In a cafe at Camden Lock.
Let us guess: Should you want to throw some ketchup on your burger, you'll find it right on the table (at room temperature) in many restaurants, but at home, you probably keep it in the fridge.Or do you, too, leave it out? Which version of life are you living?Recently, a debate's been going down online, with people divided over whether ketchup's rightful home is in the fridge or the cupboard.The discussion seems to have started when a Twitter user asked the question, "Where does ketchup belong? In the fridge or not in the fridge?" Advertisem*nt where does ketchup belong — vic (@vicidc_) January 24, 2017
If you check a bottle of, say, Heinz ketchup, you'll notice that the manufacturers would side with the fridge crowd, saying, "For best results, refrigerate after opening."Reached for comment, a Heinz spokesperson referred to an FAQ on the Heinz website."Because of its natural acidity, Heinz® Ketchup is shelf-stable. However, its stability after opening can be affected by storage conditions. We recommend that this product be refrigerated after opening. Refrigeration will maintain the best product quality after opening."Jeff Nelken, a food safety consultant based in Los Angeles, says that ketchup is indeed acidic enough to deter spoilage, but it will deteriorate in quality if left unrefrigerated."Let's assume that we're talking about ketchup that is the standard ketchup we see in the supermarket as opposed to homemade ketchup, because those are different animals," Nelken told MUNCHIES. "They all have some basic ingredients: sugar, salt, and vinegar."Ketchup belongs in the fridge. Ketchup belongs in the fridge. Ketchup belongs in the fridge. Ketchup belongs in the fridge. https://t.co/eQmbc5T3Tb
— antonio (@antoniodelotero) February 5, 2017
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Those three ingredients are stabilising ingredients, Nelken says, and at a pH level around 3.7, ketchup is highly acidic and not conducive to bacteria growth. But still, leaving the ketchup on the counter isn't necessarily the greatest idea."When you open up a bottle of ketchup and you leave it unrefrigerated, every time you open up the cap you let air into it," Nelkin says. "Since there is bacteria and mould in the air, you're allowing some bacteria and mould into the bottle. In 30 days, you'll see separation and a little deterioration in quality."You'll also smell a little bit of rancidity. It's not spoiling, but there's mould growth and it stimulates some chemical reactions. If you put it in the refrigerator, you'll have six months of shelf life. If you leave it at room temp, when it hits 30 days, you'll smell and see a difference in the quality of the ketchup, [and] it will have a funky taste or funky smell."Dr. Rick Holley, a researcher studying the microbial ecology of food spoilage at the University of Manitoba, said you'd be fine if you eat ketchup stored at room temp, but voted for storing ketchup in the fridge. "From a food safety perspective, because ketchup has a low (<4.6) pH, it is acidic [and] does not need refrigeration to keep it safe," Holley told MUNCHIES. "However, its colour is more stable at lower temperature in the dark (fridge is better)."
READ MORE: This Is the Best Way to Get Ketchup Out of the Bottle According to Science
Advertisem*nt what horrible person puts ketchup in the pantry and not the fridge — SLIGHT (@slightbeats) February 5, 2017 ppl who put their ketchup in the fridge - dont trust em xx — rosie (@KIRKPATRlCK) February 1, 2017 I have one ketchup bottle in the fridge and one in the pantry — Lulu (@sheslulu) February 5, 2017
We are truly a people divided over ketchup. But perhaps there's hope.
Keep us posted.
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