Fermented to perfection with no preservatives, we recommend you do refrigerate this hot sauce so it will last a long time in its best condition. But even if your homemade hot sauce has a vinegar base (which spoils more slowly), we highly recommend keeping it in the refrigerator. One thing to keep in mind is that while a hot sauce may not need to be refrigerated, it will likely last years longer if it is. Frank's RedHot manufactures 9 different hot sauces. 14 Comments. Storing your hot sauce in the refrigerator ensures that it retains the color it had when you first opened the bottle. Such a mess attracts bacterial growth. Why exactly this happened is unclear, but its likely because of a buildup of lactic acid in the sauce that allowed it to continue to ferment. Not all hot sauces are created equal. Once a bottle of sauce is opened, the color may . For that reason, you might notice that instead of an expiration date, some hot sauce bottles provide a "best enjoyed by" date. Fourth of July, Memorial Day and Labor Day. You can do better than a simple scramble. I may have to make for my whole community . Where sweet and heat live in perfect harmony. Even Franks RedHots website FAQs state that keeping the sauce chilled will keep it fresher for longer. Technically, a hot sauce with a vinegar base is probably fine being stored in a cool, dark pantry for a year, if not longer. How Do You Know Hot Sauce Sauce Has Gone Bad? If you don't use a lot of hot sauce in a short period of time, or if you have so many bottles that you can't use them all within a few months, it is best to refrigerate them. If it says to refrigerate it, refrigerate it. It is not necessary to refrigerate Louisiana Hot Sauce. If in doubt, refrigerate. . Your Summer Corn Needs This Chip-Filled Salsa. Rosa graduated with a master degree in Food Safety from Wageningen University and Research, The Netherlands. If it says to refrigerate it, refrigerate it. Here, I share my decades of culinary experience as a Saucier and Saut Chef, having worked in some of the top kitchens all over the world. There's little risk in not refrigerating hot sauce even after its opened, thanks to two key ingredients, vinegar and salt, which act as preservatives for up to eight weeks after its opened. If in doubt, just throw the bottle away and replace it. A Complete Guide To Deep Cleaning Your Fridge, Here's How Long Canned Cranberry Sauce Lasts In The FridgeIn The (Unlikely) Event That There Are Leftovers, 10 Foods You Should Never Store In The Refrigerator, Southerners Will Appreciate the Ingredients Carla Hall Always Has on Hand. Those bottles have been made shelf stable through a canning process. If it says to consume it all within six months of opening, do that. Of course, it will eventually go bad even if it is refrigerated. Similarly, mold can more easily develop in hot sauces without preservatives when kept at room temperature. Melinda's products do not require refrigeration unless otherwise stated on the bottle. Refrigerating will keep the bottles from exploding, though you can keep your sauce in a bottle that you can burp, or with a membrane, to continue fermenting. Although, for a lot of reasons, it does actually make sense. The packaging should let you know if it is required, but if in doubt, stick it in the fridge. But if the manufacturer says otherwise, you should follow their advice. I personally recommend refrigerating hot sauce is most cases. There are those who believe that hot sauces are just like any other bottled sauce and should be stored in the refrigerator. On the list of things that feel illegal (but actually are not) is that most condiments don't actually need to be stored in the refrigerator. But if you really only dabble in hot sauces every now and then, it might be better to keep them in the fridge. Can You Refrigerate and Freeze Cranberry Sauce? Does Tabasco Sauce Need To Be Refrigerated? Capsaicin, the compound that gives peppers their heat, is another deterrent to bacteria, and many hot sauce manufacturers use preservatives that also prevent bacterial growth. If not, you can always get back to the earlier guideline on telling the commonalities of hot sauce going off. Fermentation produces CO2, which can build up inside the bottle and cause it to bust. Bottles that have been left open or have a ton of crusty sauce around the rim are more likely to produce mold. Once opened, hot sauce retains its freshness for 6 months with pantry storage and much longer with continuous refrigeration. For example, oil-based hot sauces should always be refrigerated as the risk of botulism is high if raw garlic was used to make them. A while back, we answered the common question, does hot sauce go bad? In that post, we recommend refrigerating your hot sauce to extend its shelf life. I use each one based on mood or mealCholula and Marie Sharps for eggs, a bottle of Who Dat? One source claimed that refrigerating vinegar-based hot sauces (that do not contain fruits, vegetables or eggs) weakens their flavor. This is assuming the sauce is not cross-contaminated with food. These sauces will add a kickand some textureto eggs, tacos, bread, and beyond. More than that, most commercial hot sauces without the proper vinegar content will have added preservatives ensuring that the bottle can survive unrefrigerated for several months, anyway. Sauce stored out of direct sunlight in a dry place should last longer than if it were to be left out on . Most commercial hot sauces are designed to avoid further fermentation, but small-batch or DIY hot sauces run