My mom was a biochemist. Her interest in microorganisms didn’t end when she left the lab. Without using the phrase “food safety”, she routinely followed a rather strict regime for refrigerating foods and disposing of leftovers that had laid around too long.
She always refrigerated condiments after opening. And so, without giving it a second thought, I always refrigerate hot sauce after opening the bottle or jar.
Note that if you leave any hot sauces unrefrigerated, their color may darken over time. The Kitchn lists unrefrigerated hot sauces as having a 3-year shelf life, but that is just an estimate. One source claimed that refrigerating vinegar-based hot sauces (that do not contain fruits, vegetables or eggs) weakens their flavor.
In our house, we love hot sauce. From the spicy condiment sprinkled on top (chili), to the sauce on the side (okra), to the ingredient in soup and other dishes, we use hot sauce on, with, or in our food. For years I’ve kept it all refrigerated.
On the other hand, if it contains only chilis in any form, vinegar, garlic, salt, xanthan gum (a thickening and stabilizing agent) and preservatives such as potassium sorbate and sodium bisulfite, such as “regular” sriracha or tabasco, then you can leave it unrefrigerated, in a cool, dry place.
How do you pronounce Cholula (CHOE-LOO-LA)?
At the base of the breathtaking Popocatépetl volcano lies the ancient city of Cholula. The city of Cholula is the oldest still-inhabited in North America (2500 years old!) where our hot sauce got its name over 100 years ago.
It may feel like second nature to keep your sauces and condiments in the refrigerator, but while some things like honey and olive oil can be damaged by repeated trips in and out of the fridge, others simply dont need it. One of those products which is unnecessary to keep cold is hot sauce. While this might feel obvious or ironic once you hear it, Southern Living notes that many people make this mistake out of habit or because their parents did it.
So how long does hot sauce last unrefrigerated? That answer depends on the type of sauce and the brand youre buying. Southern Living reports that the longevity of hot sauces ranges from the fairly short, six-month enjoyment window for Cholula hot sauce, to the absurdly long five-year shelf-life of Louisiana hot sauce. My Recipes notes however that there are advantages to keeping your hot sauce in the refrigerator if youre the type of person who can make a single bottle last for two to five years. For one, the sauce will look better, as the condiments natural color will likely fade over time, but also because keeping most things refrigerated will extend their freshness, even if they have a long shelf-life to begin with. Additionally, Pepper Scale explains that if a hot sauce is oil-based instead of vinegar-based or homemade, it must be kept in the refrigerator to avoid the risk of food poisoning.
Putting any kind of perishable food in the refrigerator once its open feels like it makes sense, however, as Today reports, there are a fair number of products which dont need to be kept constantly cold. Unlike dairy-based condiments like mayonnaise and citrus-based dressings like vinaigrettes, products which contain high content of salt or vinegar (or in the case of many hot sauces, both) dont usually need to be refrigerated. Thats because, as Pepper Scale notes, those ingredients, combined with the concentrated pepper are enough to keep bacteria from forming and wont spoil, giving most hot sauces a fairly stable shelf-life.
If you are sticking to a vinegar-based hot sauce though, and you arent stingy with using it, there is no reason you should have a problem leaving your condiments in the pantry or out on the table like so many restaurants do. It prevents the unpleasant situation of pouring cold liquid on an otherwise hot meal, and, as Food Network reports, the hot flavor of the peppers in the sauce is more potent at room temperature.
FAQ
Does Cholula hot sauce need refrigeration after opening?
How long does Cholula last after opening?
Do you put Cholula in the fridge?
Does hot sauce go bad if not refrigerated?
