Does Tabasco Sauce Need To Be Refrigerated? ⋆ We Want The Sauce (2024)

Have a bottle of Tabasco sauce but not sure how to store it? Should you stick it in the fridge or will it be okay in a cupboard? This is what you can do.

So, does Tabasco sauce need to be refrigerated? Tabasco sauce does not need to be refrigerated – either before or after opening. However, you can refrigerate this sauce if you desire. Otherwise, so long as the sauce is kept in a cool place and away from direct sunlight it should last without spoiling.

Excellent news.

Besides, this is a spicy condiment that does not typically get used up quickly.

Chances are, you’ll have a bottle of tabasco sauce for quite some time after purchasing.

A little goes a long way.

And you don’t need much!

But do you have to worry about this sauce going bad or off after a while?

And if so how do you know?

Let’s find out!

Does Tabasco Sauce Go Bad?

Tabasco sauce is one such condiment that cannot really go bad. While the taste, flavor, color, and consistency may change a little over time, and depending on how it is stored, it cannot make you sick.

It’s all due to the ingredients of this sauce, which are surprisingly few!

Distilled vinegar, red pepper, and salt.

That’s it!

And it’s the distilled vinegar and salt that acts to preserve the sauce for such a long time.

Its high acidity prevents any bacteria from developing; thus keeping it essentially spoil-free.

And that’s true for both opened and unopened bottles of the sauce.

Nevertheless, this is not to say that this sauce cannot degrade in quality over time.

As we shall see in the next section.

Does Tabasco Sauce Have A Shelf Life?

Tabasco sauce does have a shelf life. Despite not being able to truly spoil, the sauce can change color and in time, the taste can change too. This may make it unappetizing depending on your preferences.

Of course, Tabasco sauce is known for selling various different sauces.

And not all will have the exact same shelf-life.

That being said, distilled vinegar does form the base of all sauces do they do all generally last a long time.

Nevertheless, if you do observe changes in the sauce – which tend to occur within 1-3 years of opening, you may want to consider replacing the bottle.

How Do You Know If Tabasco Sauce Is Bad?

The best ways to tell if Tabasco sauce has gone ‘bad’ is to look for any changes in color, consistency, or taste.

The truth is, Tabasco sauce does not really go off, as we have discussed above.

But in time, the taste may change. And it may no longer be to your taste.

But you don’t have to necessarily eat the sauce to find out.

Sometimes you can tell by the color of the sauce itself.

The older the sauce is, generally the darker it becomes.

Now of course; Tabasco sauce can indeed spoil.

If it is to come into contact with food and the bottle gets contaminated.

So be careful when it comes to pouring.

You don’t want anything to go back in the bottle.

Nevertheless, with even the best care and no contamination, the sauce quality will likely degrade within 1-3 years after opening.

How Should You Store Tabasco Sauce?

How you decide to store Tabasco sauce is a matter of preference and how long you intend to keep it. The fridge or in a cool environment out of direct sunlight are both suitable places.

So, that could be a cupboard, pantry, cabinet, or even a drawer.

Just keep it out of sunlight – as that can cause degradation quicker.

And that’s really why storing in the fridge can make sense.

It helps to slow the degradation process, generally.

So, it may mean your tabasco sauces last at peak condition a little longer before needing to be replaced.

But by that time, you likely will want to buy a new bottle anyway.

Finally

Refrigerating Tabasco sauce.

Do you need to – no.

Should you – perhaps.

Either way, you can expect your sauce to last several years.

Even after opening.

And many people even report that they still have their bottle long after the ‘best before date’ – reporting that it still tastes as good as ever.

Just do the look, smell, and taste test.

And if in doubt, chuck it out.

Wondering what other sauces need to be kept refrigerated? Check out my following guides below:

• Does Sriracha Sauce Need To Be Refrigerated?
• Does Hot Sauce Need To Be Refrigerated?
• Does Hoisin Sauce Need To Be Refrigerated?
• Does Teriyaki Sauce Need To Be Refrigerated?
• Does Soy Sauce Need To Be Refrigerated?
• Does Tartar Sauce Need To Be Refrigerated?
• Does Worcestershire Sauce Need To Be Refrigerated?