Does Soy Sauce Have To Be Refrigerated? Does It Go Bad?

Whenever you’re going to take some kind of fast food or light dishes during breaks in the middle of your work schedule, you wish they must be tasty, yummy, flavoured, and tangy. But that would be not possible always considering your health and diet. Therefore, to add some extra taste you have to add something special while preparing the dishes, and what better you could ask for ahead of a sauce.

There are different types of sauces prepared using different ingredients and obviously, provide different tastes and flavors as well. Today I have brought a kind of sauce that is already popular among sauce lovers and much in demand for all good reasons. That is Soy Sauce.

To keep soy sauce for a longer use you should know Does Soy Sauce Need To Be Refrigerated? But before we come to the point I think we should go deeper to collect the most out of it.

What Is Soy Sauce?

Soya Sauce is a kind of brown, salty liquid condiment made of soybeans, salt brine, and wheat flour. Soybeans have to go through fermentation to prepare this sauce; otherwise, the soybeans need to be broken down with acid, a process that is called hydrolyzing. This process releases sugars as well as umami out of soybeans and turns the liquid into a brown colour.

How Many Types Of Soy Sauce Are There?

There are mainly two types of soy sauce- Chinese and Japanese. Both of these two have some varieties. Here they are-

Chinese Soy Sauces

Chinese Dark Soy Sauce: This is a sauce with a rich flavour and is less salty, mainly used as a cooking ingredient.

Chinese Light Soy Sauce: This lighter version of the sauce is widely considered real soy sauce.

Shrimp Soy Sauce: It is prepared by adding sugar, spices, and baijiu [a kind of liquor] into simmering soy sauce.

Japanese Soy Sauces

Japanese Dark Soy Sauce: It has a rich, smoky flavour and is less salty. This sauce is used in a variety of dishes as an ingredient, marinade, and dipping sauce.

Japanese Light Soy Sauce: This sauce is saltier, sweeter, and has a strong flavour mainly used as an ingredient for different dishes.

Shiro: As it is brewed with wheat it has a light colour and is used as a dipping sauce for fish-oriented dishes.

Tamari: This has almost no wheat and thus it is popular among gluten-intolerant consumers.

Also read: Does Hot Sauce Need To Be Refrigerated?

How To Use Soy Sauce?

Soy sauce is commonly used as a marinade for meat or fish before they are placed in a frying pan. Besides, it is added to the soups and stews so that you can get a different flavour. Even this is mixed with the veggies and lastly, you can mix a few amounts of it while having your food at the table to get some extra salt and flavour if required.

Is Refrigerator The Right Place To Store Soy Sauce?

Now the refrigerator is one of the most common home appliances all around. But unfortunately, there are a number of owners who don’t know what it is originally made for. They used to keep all kinds of foodstuffs without knowing if they could be kept or not. The same thing can be asked, Does Soy Sauce Have To Be Refrigerated? I can give you the shortest answer, NO. Soy sauce doesn’t need to be refrigerated as it is fermented food so it can be maintained at room temperature for a long time without getting spoilt. Actually, the microorganisms around it not only maintain its taste and flavour but also help to preserve it.

Does Soy Sauce Be Kept At Room Temperature?

Soy sauce is a kind of liquid that can be kept away from the oven or stove to keep it safe from contact with extra heat. A room temperature is not a bad option if you can manage to keep the soy sauce away from heat and direct sunlight. Perhaps a cleaned cabinet would be the right place for your sauce.

Is It Wrong To Keep Soy Sauce In A Refrigerator?  

But it doesn’t mean keeping soy sauce in a refrigerator will make it go bad. It is also a way to preserve it. But what I mean to say is that it is not necessary to keep soy sauce in a refrigerator. If the bottle is opened then you should keep it for one year to retain its taste and flavor.

Also read: Does Tahini Sauce Need To Be Refrigerated? Does It Go Bad?

Does Soy Sauce Go Bad?

Though you may find the best before date on a soy sauce bottle, still it can be said that soy sauce doesn’t go bad even after the expiry date. Soy sauce has a longer shelf life and can last for an indefinite period if it is stored properly. Though it may have lost its natural flavor and color over time never lost its quality.  Even after opening the bottle, it will be good for 2-3 years if it is kept in a cool and dark place.

But if you find an accumulation of mould inside the bottle of soy sauce, then it will be better to throw it out of the pantry.

How To Store Soy Sauce?

The airtight container would be one of the right places to store soy sauce properly. It helps the liquid to last long and also to maintain its flavour. Besides, keeping it in a dark and cool place at a stable temperature gives the soy sauce a longer life. If you want to keep it in your pantry, then it should be cleaned unless the odour may affect the flavour of the sauce.

Also read: Does Chick Fil A Sauce Need to Be Refrigerated?

Can Soy Sauce Be Kept In A Freezer?

Although soy sauce can stay well at room temperature, if some takers want to have it cold with some special kinds of dishes, then you can keep this sauce in a freezer for many months. Apart from that, the freezer works well to preserve it without compromising its flavour and texture. All you need to pour soy sauce into ice cube trays to get the freezing temp.

What Are The Things That Help Soy Sauce Last Longer?

Few things that help soy sauce last longer even if it is not kept in a refrigerator. Such as-

1. Keep the bottle closed so that no airborne contamination could happen.
2. Try to keep it away from other foods only to keep it safe from cross-contamination.
3. Keep the outside of the bottle and rim cleaned and don’t forget to keep the lid closed.

Bottom Line

Soy sauce is a kind of mood-booster foodstuff that doesn’t go bad easily. Doesn’t matter if you keep it in the refrigerator or the pantry the result will be the same. It means you can use this sauce safely for a longer period without facing any issues. That’s all I have tonight, hope to meet you again. Till then Good Bye.