Does cranberry sauce need to be refrigerated? That’s what we’re here to find out. The Cranberry Sauce, a famous Thanksgiving sauce, is as old as the United States of America. The beautiful sauce can be eaten with pork, ham, chicken, and other varieties of meat but how do you need to store it? All you need to do is read on to find out more.
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What Is Cranberry Sauce?
Cranberry jam or cranberry sauce is a relish or sauce that is made from wild cranberries, which is customarily served on Thanksgiving Day dinners in North America and Christmas Day dinners in the United Kingdom, and Canada as a side dish or condiment.
It comes in two different flavours based on the continent it originates from. The copiously sweetened-tasting Cranberry is favoured in North America (the United States and Canada), while the slightly sour-tasting cranberry sauce is common in Europe.
How Long Does Cranberry Sauce?
Cranberry jam or cranberry sauce is the simplest and easiest Thanksgiving dish to prepare. The homemade cranberry recipe requires four basic ingredients of cranberries, water, sugar, and orange juice. It takes about 15 minutes to prepare.
Preparation of cranberry jam or cranberry sauce is basically boiling cranberries in sugar and water until the berries burst open and the mixture thickens. Some household recipes of cranberry sauce may also include other ingredients like ginger, maple syrup, cinnamon, slivered almonds, orange zest, or port. This Thanksgiving condiment or side dish can also be prepared ahead of the other Thanksgiving dishes.
The delicious sauce will only last around eight hours out of the fridge as it quickly goes off. When stored properly in the fridge inside an airtight container, then it can last up to 14 days. Just you should give it a taste test if it has been over 10 days.
Does Cranberry Sauce Need To Be Refrigerated?
Yes, cranberry sauce should be refrigerated. For homemade cranberry sauce, it can be refrigerated after it has cooled to room temperature. Canned cranberry sauce on the other hand can be refrigerated only after it has been opened and transferred into an airtight container.
Unless you plan on eating it all quickly, the sauce almost certainly needs to go in the fridge otherwise you may need to throw it all away. The sauce goes off very quickly if left at room temperature, especially if it isn’t sealed either.
Also read: Does Yum Yum Sauce Need to Be Refrigerated? Does It Go Bad?
Is Cranberry Sauce Still Good If Left Out Overnight?
There’s no need to throw out cranberry sauce that is left out on the dinner table or kitchen table overnight. Also, before you decide to store it immediately, first, re-pasteurize the cranberry sauce.
To re-pasteurize, the cranberry sauce, simply add juice or water to the sauce and boil the mixture for a couple of minutes. Leave to cool down to room temperature before storing in the fridge or freezer. It’s a great way for you to prevent any food waste.
If you don’t want to re-pasteurize your cranberry sauce, then it’s probably best to just throw it away. Sadly, the sauce goes bad quite quickly, especially when compared with other sauces. It’s always best to refrigerate it as soon as it cools.
Is Cranberry Sauce Served Warm or Cold?
To enjoy cranberry sauce, it is best to serve it slightly chilled (via refrigeration) or at room temperature. You can take it out of the refrigerator and leave it out an hour or two before Thanksgiving dinner. This will be ultimately down to you.
It may be that you’re the type of person who likes to have warm cranberry sauce. Don’t be afraid to experiment to find your perfect cranberry sauce experience.
Also read: Does Hot Sauce Need To Be Refrigerated? Does It Go Bad?
Can I Make Cranberry Sauce Without Sugar?
No, you cannot make cranberry sauce without sugar. The sugar helps with the thickening process. You can only avoid sweetening the whole jam by either adding citric acid (for a sour taste) or reducing the sugar quantity used in the preparation process.
Does Cranberry Sauce Go Bad?
Cranberry sauce goes bad. It is not recommended to keep homemade cranberry sauce without freezing it for a period of four weeks. Dispose of the cranberry sauce if you can smell alcohol (non-alcohol recipes), yeast, or rot and if you also see anything growing in the cranberry sauce.
Also, if the cranberry sauce smells fresh with no visible microbial growth going on, you can taste a small amount to confirm if it is still good or bad.
How to Store Cranberry Sauce?
Fresh homemade cranberry sauce should be stored by using the refrigerator. After preparing the cranberry jam or relish, allow it to cool to room temperature, pour it into airtight jars or containers, and store it in the refrigerator.
Canned cranberry sauce on the other hand can be stored in a cool dry place such as a pantry until use, Only after then you transfer the remaining cranberry sauce into an airtight container and store it in the refrigerator. Cranberry sauce can also be stored in the freezer and can remain frozen for about 10 days before thawing for use. To thaw a frozen cranberry juice, simply transfer the container to the refrigerator.
Also, if cranberry sauce is made ahead of Thanksgiving Day, it can be stored at room temperature until use by dinner time.
Also read: Does Tomato Sauce Need to Be Refrigerated After Opening?
Can You Freeze Cranberry Sauce?
Yes, cranberry sauce can be frozen. For homemade cranberry sauce, it can be stored in the freezer after it has cooled to room temperature. Canned cranberry sauce on the other hand can be stored in the freezer only after it has been opened and transferred into an airtight container.
Conclusion
At this point, you are now informed about how to prepare, serve, and store homemade cranberry jam. You can refrigerate the cranberry sauce if you prefer it served chilled, or if you need to store it for a while.
If you prefer your cranberry sauce at room temperature it’s best to store it in the fridge and take it out an hour or so before your meal is served. Cranberry sauce needs to be refrigerated as soon as possible and can last for up to two weeks if stored correctly.