It’s not something you usually think about until you visit someone else’s house – whether you keep ketchup in the fridge or the cupboard.
So to settle the debate, Heinz has finally revealed where you should store the red sauce once opened to ensure it tastes its best when added to your chips.
On social media, Heinz asked its customer whether they keep their ketchup in the refrigerator or on a shelf in their kitchen cabinet – and it sparked quite the debate.
Surprisingly, the roughly 2,500 voters gave a split verdict, with Reddit users echoing this when discussing the same topic.
One user said: ” I’m firmly for the fridge myself, keen to see if I’m as weird as my friend seemed to think!”
Another user added: “Keep in fridge. End of debate. A third user said: “Literally says ‘keep refrigerated’ on the bottle…”
However, other argued: “Spoons says otherwise.” Another user said: “Cupboard, who wants cold sauce on their fry up?” One more added: “Cupboard next to the brown sauce.”
But according to its label, an opened ketchup bottle should be stored in the fridge and eaten within eight weeks.
Adding to this, Olivia Lennon, at Heinz Tomato told Daily Mail: “There was only ever one correct answer and we’re happy to share with Heinz Tomato Ketchup lovers that our ketchup has to be in the fridge.
“Although we’re aware many Heinz Tomato Ketchup fans have been storing their ketchup in the cupboard, we do recommend refrigeration after opening.
“This is the best way to maintain the delicious tangy taste of our Heinz Tomato Ketchup that you know and love.”
However, Which? offers a slightly different verdict on the topic, with a statement saying: “What the experts say: It’s not essential to keep ketchup in the fridge.
“Not only does it contain vinegar, but tomatoes are naturally acidic, and this helps to preserve the product in ambient (room temperature) conditions.
“Dietitian Dr Sarah Schenker says: ‘Sometimes people keep ketchup in the fridge, simply because they prefer a chilled taste, but otherwise it doesn’t need to be refrigerated.’
“This can be a hotly contested one, but ultimately it depends on your preference, home environment (if your kitchen tends to be cool or really hot, for example) and how much space you have.
“In 2017, Heinz issued a statement saying: ‘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, like any processed food, be refrigerated after opening. Refrigeration will maintain the best product quality after opening.”
