After Asda starts putting its ketchup in the chiller cabinet
IT was the opinion that split the nation like Marmite – should ketchup be kept in the fridge or in the cupboard?
An Asda store sparked the heated debate by revealing it had moved the condiment to the fridge. But the chain is now stocking its own brand on shelves and in fridges at its superstore in Clapham, South London.
Clearing things up, microbiologist Dr Peter Barratt said ketchup is best kept in the fridge as it now has less salt – which acts as a preservative.
But there is still confusion about plenty of other foods, so here’s our “in or out” fridge guide... Eggs EVEN though most fridges come with an egg tray, laws in the UK mean all hen eggs must be vaccinated for salmonella, so British eggs don’t need to be kept chilled. Look for the British Lion mark as it means the eggs have been laid by vaccinated hens.
OUT Bananas DON’T store unripe bananas in the fridge as it disrupts the ripening process – and even if you remove them later, it may not resume. But keep them away from other fruit as they produce ethylene, causing other fruits to spoil more quickly.
OUT Bread YOU might think keeping bread in the fridge will make it last longer but it dries it out and will make your loaf go stale faster. The cold temperature forces starch in it to crystallise quicker than at room temperature. Store bread in a cool, dry place.
OUT Mustard THERE are no ingredients in mustard that spoil but manufacturer French’s says Dijon and horseradish will “lose their flavours if not refrigerated”. Food safety expert Philippa Hudson, of Bournemouth University agrees, saying: “This is a flavour issue. You want it to taste good.”
IN Mint sauce WITH sauces like apple and mint it’s best to keep them chilled. Philippa says: “You’re likely to use these sauces once a month and you’ll get better value by using the fridge to prolong shelf-life.” IN Basil MOST fresh herbs should be chilled but basil wilts faster in the cold and will absorb smells around it. Keep it in water. OUT Syrup IF you’re looking forward to a pancake on Shrove Tuesday, you’ll probably be digging your syrup out from the back of the cupboard – because that’s where Philippa says it should be stored.
She says: “I can’t see why it should be kept in the fridge and the flavour could be diminished if chilled.”
OUT Pickled veg PHILIPPA says when it comes to pickled items, you should keep them in the cupboard but make sure you don’t contaminate them with a dirty utensil.
She says: “Pickled veggies are acidic and the more acidic something is, the less micro-organisms can tolerate. These are traditional preserving mechanisms.”
OUT Coffee COFFEE in a jar might live on your shelf, but what about fresh stuff ? Philippa says: “There’s no need to keep ground coffee in the fridge, it’s a dry, powered ingredient.” And while some packets advise chilling, she adds: “I imagine that’s from a flavour point of view.” Store it in an airtight container in the cupboard and if you have a lot, use a freezer.
OUT Tomatoes YOU might be tempted to pop them in the fridge salad drawer but tomatoes lose more of taste the colder they get, which also stops the ripening process.
OUT Cakes UNLESS your most recent Bake Off showstopper creation contains real cream or icing that will go bad if not kept cold, you don’t need to keep cakes in the fridge.
The team at Good Housekeeping Institute say it’s fine to store them in an airtight container at room temperature.
OUT Soft fruits IF you don’t plan to eat your blueberries, strawberries and raspberries immediately, Philippa says put them in the fridge. She says: “These fruits are fragile and have a short shelf-life but be sure to take them out an hour before eating for the best taste.” IN Red wine PUT unfinished bottles in the fridge instead of on the kitchen counter. Wine expert and editor of The Oxford Companion to Wine Jancis Robinson says: “Low temperatures slow chemical reactions like oxidation – the enemy of an open bottle.” IN Lemons LEMONS should be kept in the fruit bowl, according to Philippa. She says: “They’re a waxy fruit and have a thick skin like oranges, which extends shelf life. Most people have limited fridge space so save it for something that needs to be kept chilled.”
OUT Pesto WHEN it comes to shop-bought jars, it can be kept in the cupboard if unopened. But Philippa adds: “Pesto does have microorganisms in it, so if you want a long shelf life, keep it in the fridge once opened.”
DEPENDS Butter IT’S almost impossible to spread butter straight out of the fridge and food safety expert Dr Lisa Ackerley says you can keep smaller quantities in a butter dish at room temperature – but for no longer than a few days as she says “it will go rancid if you keep it for long periods”.
OUT Jam JAM is naturally acidic thanks to its fruit content, which helps to prevent the growth of bacteria, and if you eat it within three or four months you can keep it in the cupboard as long it doesn’t become contaminated.
Philippa says: “But if you have a lot of jams you’ll keep them for longer, so they will last longer in the fridge. Keep the low sugar varieties in the fridge for a longer shelf life.”
DEPENDS Pickle BRANSTON recommends keeping pickle chilled but there’s really no need. Philippa says: “Pickles and chutneys are used to preserve vegetables. Branston uses sugar as a preservative and a certain amount of vinegar and the combination stops micro-organisms from growing, causing food to spoil. But it still has a shelf life.” OUT Salad dressing IF you’ve got creamy salad dressings, store them in the fridge. Philippa says: “The acidity level is not sufficient to control bacteria growth so they need a helping hand – refrigeration.” But for dressings made of just oil and vinegar, they will be fine at room temperature as long as they aren’t contaminated.
DEPENDS