Some condiments require refrigeration, no matter what. Others can sit out for quite a long time if they are sealed. However, the list of condiments that don’t need to be refrigerated is probably longer than you might think. Giving you wiggle room when stocking your selves.
As it turns out, many of the items we believe need to stay cool, DONT. So, keep this list handy for the next time you prepare to clean up after a picnic or party. You can save a little extra storage space in the fridge.
- What Qualifies As a Condiment?
- 10 Condiments That Don’t Need to Be Refrigerated
- Butter is Better When Left at Room Temperature
- Ketchup Does Have to be Kept Cold
- Mustard Tastes Fresh When Stored at Room Temp
- Hot Sauce is a Spicy Addition to Any Dish and Doesn’t Have to Stay Cold
- Honey is Sweeter When Kept Outside of the Fridge
- Peanut Butter is Better at Room Temp
- Soy Sauce is an Asian Influenced Condiment Made for a Long Shelf Life
- Olive Oil Doesn’t Work Well When Cold
- Vinegar Lasts Forever. Well, Not Really, But Close
- Coconut Oil for the Win
- Do You Have to Live By the Expiration Date?
- FAQs
What Qualifies As a Condiment?
While you might know the term condiment, do you really know what they are? A condiment is a word used to define food items that enhance the flavor of a meal. These items can be in the form of spices, liquids, or pastes. (*)
Condiments are typically used after you prepare and serve your dish. Most people will leave condiments out for guests to apply as much or as little as they want.
Condiments will often change depending on the country you reside in. Nevertheless, there is always a wide variety of delicious options to choose from. Whether you like spicy, sweet, tangy, or salty, there is a condiment for you.
With all the condiments available today, which ones should be refrigerated and which do not?
Lets dive in!
10 Condiments That Don’t Need to Be Refrigerated
Let’s take a look at the 10 condiments you can feel comfortable leaving on the shelf. Even if these products are open, they don’t have to be kept cool.
You will save a lot of money once you know you don’t have to toss those forgotten bottles, jars, and containers. (You can thank us later.)
Butter is Better When Left at Room Temperature
Because it comes from dairy, most people believe butter should always be refrigerated. Yet, this is not the case. You can leave butter in the refrigerator if you would like, but room temperature is the way to go.
If you are a big butter fan and eat it often, you should keep it out of the fridge. Cold butter, stored in the refrigerator, is hard and difficult to use. Butter left out at room temperature is smooth and perfect for spreading.
Keep in mind that butter left out for more than a few days can go bad. Eating rancid butter can lead to health issues caused by bacteria. You can tell when butter is spoiled because it begins to smell bad and can become discolored. (*)
Storing your butter properly can extend the length of time it can be left out, giving you an extra week or sometimes longer.
- How to store butter outside the fridge: Place it in a butter dish and keep it out of direct sunlight or high temperatures.
| Storage Conditions | Recommended Temperature Range | Recommended Humidity Levels |
|---|---|---|
| Butter Outside The Fridge | 60-70°F (15-21°C). This range ensures that the butter stays solid without melting or going rancid, while remaining easily spreadable. | 40-50%. Moisture can lead to bacterial growth and mold, which can spoil the butter. So, avoiding excess humidity helps preserve its freshness. |
- Length of time it will last without refrigeration: From 3 days to 2+ Weeks
- When to toss it out: When the butter begins to smell, turns colors, or becomes watery.
Ketchup Does Have to be Kept Cold
Another condiment that tends to shock people when they are told it doesn’t have to remain cold is ketchup. Most people keep their ketchup in the fridge once it is open and used. Yet this condiment doesn’t have to sit inside the cooler all of its life.
Because ketchup is made with a large dose of vinegar, it has a pretty long shelf life. This means it doesn’t go bad quickly, even when it is stored at room temperature. So, even though it does contain tomatoes, which will rot when left out, ketchup can go for months when stored right.
To keep ketchup fresh outside of the fridge, store it in a cool, dry space. Leaving a bottle of ketchup in the sun will speed up the rotting process.
- How to store ketchup outside the fridge: Place it in a cold, dry space, preferably in a dark location.
| Storage Conditions | Recommended Temperature Range | Recommended Humidity Levels |
|---|---|---|
| Ketchup Outside The Fridge | Between 50°F (10°C) and 70°F (21°C). This range helps prevent the ketchup from spoiling or degrading too quickly. | Below 75%. High humidity can lead to moisture build-up, which may affect the consistency and quality of the ketchup. |
- Length of time it will last without refrigeration: It will last from 6-8 weeks or up to a year if stored properly.
- When to toss it out: The color darkens, the liquid moves to the top, sour smell and an odd taste.
Learn more: Do ketchup need to be refrigerated?