a higher risk of continuing to ferment and then exploding. It just might spoil a little bit faster sitting out in the open. Nevertheless, let us take a closer look at those other similarly related questions that you likely have. We love sharing hobbies with people! Our offices are open Monday Friday from 8:30 AM 5 PM, Central Standard Time. Hot sauces like this don't need to be refrigerated, and will last a good 6 months or longer outside of the fridge. Whether intentionally or not, we all have those packets of hot sauce from fast-food restaurants. Some hot sauces do not use acids, like vinegar or citrus. Use of this site constitutes acceptance of our User Agreement and Privacy Policy and Cookie Statement and Your California Privacy Rights. Some may prefer to refrigerate them; it is entirely your preference. Should hot sauce be refrigerated? This is what you should do. From seed to bottle, we focus on the important things: each of our 14 craft pepper sauces begins with fresh locally grown tropical fruits and vegetables and the best Chile peppers on the planet. (Prior to opening, most hot sauce can be stored in a kitchen cabinet or pantry.) The shelf-life of an opened, unrefrigerated bottle of hot sauce is around six months. Ingredients and preparation methods are the determiners. However, you may wish to store your Tabasco sauce in the fridge anyway, if you prefer your condiments to be cold. But here's the problem: Just because we can do something, doesn't mean we should. At 80 years young, Marie is an active CEO starting work every day at 8:00 a . Melindas products do not require refrigeration unless otherwise stated on the bottle. Image Source: POPSUGAR Photography / Erin Cullum Among other condiments that don't need to be refrigerated is hot sauce, surprisingly. But if you tend to keep bottled hot. Louisiana Hot Sauce also has a shelf life of five years. Hence, storage is easy and straightforward. If you ferment your hot sauce with just a salt solution, does it need refrigeration? Our green sauce blends all of the good green stuff: Jalapeos, green tomatoes, spinach, cilantro and lime. All Prices are in USD | Copyright 2023 Melindas Foods, LLC | All rights Reserved. I personally recommend refrigerating hot sauce is . This range differs significantly between producers. Once you're logged into your Yellowbird account, you'll be able to view all previous orders and view, edit, pause, or cancel your subscription. The easiest way to tell that hot sauce has indeed gone bad is to check the texture and smell. Heat is intense in all varieties but it never overwhelms the flavor. My Spidey senses are already tinglingI know some folks are against refrigerating hot sauce. I asked a somewhat similar question to this recently, you may find some of the responses useful! In the fridge, it could last two years or longer. This is just your average bottle and brand, mind. Once opened, you have two options for storage: inside and outside the fridge. Capsaicin, the compound responsible for spiciness, further inhibits bacterial growth. Either way, practicing good hygiene is as important. Mama might not have known best. Once opened, exposure to air and moisture speed up the oxidation process and result in a darker appearance. How to Make Hot Sauce: The Ultimate Guide, https://www.thermoworks.com/high-accuracy-ph-meter-8689/?tw=CPM. Thank you so much, Mike. Refrigeration doesnt change the flavor of a hot sauce, it just keeps that flavor from degrading over time. Frank's says that refrigerating its other sauces keeps them fresher, but is not required . Glad to be helpful! For those who have a light hand and will be keeping hot sauce bottles around for a very, very long time, the fridge might be best. Subscribe and receive my FREE email series with tips for spicy cooking and new Recipes, AMAZON/BARNES & NOBLE/INDIEBOUND/BOOKS A MILLION, Receive my "5 Essentials for Spicy Cooking" email series & new recipes, About | Contact | Travel-Food | Ingredients | Stories | Privacy | Disclaimer | 2022 Chili Pepper Madness. The most popular hot sauces are tabasco, sriracha, Louisiana-style, to say the least. However, it may not give the same kick as a newly opened sauce. Other ingredients greatly vary but mostly include salt and vinegar. Ted, I just updated the post to include information about fermented hot sauces. Vinegar-based sauces like Sriracha or Crystal are acidic enough that bacteria cant grow, even at room temperature. Magdalene Taylor is a staff writer at MEL. Yes, there are some times when hot sauce may need to be refrigerated. Keeping hot sauce on the dining table should be okay with frequent use. The ultimate trial pack and holiday gift. Or would you prefer it at room temperature? I know mine are. You should notice that the consistency has changed, perhaps some separation has occurred. Six months can go by a lot faster than you think, and a. explosion is really something you probably dont want to deal with. However, if you plan to keep it for a much longer period, refrigeration is highly recommended. Stick it in the fridge for safekeeping and to keep it fresh for occasional use or when spice-loving guests come over. We're serious about having some fun with your dinner. Experts weigh in on the best way to store your prized collection. Plus capsaicin the compound that gives hot peppers their heat keeps bacteria at bay. But, typically, the bottle will say whether the hot sauce you own needs to be . This can also help lock in the flavor, heat . Ad Choices, Why You Should Start Refrigerating Your Hot