It may be really perplexing to go through the aisles of our favorite grocery store and find out what food items require refrigeration and which do not.

It’s logical to assume that if a product isn’t chilled in stores, it doesn’t need to be at home. That is not always the case, however.

If we look closely, we can see a simple word in fine type on many items on grocery store shelves: “refrigerate after opening.” Unfortunately, not everyone takes heed of this little guideline, and those who do occasionally choose to ignore it. Ketchup is a wonderful example of this.

Heinz, the iconic ketchup company, highly recommends cooling their product as soon as you bring it inside. You might wonder, “But why does ketchup need refrigeration when I see bottles of it sitting on the store shelves?” However, Heinz wants you to know that everything is for the best.

The ketchup problem piqued my interest, so I decided to investigate it more. I took a bottle of Heinz ketchup from my kitchen and carefully examined the label. The back label discreetly placed the advice “For best results, refrigerate after opening” in small writing. Therefore, the advice is unambiguous: we recommend refrigeration.

Were you aware that Heinz had also discussed this problem on Twitter? The statement on their brief tweet read: “FYI: Ketchup goes in the fridge!!!” This tweet drew attention throughout social media and sparked a heated dispute among ketchup enthusiasts.

Heinz even conducted a poll to find out how individuals store their ketchup at home. The findings were fascinating. Of those who use ketchup, 36.8% store it in a cupboard, and 63.2% keep it in the refrigerator.

It’s fascinating to hear about the reasons behind some people’s decisions to defy refrigeration suggestions. They argue that ketchup tastes nice even when stored at room temperature and does not deteriorate easily. The positive news is that you can refrigerate your ketchup to extend its shelf life.

So, if you’re still unsure if you should refrigerate your ketchup, remember what Heinz says. And, like the rest of us, why not keep that bottle of ketchup in the refrigerator, fresh and cold? It’s a simple way to ensure that your favorite condiment stays tasty and fresh.

It’s time for you to weigh in on the ketchup debate! Which is best for storing ketchup: in the cupboard or in the refrigerator? Let us continue the conversation and learn about your ketchup preferences!