Mustard Tastes Fresh When Stored at Room Temp
Many people believe that mustard is one of those condiments that should be stored in the fridge. But did you ever stop and think about how restaurants simply leave it to sit on the table? If professionals feel comfortable leaving their yellow condiment out all day, you should do.
Mustard comes from the combination of mustard seeds, vinegar, water, and various spices. Not one of these ingredients can or will spoil. Because of this, mustard is totally safe to consume months, weeks, and even days after opening it.
Leaving mustard in the refrigerator can help keep it fresher for longer. Aside from that, storing it in a pantry is perfectly safe.
- How to store mustard outside of the fridge: You can leave mustard in a cupboard or on top of a counter. So, we recommend to find a cool and dry spot, away from direct sunlight, with the right temperature and humidity, and savor the flavorful goodness of your mustard
| Storage Conditions | Recommended Temperature Range | Recommended Humidity Levels |
|---|---|---|
| Mustard Outside The Fridge | Between 50°F (10°C) and 75°F (24°C). This range ensures that the mustard stays fresh and flavorful without being exposed to extreme heat or cold | Below 75%. It’s best to keep the environment relatively dry. Excessive moisture can affect the consistency and taste of mustard and prevent any unwanted moisture buildup. |
- Length of time it will last without refrigeration: Stored properly, it can sit out for a year or more.
- When to toss it out: Mustard won’t spoil, but you should toss it when it starts to lose its tanginess.
Learn more: Does mustard need to be refrigerated?
Hot Sauce is a Spicy Addition to Any Dish and Doesn’t Have to Stay Cold
Hot sauce is a staple in many homes. This popular condiment can add a little bit of heat to any dish. It is also ideal for leaving out even after the seal is broken.
If you are a hot sauce fan, you will be happy to know the chances of it spoiling are slim. Like other items on our list, the main ingredient is vinegar. This makes hot sauce an ideal candidate for sitting at room temperature for a good length of time.
While hot sauce won’t spoil when stored outside the fridge, it can lose flavor. If you don’t use hot sauce often, you might want to keep it cold. This just ensures the next time you use it, the sauce will be as fresh and spicy as the day you opened it.
- How to store hot sauce outside of the fridge: Keep it in a cool, dry space.
| Storage Conditions | Recommended Temperature Range | Recommended Humidity Levels |
|---|---|---|
| Mild Hot Sauce | 50°F to 70°F (10°C to 21°C) | 50% to 70% |
| Medium Hot Sauce | 55°F to 75°F (13°C to 24°C) | 40% to 60% |
| Extra Hot Sauce | 60°F to 80°F (15°C to 27°C) | 30% to 50% |
| Smoky Chipotle Sauce | 45°F to 65°F (7°C to 18°C) | 50% to 70% |
| Habanero Pepper Sauce | 50°F to 70°F (10°C to 21°C) | 40% to 60% |
| Ghost Pepper Sauce | 55°F to 75°F (13°C to 24°C) | 30% to 50% |
| Fruit-infused Hot Sauce | 45°F to 65°F (7°C to 18°C) | 40% to 60% |
- Length of time it will last without refrigeration: up to a year or more.
- When to toss it out: When it doesn’t provide the typically spicy bit it once had.
Learn more: Does hot sauce need to be refrigerated?
Honey is Sweeter When Kept Outside of the Fridge
Honey is another famous condiment frequently used in many homes. It’s tasty on its own, mixed with warm beverages, or as a topping on your desserts. This glazy topping has a special place in the kitchen, and it isn’t in the refrigerator.
In fact, keeping honey in the refrigerator will cause it to harden. All honey lovers know hard honey is almost impossible to use. The best place to keep your honey is in a room-temperature space.
Honey is one of the longest lasting condiments when cared for properly. It won’t go bad, per se. However, it can lose its texture and sweet flavor profile if you don’t store it correctly. Honey stored in high temps will liquefy. If kept too cold, honey will get hard. A happy medium is around 65°F to 75°F in a dry space.
- How to store honey outside of the fridge: Keep it in a dry space between 65 and 75°F.
| Storage Conditions | Recommended Temperature Range | Recommended Humidity Levels |
|---|---|---|
| Honey Outside The Fridge | Between 50°F (10°C) and 70°F (21°C). This temperature range ensures that the honey remains stable and doesn’t crystallize or lose its natural properties. | Around 50% to 70%. This range helps prevent excessive moisture absorption by the honey, which could lead to fermentation or spoilage. |
- Length of time it will last without refrigeration:: 1-3 years if stored properly.
- When to toss it out: Once it loses flavor or texture.
Peanut Butter is Better at Room Temp
Peanut butter isn’t just for kids. While peanut butter and jelly sandwiches are a go-to lunch for most school-aged students, adults enjoy this condiment too. Luckily, peanut butter has a pretty long shelf life. This means more snacks for everyone; yay.
