"Refrigerate after opening" - Mostly just CYA?

[trof]

Looks like every sauce, condiment, whatever, now has that instruction on the label.

When I was a kid (harumph) all that stuff went in the pantry or on a kitchen shelf.
The fridge wasn't cluttered up with dozens of half-full bottles and jars of mustard, mayo (Right! I said 'mayo'!), pickles, hot sauces, etc.

Even Tabasco says "R.A.O.".
Tabasco?
It's just vinegar and peppers.
What could go 'bad'?

I think the manufacturers are just covering their butts.
:-(

[snooper2]

1. most all of that tastes better chilled...

warm salsa, yuk..

warm MAYO? :puke:

[Kali]

4. warm salsa on fresh made tortilla chips is actually pretty good!

used to be pretty common when I was younger, even my Mom heated it for taco night.

[Ineeda]

2. the mayo was always in the fridge

and the pickles and pickle relish tasted better cold. But, yes, the catsup, Tabasco, mustard, jelly, etc. all was in the pantry. Eight in family and we never got sick, except colds.

[Kali]

3. it will slow down the oxidation and there is a slight advantage

in that keeping the fridge full is a little more energy efficient, but yeah WTF refrigerating stuff that was INVENTED (before refrigeration) to preserve or cover the rotting flavor of other food?

[Courtesy Flush]

5. Even sunflower seeds. Not kidding! nt

[jobycom]

13. Raw seeds should be refrigerated.

They can go rancid otherwise. Toasted seeds, now, that's just weird.

[HopeHoops]

6. Tabasco gets stronger (flavor) if you don't refrigerate it, but it also yellows (or oranges).

I prefer it after it has aged a while. If you keep it in the fridge, it will stay pretty much the same for about 500 years.

[madinmaryland]

7. Is that why Boehner is orange??

[HopeHoops]

10. No. The Boner has a bathtub full of Kraft chemical orange Mac&Cheese Oompa-Loompa powder.

[Arugula Latte]

8. My British friend says that in the UK they don't refrigerate nearly as much as we do

Jams, catsup, etc. -- they go in the cabinet, not the frig.

[Seedersandleechers]

11. Grocery shopping in the UK a few months back

and was surprised to see fresh eggs on the shelf and not in the coolers.

[suninvited]

25. When I was growing up

we had chickens and we never refrigerated our fresh eggs. Although I hear now that not refrigerating eggs is a big no no.

[Bucky]

16. Like beer, for instance.

[Arugula Latte]

22. Hah. Good point.

[one_voice]

9. I always refrigerate mayo...

everything else goes in the cabinet. If it's made with eggs, milk, or cream I keep it cold. Never had a problem doing it that way.

[jobycom]

12. And gas mileage!1 What's with these Preeasses and stuff?

Big old eight cylinder engines that got five miles a gallon did us just fine. Better gas mileage is just CYA, too!

We refrigerated most condiments in the 70s. Maybe that's just the result of being in the South, where in the winter it might drop to below boiling at some point. Even mustard and Tabasco went in the ice box. It also kept the flies off them.

And ketchup should be cold. Warm ketchup is an abomination. Next, humans will be marrying robots!

[trof]

14. R.A.O. Pt. II - It's a conspiracy.

That's it!
It's a conspiracy between the Prepared Foods Makers (P.F.M.s) and the appliance manufacturers.
The more stuff that's labeled R.A.O., the bigger fridge$ we all have to buy to keep all that crap in.
The P.F.M.s get a kickback.
As in all things, follow the money.
:-)

[bigwillq]

15. I keep condiments in the fridge.

Pickles too. Nothing worse than a warm pickle. ;)

[trof]

17. Au contraire. There are MANY things worse than a warm pickle.

Cancer is worse.
A splinter is worse.
Ditto a hangnail.
Hemorrhoids.
Flatulence.

Actually, I think a warm pickle is kinda cozy.
Keep your pickle warm.
;-)

[bigwillq]

18. Well, that's true.

:)


And, now that you mention it, I do like a warm pickle! :evilgrin::rofl:


:hi:

[trof]

19. Yeah. Let's hear it for warm pickles.

:-)
IBTL?

[bigwillq]

20. That's all I will say on this matter.

Don't want this to lock. :)

[Inchworm]

21. All a conspiricy!

I "live" at my desk. Catsup, hot sauce, peanut butter, mustard...etc... surround me.

It's how I roll :P

:toast:

[trof]

24. I like the cut o' yer jib.

;-)

[Curmudgeoness]

23. Gotta wonder if they are making these simple things with

different (odd, scary) ingredients than when we were kids. Or is it like the expiration dates these days, just so no one can blame them for anything.