Does Ketchup Go in the Fridge? Heinz Finally Settles the Debate

woman looking at her fridge and scratching her head

Photo: NewAfrica/Depositphotos

Where do you keep your ketchup? Some keep it in their kitchen cupboards, and some place it in their fridge. But what's the right answer? For such a common condiment, the cupboard vs. fridge debate has many raising their voices and defending their choice of placement. Now, Heinz, the top-selling ketchup brand in the U.S., has finally settled the debate.

On June 27, 2023, Heinz UK tweeted, “FYI: Ketchup. goes. in. the. fridge!!!” Actually, the answer has been on the product information found on the bottle all along. The Heinz ketchup label reads: “For best results, refrigerate after opening. Shake well before first use.”

A day later, the company launched a poll about ketchup-keeping, and most people already aligned with their vision. 63.2% of users answered that they keep their ketchup in the fridge, while 36.8% stuck to their old ways and expressed that it lives in their cupboards.

Understandably, users raised some questions. “So why is it on the shelves in supermarkets & shops then?” a user named Dave asked the company. To that, Heinz UK replied, “Where do you keep your soft drinks, Dave?” They also replied to some customers with a cheeky image of a box of Heinz sitting in a supermarket fridge, right above the butter.

Like all important debates, there are arguments worth hearing on both sides. Some argue that keeping it in the cupboard maintains it at room temperature, which goes better with hot meals. Others insist that the fridge offers better results.

“Because of its natural acidity, Heinz® Ketchup is shelf-stable,” Heinz said a few years ago. “However, its stability after opening can be affected by storage conditions. We recommend that this product, like any processed food, be refrigerated after opening. Refrigeration will maintain the best product quality after opening.”

As a final warning, the fridge is not an all-saving grace. The USDA recommends throwing away your ketchup after six months in the fridge. So make sure to keep an eye on that, too.

Heinz, the top-selling ketchup brand in the U.S. has finally settled the debate on whether ketchup goes in the fridge or the cupboard.

Top of Heinz ketchup bottle upside down

Photo: sliper84/Depositphotos

The company tweeted, “FYI: Ketchup. goes. in. the. fridge!!!”

Bottles of Heinz ketchup

Photo: jecityimage2/Depositphotos

Heinz: Website | Instagram | Facebook
h/t: [LADbible]

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Regina Sienra

Regina Sienra is a Staff Writer at My Modern Met. She is a Mexico City-based journalist, translator, and digital media professional with over a decade of experience creating bilingual content in English and Spanish. She holds a bachelor’s degree in Communications with a specialization in Journalism from the National Autonomous University of Mexico. Her work spans both hard and soft news, with a focus on arts, culture, and entertainment. She has a particular interest in highlighting emerging and independent musicians, a passion that earned her recognition as CBC Radio 3’s Fan of the Year in 2014. Sienra brings a broad pop culture perspective to her writing, with interests that include music, film, and cultural trends across media. When she isn't writing, she is watching films, attending concerts, and building out her growing vinyl collection.
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