Organizing and cleaning the refrigerator is a task that most of us tend to ignore for a long time due to its complexity and difficulty in finding the best way to arrange things.
Several individuals frequently experience a lack of space in their refrigerators to store all the necessary items. Nevertheless, some products that people usually refrigerate are actually shelf-stable.
If you want to free up some space in your refrigerator for items that require refrigeration to avoid spoilage, like fruits and vegetables, you can opt to keep these seven non-refrigerated condiments in your pantry instead.
While refrigeration can improve the quality of most food items, 7 condiments can be safely stored at room temperature without compromising their safety. Let’s explore each item and its appropriate storage method below.
1. Ketchup
Ketchup, a condiment that is widely used and popularly stored in refrigerators by most people, is a common household item.
Nevertheless, recall your recent visit to a burger joint where the red bottle of ketchup was already placed on the table before you even arrived, indicating that its high acidic nature makes it highly resistant to spoilage and thus does not require refrigeration.
Acid in ketchup, derived from tomatoes and vinegar, can prevent bacterial growth at room temperature, making refrigeration unnecessary for preserving its quality.
Most ketchups found on store shelves have a low pH level due to their acidic components, which means they do not require refrigeration. Nevertheless, if you prepare your own ketchup, it is essential to keep it in the fridge since there is no way to determine its acidity level, making it safer not to leave it out.
2. Mustard
Mustard, like ketchup, is a frequently used condiment found in many households. If you recall your visits to burger joints, you may recollect the presence of a yellow mustard bottle on your table.
Similar to ketchup, mustard is also acidic due to its composition of dried mustard seeds and vinegar, resulting in a low pH level that allows it to be safely stored at room temperature.
Mustard, like many other foods, can have a longer shelf life if refrigerated, and if you prefer it cold, then refrigeration is the way to go.
Storing homemade mustard in the refrigerator is recommended as it is difficult to determine its level of acidity, which determines its shelf stability.
3. Honey
Honey can be stored at room temperature as it has a long shelf life and can last for several years if stored correctly.
Honey actually performs better at room temperature than in colder or warmer temperatures, as refrigeration can cause it to solidify and become challenging to utilize.
If you are purchasing raw, local honey, it is recommended to store it in a glass jar that is tightly sealed.
Although refrigeration should be avoided, it is crucial to protect honey from heat and direct sunlight as they can affect its flavor and appearance; therefore, your enclosed pantry serves as an ideal storage location.
4. Soy Sauce
Soy sauce can maintain its quality for a considerable period, and you can use the same technique as with ketchup and mustard at your preferred sushi bar where you will find soy sauce readily available on the table.
If unopened, this condiment can be kept at room temperature for several years. Once opened, it can still be stored on a shelf for the same amount of time, provided that there is no alteration in its taste.
Soy sauce is produced by fermenting soybeans, wheat, salt, and water, which stabilizes the mixture and makes it resistant to bacterial growth.
It is important to smell and taste your soy sauce if you are uncertain about its quality after being stored at room temperature for an extended period of time, but as long as there are no changes, it is still safe to use.
Sometimes, film yeast (a harmless type of yeast that develops in salty conditions) can appear on the surface of soy sauce. If you take it off and the soy sauce still tastes fine, it is okay to continue using it.
5. Fish Sauce
Like soy sauce, fish sauce is made through fermentation, but with fish and salt instead. Its high salt concentration makes it very stable on the shelf, and it can be stored safely at room temperature for a few years after opening.
Like other condiments, it is advisable to refrigerate high-quality or expensive fish sauce to maintain its quality. Storing it in the refrigerator can extend its shelf life for years, ensuring that you always have it available for making stir-fries.
6. Hot Sauce
Although many people store hot sauce in their refrigerators after opening, it can actually be kept at room temperature, as evidenced by the containers of hot sauce found on tables at Mexican restaurants.
Hot sauce, consisting of vinegar, salt, and capsaicin, has a low pH and salt concentration that makes it highly resistant to bacterial growth.
Hot sauce can be stored in the pantry for more than a year, and refrigerating it can extend its shelf life even further, although most people finish it within a few weeks of opening.
Refrigerating your high-quality hot sauce can aid in maintaining its quality and flavor.
7. Olive Oil
Olive oil should be stored in a cool and dark place, similar to honey, to avoid exposure to heat or light. Although it is convenient to keep it near the stove for easy access, storing it at room temperature is recommended, making it suitable for pantry storage.
Olive oil can be stored in the pantry for several months if it has been opened and won’t be used for an extended period.
If you decide to refrigerate your olive oil, it may solidify due to the warmer temperature of your home. However, you will have to let it return to room temperature before using it, but keep in mind that repeated cooling and thawing can lead to a decline in quality over time.
To sum up, there are several condiments that you might have been keeping in your fridge needlessly for a long time. Ketchup, mustard, soy sauce, fish sauce, and hot sauce contain high levels of acid and salt which make them stable enough to be stored at room temperature.
Honey and olive oil can be stored in cool, dark areas without refrigeration as they are not acidic or salty, and this will help maintain their quality for extended periods. You can store these condiments in your pantry to create more space in your refrigerator.
You can also check this video about “7 Condiments That Donât Have to Be Refrigerated”