Most peanut butter brands will survive many months outside of your fridge. If they ever get the chance. This is due to the numerous preservatives mixed in each batch.
The catch here is if your peanut butter is made fresh or you buy natural peanut butter. Although you won’t get sick ingesting these products weeks after opening them. You might not like the taste or texture. Peanut butter will separate without preservatives, with liquid ingredients rising to the top.
Similar to honey. If you do prefer cool peanut butter and store it in the fridge. You might notice the condiment gets much harder to spread. Nevertheless, if you prefer your peanut spread on the cooler side, go for it. Either way works just fine. Refrigerated peanut butter can live past its shelf life by many months.
- How to store peanut butter outside of the fridge: Keep it at room temperature in a pantry or cupboard.
| Storage Conditions | Recommended Temperature Range | Recommended Humidity Levels |
|---|---|---|
| Peanut Butter Outside The Fridge | Between 60°F (15°C) and 75°F (24°C). At higher temperatures, the oils in the peanut butter can separate and the texture may become runny, while colder temperatures can cause the peanut butter to harden and become difficult to spread. | Around 40% to 60%. Excessive humidity can cause the peanut butter to become sticky or develop mold, while very dry conditions may cause it to dry out and lose its creamy texture. |
- Length of time it will last without refrigeration: 2-3 months once opened
- When to toss it out: Oxidation can cause peanut butter to go bad. It is best to toss your jar out after 3 months.
Soy Sauce is an Asian Influenced Condiment Made for a Long Shelf Life
Asian cuisine wouldn’t be the same without the added flavor of quality soy sauce. While it is a staple in Asian dishes, it is a condiment you will find in refrigerators all over the world.
Soy sauce is one condiment that doesn’t have to clutter up the shelved space inside your fridge. Most users keep in the small space built onto the fridge door. Yet you can leave it in your cupboard or cabinets.
Soy sauce is mostly fermented ingredients, which won’t go bad easily. These are nature’s preservatives, offering longer shelf life to the foods you love.
- How to store soy sauce outside of the fridge: Keep open soy sauce bottles in your cabinet or pantry.
| Storage Conditions | Recommended Temperature Range | Recommended Humidity Levels |
|---|---|---|
| Soy Sauce Outside The Fridge | Between 50°F (10°C) and 70°F (21°C). It’s important to avoid exposing soy sauce to high temperatures as it can affect its taste and quality over time. | The average range of 40% to 60% to prevent any moisture absorption, which can potentially impact the quality of the sauce. |
- Length of time it will last without refrigeration: up to one year after opening.
- When to toss it out: After a year, the flavors will start to break down; you should toss your sauce then.
Learn more: does soy sauce need refrigeration?
Olive Oil Doesn’t Work Well When Cold
Olive Oil is one of the most versatile condiments out there. It can be great for many things and provides a unique flavor profile. Many people love the taste of olive oil on its own. Others like mixing it with various species to play with the flavor.
However you use olive oil, it is suggested you use it at room temp. Storing this item in the fridge may prolong its shelf life. But experts will tell you to set it out, restoring it to room temp, before cooking. Cold olive oil simply doesn’t taste as good.
The place to keep your oil is in a cool dark space. Inside your kitchen cupboard is ideal. You will quickly notice when your olive oil isn’t as fresh as it once was. The flavor will diminish, and your food will start to taste bland.
- How to store olive oil outside of the fridge: Keep your olive oil in a cool, dark, dry place.
| Storage Conditions | Recommended Temperature Range | Recommended Humidity Levels |
|---|---|---|
| Olive Oil Outside The Fridge | Between 50°F (10°C) and 70°F (21°C). Exposure to high temperatures can cause the oil to deteriorate, lose its flavor, and even become rancid. | The average range of 40% to 60%. Excessive humidity can introduce moisture into the oil, which may impact its quality over time. |
- Length of time it will last without refrigeration: up to a year when properly stored.
- When to toss it out: Toss your olive oil when it starts to lose flavor.
Vinegar Lasts Forever. Well, Not Really, But Close
You may have noticed that many of the items listed above contain vinegar. This is why these products last so long, even when warm. So obviously, vinegar itself can survive life outside the fridge for a long time.
The best way to store vinegar is by placing it in a dry space at room temperature. It can last more than a year when left out but properly handled. Due to the high acidity levels, this popular condition preserves itself.
Whether you love it on fries or mixed in dressings, vinegar is a long lasting condiment. You can keep one bottle around for use throughout the year.
