Hot sauce, chili sauce, or hot chili sauce are interchangeable names written on various brands of sriracha bottles. It is a must-buy for chili lovers with a desire to add spicier flavour to their food. Does Sriracha Sauce Need to Be Refrigerated? According to many food experts, the answer is no.
A single bottle of sriracha hot chili sauce can last till the end of its expiration date without the need to refrigerate it. All thanks to the preservatives and certain bacteria-preventive ingredients. While that’s true, there is more you need to know and we go through all of the details here.
Table of Contents
What Is Sriracha?
Sriracha is a widespread hot sauce that can be used as a dressing, a substitute for ketchup, a pizza base, or an ingredient for one of your famous home-cook recipes. The ingredients loaded with chillies and other spicy elements will bring out the hot flavour in your food.
If you’re ever in the mood for a spicy treat, grab a bottle of your favourite sriracha hot chili sauce and splash a small portion on the side of your plate.
Is Sriracha Sauce Healthy?
Not really. However, it is necessary to read and study the ingredients printed on the bottle before jumping to conclusions. Grab the bottle in your hand and rotate it till you see the ingredients listed. For every brand, they will be different, but a handful of similar elements will no doubt be in almost every sriracha sauce.
Sriracha hot chili sauce ingredients
Some of the commonly used ingredients are as follows:
- Salt
- Garlic
- Sugar
- Vinegar
- Preservatives
- Chilies
There is nothing beneficial added to the ingredients, nothing that will promote a healthy diet. Also, a peek at the nutritional chart will show that it contains zero nutritional value. Below the chart, it’s written that it is not a significant source of calcium, iron, and vitamins.
Of course, this depends on the brand and the ingredients used. Some companies may incorporate certain elements giving a small dose of essential vitamins and minerals. However, it is a slim chance you will be able to find such a sriracha chili sauce.
Nevertheless, some brands may have mentioned the legal disclaimer that states:
Statements regarding dietary supplements have not been evaluated by the FDA, and are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease or health condition.
So, from the above research, it is transparent that sriracha is not a healthy choice and should not be consumed regularly. Having it in small quantities every now and again makes it a great treat.
Does Sriracha Sauce Need to Be Refrigerated?
Does Sriracha Sauce Need to Be Refrigerated? No, it does not need to be refrigerated, but you need to store it in a cool, dry place. The ingredients used don’t allow bacteria to grow. So, it is safe to keep the hot sauce in the pantry.
Some of the brands may say to refrigerate, but it is only to increase the life of the sauce, not because it will get spoiled. You can even leave an open bottle out overnight and consume it the next day without fear of a change in taste or ingesting any harmful bacteria.
Also read: Does Sweet Chili Sauce Need to be Refrigerated? Does It Go Bad?
Can You Store Sriracha Sauce At Room Temperature?
Yes, the company recommends storing the sriracha sauce at room temperature and keeping it in a cool and dry environment.
How Long Does Sriracha Last Out Of The Fridge?
If you believe that you have been storing the sriracha sauce in the wrong place, don’t panic. It is not necessary to keep the sauce in the fridge. You have to stow it in a cool and dry environment. The main ingredient in most sriracha sauces prevents the growth of harmful bacteria, and the preservatives increase the shelf life.
If you are curious, distilled vinegar is the main ingredient. It is a natural preservative responsible for increasing the shelf life and preventing bacteria from growing. The additional chemical preservatives added further extend the lifespan of the sauce whether or not it is refrigerated.
If you look at the storage instructions on the bottle, it is explained in detail the best manner to store the sriracha sauce. The information is a one-liner, stating if the bottle should be refrigerated or stored in a cool place and the storage conditions if unsealed. However, some perishable ingredients are included in the recipe, for example, fruits or vegetables. If that is the case, refrigerate it as a precaution.
How Long Can You Keep Sriracha Sauce Once Opened?
You probably have more than a half-full bottle of sriracha chili sauce in your kitchen cabinet, making you wonder if you need to refrigerate it or not.
According to the FooterKeeper App, a hot chili sauce does not need to be refrigerated, opened, or not. However, to retain the quality of the sauce and preserve its freshness, it is best to refrigerate an open bottle. If refrigerated after opening, it can last for 12 months or more. Double the lifespan if placed in the pantry.
Also read: Does Soy Sauce Have To Be Refrigerated? Does It Go Bad?
How to Tell If Sriracha Is Bad?
Sriracha sauce can last for a long time, but that doesn’t mean you should use the bottle carefree without checking the expiring date or examining the status of an unsealed bottle.
Luckily, typical giveaways will help you spot a spoiled sriracha sauce.
- The presence of mould or any odd texture
- Change in smell or taste
- Change in texture
- The sauce has expired
Note: If the sauce changes colour, it doesn’t mean it has gone bad. It is a natural process for chili sauce to get darker over time.
Can You Freeze Sriracha?
Yes, you can freeze sriracha sauce to make it last longer, but there is no need. It already has an extensive lifespan, and the disadvantage of freezing and defrosting it will alter the texture. The sauce will thin out, and the taste will change, making it less spicy.
How to Store Sriracha?
Store the sauce at room temperature in a cool and dry environment. Keep it in the pantry away from direct sunlight or if you feel comfortable, store it in the fridge.
Can You Get Food Poisoning From Sriracha?
Excess of everything is bad but you won’t get food poisoning unless it’s well past its expiration date. If you consume hot chili sauce in a large amount regularly, the chances of food poisoning are slim, but you will get an upset stomach.
Conclusion
Should sriracha be refrigerated? If you’re worried about it for health reasons, don’t be as it won’t go bad if you leave it out of the fridge. Whether you put it in the fridge or not is down to personal preference but it’s always best to check the expiration date if you haven’t used it for a long time.
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