Very few in the world still manage to keep themselves away from the taste of Chinese Cuisine. Poor Guys!!! You don’t know what you have been missing so far- the most delicious, savoury, and tongue-licking Chinese dishes. Apart from the main ingredients, some condiments have made all the Chinese dishes one of the most popular around the world. Oyster Sauce is certainly one of them and the kind of taste and flavor it adds to the dishes cannot be denied.
Therefore, it is obvious that you should go to store it at your place for further use. Now it’s time to find the ways and to get some better ideas you may ask, Does Oyster Sauce Need To Be Refrigerated? Before going to find the answer, I think you should go into the deep of the whole matter to know this substance better. Let’s join the search party!!
Table of Contents
What Is Oyster Sauce?
Oyster sauce is a type of rich liquid condiment that is made from oyster extract. But this syrup doesn’t taste like fish at all. Instead, it tastes sweet, salty, and earthy so that you could get some kind of unique salty, tangy, and umami flavour that you’ve never tasted before.
Oyster sauce is made from boiled, caramelized oyster juice that is mixed with water salt, wheat flour, and sugar. In some versions, you may find soy sauce and cornstarch are added to give the sauce a thick texture.
This dark brown colored, thick magical sauce can be used in meat as well as vegetable dishes. Apart from Chinese, this sauce is widely used in Cantonese, Thai, and Vietnamese cuisines.
How Long Does Oyster Sauce Last?
The shelf life of oyster sauce depends greatly on its quality and how you store it. Usually, it has a longer shelf life but time goes with if it is opened or unopened. An unopened bottle of oyster sauce lasts for 18-24 months. But once you open the bottle it doesn’t go for too long. It can be consumed within a week or two. Still, if you want to extend its life then you have to keep it in a cool and dark place away from direct sunlight.
Besides, it should be stored in a sealed bottle and also made of glass or plastic to maintain its quality for a longer period. Perhaps keeping an opened bottle in a refrigerator would be the best idea where you can keep it in better condition for more than 6 months.
Also read: Does Hot Sauce Need To Be Refrigerated? (Does It Go Bad?)
How To Tell If Oyster Sauce Is Bad, Rotten Or Spoiled?
As you see oyster sauce is a mixture of caramelized oyster extract or juice, sugar, salt, and cornstarch, so it tends to go bad early if the rules of preservation are not followed properly. Some common signs indicate that your oyster sauce has gone bad. Here they are-
- Basically, oyster sauce is a dark brown-coloured, sweet, and little salty liquid condiment. But when you find the sauce gets darker and tastes bitter, then it can be declared spoiled and should be discarded.
- A fresh oyster sauce has a tantalizing aroma and smell. But when it releases a strange odour or has a funny smell, then you can throw it away as it has gone bad.
- If you spot any mold appearing in your oyster sauce then it’s time to give up using it. Besides, if you find water separating from the surface of your sauce, it is also another way to make up your mind to send it to the garbage bins.
Is There Any Risk Of Consuming Expired Oyster Sauce?
Oyster sauce is not the kind of thing that becomes unsafe once it crosses the expiry date. All you need to store it properly so that you can still find it in a better state. Although, in between times oyster sauce may lose its flavor and intensity. Still, it may not cause food poisoning.
But if you store it improperly and if it goes bad after the expiry date, then the persons who consume it may face some kind of sickness including stomach pain, nausea, diarrhoea, loss of appetite, weakness, headache, and vomiting. Usually, all these symptoms can’t last for more than 2 days, but if they don’t go away then you should contact your doctor.
Does Oyster Sauce Need To Be Refrigerated?
Oyster sauce contains a good amount of sodium that naturally prevents the sauce from going bad easily. But after opening the bottle it is quite obvious that oxidation of the ingredients can happen and that can deteriorate the condition of the sauce. Refrigeration is the only way to extend its shelf life. The temperature below normal may help the sauce to keep its quality better for a long time. But you should remember to tighten the lid before placing it in refrigeration.
Also read: Does Bbq Sauce Have To Be Refrigerated? (How Long It Last?)
Should Oyster Sauce and Caramel Sauce Be Refrigerated and How Long Do They Last?
Oyster sauce should be refrigerated after opening and can last up to 2 years, while caramel sauce should also be stored in the fridge and has a shelf life of 6 months. For caramel sauce storage tips, always tightly seal the bottle and keep it in the coldest part of the fridge.
Can You Freeze Oyster Sauce?
I am sorry to say that oyster sauce is not the right one for freezing. Because it has high salt content which is a chemical compound made of sodium and chlorine. Once these two dissolve with water, they never freeze again and in this way, the salt of oyster sauce prevents freezing leaving the whole sauce a mess. This is the reason why the oyster sauce is not recommended for freezing.
However, some of the users prefer freezing oyster sauce as they have found that this can extend its shelf life despite its texture, flavour, and colour change. But you cannot defrost frozen oyster sauce at room temperature as it tends to develop some harmful bacteria that can ruin the whole sauce. Even you cannot even eat raw frozen oyster sauce for the same bacteria issue.
Final Thoughts
Oyster sauce is much in demand among those who love to have Chinese cuisine. This sauce can add some exotic kind of taste to your regular Chinese dishes. Therefore, it is necessary to know if it can be refrigerated or frozen or not. Hope this article can provide you with all sorts of information related to this sauce to help you to know and handle this liquid better. So it’s time for me to tell you goodbye. See you soon with some other valuable things only to enrich your skill and knowledge about all these. Till then…..