- How to store vinegar outside of the fridge: It’s best to keep it away from direct sunlight and heat sources, as exposure to high temperatures can degrade its flavor and quality
| Storage Conditions | Recommended Temperature Range | Recommended Humidity Levels |
|---|---|---|
| Vinegar Outside The Fridge | Between 50°F (10°C) and 70°F (21°C). If vinegar is exposed to extreme heat, it may even start to ferment or spoil. | The average range of 40% to 60% to prevent any potential moisture absorption. |
- Length of time it will last without refrigeration: Vinegar can be kept at room temp for more than one year.
- When to toss it out: Vinegar will never go “bad.” After about a year, the acidity level will decline and alter the flavor. That’s when you should toss it out.
Coconut Oil for the Win
Coconut oil can last for two years or longer when stored at room temperature. In fact, this is another condiment you won’t want to keep in the fridge. Keeping coconut oil cold will cause it to harden. As you know, hard oil is not easy to work with.
Coconut oil is a healthy alternative to many condiments in the kitchen. People turn to this product when they are looking to improve their diets. Thanks to its versatility, flexibility, and low maintenance, coconut oil is a condiment for the win.
Why is coconut oil easy to store? This oil is made from the fatty meat of a coconut. Once the meat is dried and processed, you end up with a tasty, naturally preserving oil.
- How to store vinegar outside of the fridge: Keep your vinegar in a dark, dry place at room temperature.
| Storage Conditions | Recommended Temperature Range | Recommended Humidity Levels |
|---|---|---|
| Coconut Oil Outside The Fridge | Between 75°F (24°C) and 80°F (27°C). It’s important to avoid exposing coconut oil to high temperatures as it can cause the oil to melt and potentially spoil. On the other hand, extremely low temperatures can cause the oil to solidify and make it difficult to use. | The average range of 40% to 50% to prevent any moisture absorption, which can affect its quality over time. |
- Length of storage outside of the refrigerator: Coconut oil will last years when stored properly.
- When to toss it out: You will know your coconut oil is bad when it tastes, smells, or looks off.
Do You Have to Live By the Expiration Date?
You might see a “Best if Used By” or “Sell By” date on the label of many condiments. Some people will toss their items if the date passes, whether the food seems okay or not.
You will hear a variety of opinions on this subject. Many people still believe all condiments belong in a cooler of some kind. Others are jumping on board with the “Shelf Life” experience. So we did a little digging, getting you the best information to keep you well informed.
Expiration dates don’t necessarily indicate when a food item goes bad. It is a guideline given by manufacturers to the users and sellers of their products.
These guidelines tell you when a specific product may start to go bad. It is not an exact science, and typically, when stored properly, condiments will last long beyond these dates.
Shelf Life Means Store Shelf Life
Another thing to keep in mind is the “expiration dates’ on your conditions let stores know when to pull the product from their shelves.
When you go to the store, you will notice that all the products have future dates on them. If they don’t, you may want to bring it to an employee’s attention. These dates reduce the chances of stores selling spoiled or rancid food.
Shelf Life at Home
Just because the “sell by” date has passed doesn’t mean you should toss your unused condiments. If these products are still sealed and stored right, you still have plenty of time to use them.
Your condiments can still be perfectly fine, even past the shelf life date. Just check the label to see what ingredients are in it. You can determine how long you have left by knowing this information.
Whether you are storing ketchup or honey, vinegar, or oil, it is imperative your products have tightly sealed lids. This will keep them fresher longer and much safer to ingest.
Shelf Life When Unopened
You are guaranteed a long shelf life when your condiments still have a secured seal covering the lid. Most condiments today are made to last for a long time, allowing you to store them away until needed.
- Peanut Butter– 6-9 + months
- Olive Oil- Regular olive oil: 18-24 months; extra virgin olive oil: 12-24 months
- Ketchup- 2+ Years
- Mustard- 2+ Years
- Coconut Oil– 3+ Years
- Vinegar- 2+ Years
- Hotsauce– 3+ Years
- Soy Sauce- 2 Years
- Honey– 2+ Years
- Butter– 2 Weeks
Remember to always check the packaging of your condiments before using if they have been in storage for a long time. Bacteria can quickly grow on any food when exposed to air. This exposure can lead to food borne illnesses. Something you definitely don’t want to mess around with.
Ingredients for Long Shelf Life Without Refrigeration
Here is a list of ingredients that hold up well, even outside of the refrigerator. If you are unsure whether or not your condiments are okay, quickly check the label.
- Vinegar
- Fermented foods
- High fat content
- High acidity levels
- High salt levels
- Citrusy ingredients like lemon juice
If you have high levels of any of these ingredients in your condiments, your foods are golden even when not refrigerated.
This is why condiments are so popular and widely used around the world. You can quickly freshen up a salad, bring out the flavors in a meal, or add a bonus flavor without rushing to the fridge.
These are perfect for picnics, camping trips, and surviving guests. You can put out a spread of various condiments and let everyone pick their favorites without going back and forth from the kitchen or cooler.
