the only reason to put it into a fridge if you are using the manufactured stuff.
Is it okay to leave ketchup out overnight at room temperature?
Both acidity (vinegar) and salt, which have been employed for centuries as preservatives, are present in high concentrations in ketchup. Additionally, ketchup does not contain any animal products (such as meat, fish, dairy, or eggs), which are the foods that deteriorate the quickest.
Therefore, there is a very low probability that keeping it out for a day or more will result in any kind of significant deterioration.
People did not believe it was necessary to refrigerate mayonnaise fifty years ago because they believed it already had sufficient acidity to prevent bacterial spoilage. If you decide that cleaning up the mess from your Memorial Day barbecue can wait until tomorrow, I wouldn’t worry about it at all! I believe that modern manufacturers are being cautious in order to avoid the possibility of legal culpability.
How Should Ketchup Be Stored?
Keep ketchup purchased at the shop in its unopened bottles in a cool, dark location, away from sources of heat and direct sunlight.
If you want the bottle to have the longest possible shelf life, you should put it in the refrigerator after it has been opened. You can certainly let it sit out at room temperature, but the quality won’t be preserved for more than a month, rather than for anywhere between six and twelve months.
Additionally, if you make your own ketchup, you should refrigerate it in a container that is hermetically sealed.
Be sure to avoid contaminating the bottle top with dirt and debris at all costs, since this could encourage the growth of mold.
It should be sufficient to reduce the risk of contamination by only wiping away any buildup that may have occurred on the cap and ensuring that it is completely dry before putting it on the bottle.
If you have a habit of keeping ketchup for a very long time, you might want to consider storing it in an upside-down position so that the quality is preserved for a little bit longer.
Conclusion
It is important to keep in mind that the information regarding the shelf life of ketchup that can be found on Eat By Date is generally reliable; however, individual circumstances will vary, and our advice should only be taken as an opinion and not as a replacement for the advice of your health care professional. Kindly eat in a responsible manner!