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Many hot sauces are so acidic they’re pretty much a preservative!

Alupis 2y ago
Vinegar based hot sauces, and/or hot sauces that are very high in sodium, usually yes, but not always. Particularly if the sauce includes unstrained organic bits such as garlic or onions, or includes oils - botulism (odorless, tasteless) can be a non-zero risk. At some point, that crusty $5 bottle of hot sauce you found in the back of the fridge should just get tossed out instead of taking the risk.
- ghaff 2y ago
  I don’t even keep things like soy sauce or something like Tabasco in the fridge. Much less vinegars. I suspect a lot of people are inclined to.
  - Alupis 2y ago
    Tabasco is fine in the pantry or on the counter. Tabasco in particular isn't just vinegar-based, it's nearly entirely vinegar. Its ingredients list is vinegar, salt and crushed peppers that are then strained before bottling. It is a very inhospitable environment for botulism - or anything else. Many other types of hot sauces contain oils and/or are not strained of organic matter and/or contain blended organic matter. Such as all of your thicker or chunkier sauces for the most part[1] (which happen to be my favorites). Those should be kept in the fridge and you should discard after some time just to be on the safe side. [1] https://thepepperplant.com/shop.html https://thepepperplant.com/shop.html
    - ghaff 2y ago
      I do refrigerate Siracha. But I admit I make my decisions more on gut feel than anything else.
      - lupire 2y ago
        Gut feel is the ultimate judge of food rottenness
- seanw444 2y ago
  I remember seeing a comment thread on here a few weeks ago where people were talking about making their own hot sauces, and botulism was a big concern, which was surprising to me. I figured hot sauce was so extreme that you didn't need to worry too much about the normal food-borne illnesses. Not so, I guess.
jdhzzz 2y ago
I proudly store ketchup in the pantry. No amount of recently added "For best results, refrigerate after opening." on the label will convince me otherwise. Cold ketchup is in no way "best".

Vinegar based hot sauces, and/or hot sauces that are very high in sodium, usually yes, but not always. Particularly if the sauce includes unstrained organic bits such as garlic or onions, or includes oils - botulism (odorless, tasteless) can be a non-zero risk. At some point, that crusty $5 bottle of hot sauce you found in the back of the fridge should just get tossed out instead of taking the risk.

ghaff 2y ago
I don’t even keep things like soy sauce or something like Tabasco in the fridge. Much less vinegars. I suspect a lot of people are inclined to.
- Alupis 2y ago
  Tabasco is fine in the pantry or on the counter. Tabasco in particular isn't just vinegar-based, it's nearly entirely vinegar. Its ingredients list is vinegar, salt and crushed peppers that are then strained before bottling. It is a very inhospitable environment for botulism - or anything else. Many other types of hot sauces contain oils and/or are not strained of organic matter and/or contain blended organic matter. Such as all of your thicker or chunkier sauces for the most part[1] (which happen to be my favorites). Those should be kept in the fridge and you should discard after some time just to be on the safe side. [1] https://thepepperplant.com/shop.html https://thepepperplant.com/shop.html
  - ghaff 2y ago
    I do refrigerate Siracha. But I admit I make my decisions more on gut feel than anything else.
    - lupire 2y ago
      Gut feel is the ultimate judge of food rottenness
seanw444 2y ago
I remember seeing a comment thread on here a few weeks ago where people were talking about making their own hot sauces, and botulism was a big concern, which was surprising to me. I figured hot sauce was so extreme that you didn't need to worry too much about the normal food-borne illnesses. Not so, I guess.

jdhzzz 2y ago

I proudly store ketchup in the pantry. No amount of recently added "For best results, refrigerate after opening." on the label will convince me otherwise. Cold ketchup is in no way "best".