In this brief guide, we will answer the question, can sauce go in the fridge? We will discuss the various kinds of sauce and ways to keep them. We will also discuss the correct way to handle them and signs that indicate spoilage.
Can sauce go in the fridge?
Most kinds of sauce can go in the fridge. If the can or bottle was opened, it is best to store your sauce in your fridge.
Let it be soya sauce or tomato sauce, the sauce is shelf-stable until the seal remains intact. After the bottle has been opened, you risk introducing contaminants such as bacteria inside the bottle or jar which can make it spoil.
Pesto sauce, mayonnaise, chutneys, ranch, tartar sauce, jam, and jellies; all need to be refrigerated after their jars have been opened.
Some condiments do not need to be refrigerated, however, keeping them in the fridge would keep them fresh for longer. Buffalo sauce, Worcestershire sauce, barbeque sauce, steak sauce, and sweet chili sauce can be left out of the fridge for up to two months. However, opt to leave them in the fridge to keep them fresh for longer.
How long do most sauces last in the fridge?
Tomato sauce
How to store your tomato sauce is a debatable topic. Experts dispute whether tomato sauce belongs in the fridge or pantry. The ingredients have a great role to play, the acidity levels and the sweetness of tomato sauce are strong enough to keep it safe at room temperature.
However, if the label says otherwise, or if you made it yourself, keep it in the refrigerator for up to a week.
Pasta sauce
Pasta sauce is prepared with either a tomato base or cream. The shelf-lives and handling of tomato pasta sauce and cream pasta sauce are different.
Store your pasta sauce in the refrigerator within 2 hours of being cooked or after you have opened the lid.
The shelf-life will also vary from brand to brand. If you make the pasta sauce from scratch, it lasts for a shorter period than the store-bought one.
Homemade Pasta Sauces do not have preservatives added to them which makes them last for a shorter period. Most store-bought pasta sauces also do not have added preservatives.
Your homemade pasta sauce will last for 3-4 days in the refrigerator.
Fish sauce
If your bottle is still not yet opened, keep the fish sauce at room temperature. It can be the pantry of your kitchen. However, you need to reserve it away from sunlight and heat to retain its quality.
Once your bottle is open, make sure it is closed tightly and put away in a safe place. Your best option is to store it in the refrigerator for optimum quality.
Even though it may contain extracts of one of the most perishable foods we know, that is fish, the fermented sauce contains a large amount of salt, which deems it unnecessary by law to have an expiration date.
Cocktail sauce
Store the unopened cocktail sauce in the refrigerator, it will last for more than two years past the best-before date.
The cocktail sauce can go bad after the container has been opened for a year and stored in the refrigerator.
When will your sauce spoil?
All good things come to an end, especially if they weren’t treated right. Hence, remember to follow the instructions, close the lid when not in use and protect from humidity and contaminants. Use a clean and dry spoon to take out your sauce.
After you break open the seal, any kind of sauce will go bad eventually. For precise instructions, follow the labels that state expiration or best before date. Also, note what the label has to say about storage.
The life of your sauce depends on various factors, including ingredients and handling. Sauces that are acidic, salty, or sweet will have a long life. Sauces that are free of preservatives, such as those that were prepared at home might also spoil quickly.
When your sauce spoils, it will undergo a change in texture and smell. Watch out for a mold, a fungal growth that appears to be fuzzy or a different color. Sometimes a cloudy film might appear on top of your sauce, other times you might sense a change in smell or taste.
If your sauce doesn’t seem right, you should throw it away.
Other FAQs about Sauces that you may be interested in.
Can you defrost pesto in the microwave?
Can you eat applesauce when pregnant?
Can you eat applesauce when you have diarrhea?
can you eat bbq sauce without cooking it
Conclusion
In this brief guide, we answered the question, can sauce go in the fridge? We discussed the various kinds of sauce and ways to keep them. We also discussed the correct way to handle them and signs that indicate spoilage.
Citations
https://www.glad.com/food-storage/protection-pointers/how-long-does-pasta-sauce-last-in-the-fridge/
