A doctor has finally put to bed the age-old debate as to whether you should keep tomato sauce and other condiments in the fridge or the cupboard.
One reader reached out to News Corp columnist Dr Zac Turner to uncover the truth behind the best place to store “tomato sauce, Vegemite, raspberry jam and peanut butter.”
The frustrated writer claims she has been clashing with her “ignorant boyfriend” who believes condiments and spreads should be stored at room temperature.
Meanwhile, Jo from Perth declares they should be kept in the fridge “because it keeps them fresh”.
The doctor responded to the irritated quizzer and laid out his verdict, he wrote: “There are two ways to look at this debate.
"One way is to be a reasonable human being and accept that we all have preferences and that’s just OK.
"The other way is to be like most people and take a shallow attitude and demand to know which way is correct.
“Jo, I hope you are sitting down for this, because I’m afraid to tell you that tomato sauce, Vegemite and peanut butter do not need to be refrigerated.”
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Dr Zac added that tomato sauce and similar condiments, such as BBQ sauce and mustard, do not need to be refrigerated due to their “high acidity and processing”.
Many of you may be thinking, ‘What about after they have been opened?’, but Dr Turner claims they still don’t need to be refrigerated as very little bacteria grows.
He explains that Vegemite and peanut butter don’t contain much water, so bacteria is less likely to grow – meaning they can remain on the shelf before and after opening.
The expert concluded that it is best to read the food labels and follow the storage instructions.
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