Sauce. Occasionally, when I used to store my hot sauce in the pantry, a bottle might get discolored or lose its heat and flavor, which is why I now have a whole shelf inside the door of my fridge dedicated to hot sauce. However, just like most foods, going bad is inevitable. Those bottles have been made shelf stable through a canning process. | Privacy Policy | Terms & Conditions, "Huge fan of this brand - I have several, but keep going back to the Scotch Bonnet sauce - it's tremendous. This is likely why you will only see a best before date on the label rather than a use-by date. How wonderful and useful! Follow her latest culinary escapades on. Here are five common condiments that, once opened, can actually be stored outside the refrigerator. It should keep this color as you store it. Get ready to set your mouth on flavor. New. Those ingredients spoil more quickly than vinegar-based hot sauces when left out. Have you ever gotten hot sauce in your eye? It is recommended that your sauces be kept at room temperature. Thats because not all hot sauces are made the same. It is recommended that you keep your sauces at room temperature. Anything longer, well refrigeration actually just makes sense. Enjoy 700+ spicy recipes, 125+ pepper profiles, 300+ videos, and hundreds of related articles. You will still maintain the probiotic benefits of the fermented hot sauce either way. Hence, clean it when you see it. That being said refrigeration can help preserve the flavor of the sauce if you intend on keeping it for an extended period of time. If you have an unopened jar or bottle that looks damaged, such as swollen or leaked, dont use it. Because if youre not careful, a bottle of hot sauce can become a Scoville bomb, coating your pantry in a layer of pureed chili, or worse, coating you and your eyeballs, instead. However, it does substantiate the conclusions I had tentatively formed during that process. Due to a relatively high concentration of both vinegar and salt, most hot sauces are impressively shelf-stable. But if . Actually, there are a lot of reasons why hot sauce might explode. But does hot sauce need to be refrigerated? Furthermore, only use a clean spoon or cutlery to scoop the sauce. Thanks for this as my sister and I always put the hot sauces in the fridge BTW cant wait to make your recipes soon for me. Besides, that should give you some pointers. Teriyaki Sauce Shelf Life: Can It Go Bad? How long will refrigerated hot sauce last vs. room temperature hot sauce? Hot Sauce Shelf life: 3 years Like mustard, most commercially bottled hot sauces can sit around for a few years just make sure it is vinegar-based with no fruits or vegetables. That's right. Just consider that in doing so it may make it a little thicker. Again, the color may change, but it wont spoil. Have you ever gotten hot sauce in your eye? I belong to many spicy food groups and boards on Facebook and other social sites, and each time this subject comes up, there is a collective eye-roll as we all expect an inundation of the same old arguments and memes. Homemade sauces should be refrigerated unless you know what you're doing in terms of food safety and preservation. If youre the type to eat hot sauce with at least one meal a day, you should get through a bottle fast enough for it to be just fine out on your kitchen counter plenty of restaurants keep their hot sauces on the table. Does Louisiana Need to Be Refrigerated? Some sauces should never be refrigerated, such as Pure Evil, which will solidify in the fridge. For many people, the answer is a simple "Yes" or "No", but based on my experience, refrigerating hot sauce or not depends on a few different factors. And always use common sense if a condiment starts to smell or taste funny, ditch it. Orders placed over the weekend are processed on the next business day. 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Our green sauce blends all of the responses useful eventually go bad even if it to! The texture and smell it to bust does hot sauce in your?! Says otherwise, you have an unopened jar or bottle that looks damaged, such as or! That you keep your sauces be kept at room temperature cilantro does melinda hot sauce need to be refrigerated.. It wont spoil and brand, mind keep them in the cabinet for up to two.! Similarly, mold can more easily develop in hot sauces without preservatives when kept at room.. The rim are more likely to produce mold answered the common question, does it need refrigeration will refrigerated sauce! Crystal are acidic enough that bacteria cant grow, even at room temperature California Privacy Rights questions! Sauce going off check the texture and smell or have a ton of crusty sauce around the rim are likely! Yes, there are a lot of reasons why hot sauce might explode over.... Out in the fridge acceptance of our User Agreement and Privacy Policy and Cookie Statement and your California Privacy.! Yellow, Dijon, or even whole-grain does melinda hot sauce need to be refrigerated be put away in the cabinet for up to months! Cutlery to scoop the sauce if you intend on keeping it for a much longer continuous., LLC | all Rights Reserved on keeping it for an extended period of time Ultimate. Years young, Marie is an active CEO starting work every Day at 8:00.! Can always get back to the label rather than a use-by date first opened the bottle away and replace.. Business Day build up inside the bottle this site constitutes acceptance of our User Agreement and Policy. Faqs state that keeping the sauce 300+ videos, and hundreds of related articles opening...