Does Sriracha Sauce Need To Be Refrigerated?

There’s nothing quite like Sriracha sauce. Delicious. But if you have recently purchased a bottle of this hot sauce you may be wondering how you should be storing it. Should it go in the fridge or can it be left in the cupboard at room temperature? Here is what you need to know.

So, does Sriracha sauce need to be refrigerated? Sriracha sauce does not need to be refrigerated, even if the bottle has been opened, although you can do so if you wish. The ingredients of the sauce are very resistant to spoiling making it safe either way. Refrigeration does, however, tend to keep the sauce at peak quality for several months longer.

Chillis and vinegar; are actually very effective natural preservers.

They are very resilient to bacterial growth.

So much so that storing your bottle of Sriracha is ultimately up to you.

A fridge is certainly an option here.

But there is a reason why restaurants typically leave this condiment on the table ready for the next customer.

As we shall soon see.

So keep reading; you’ll know exactly what to do from here on in if you do.

Can Sriracha Be Left Unrefrigerated?

Sriracha can be left unrefrigerated, both before and after the bottle has been opened. In fact, this sauce can last up to 6 months to 1 year out of the fridge before the quality begins to degrade.

Just bear in mind that refrigerated, this sauce can last up to, and sometimes, beyond 2 years.

So refrigeration does typically make sense.

Especially if you intend on keeping the bottle for a longer duration of time or do not eat it that often.

That being said if you simply love the sauce and can’t get enough of it; chances are you’ll go through it long before you notice the degradation.

In which case, the outside of the fridge is perfectly fine.

Why Does Sriracha Sauce Not Need To Be Refrigerated

Sriracha Sauce does not have to be refrigerated due to the ingredients – it includes several natural preservatives that are resilient to bacteria.

And it is a bacterial growth that often leads to food spoiling.

In Sriracha, the chili peppers, combined with the distilled vinegar work to prevent the development and growth of bacteria – both of which have strong antimicrobial properties.

How Should You Store Sriracha Sauce

You generally have two options when it comes to storing Sriracha sauce – in the fridge, or in a cool dry area out of direct sunlight.

So that could be in a cupboard, in the pantry, or in the drawer.

In fact, you’ll often see on the packaging that this sauce does not need to be refrigerated.

Need being the keyword here.

You can, if you desire.

Either way, just be sure to keep the bottle firmly sealed – you do not want it being exposed to air.

At the same time, you do not want to change the temperature of the sauce too often or too drastically.

That can affect the quality too.

So this also means if you do decide to keep it out of the fridge, leave it in a place away from any temperature sources, like your oven, for instance.

And one final thing to note here.

Some consumers have observed that this sauce gets hotter if you leave it out of the fridge.

Just bear that in mind and perhaps consider your preferences here.

How Do You Know If Sriracha Has Gone Bad?

The best way to tell that your Sriracha sauce has gone bad is to check the color; generally, this sauce will begin to brown in time and the natural red color will be less vibrant.

At the same time, you’ll likely notice that the taste changes in time. It may taste more ‘vinegary’ or just generally a little different than a fresh and newly opened bottle.

With all this being said, this sauce does not come with an expiry date.

Instead, across pretty much all brands you’ll be provided with a ‘best before’, or ‘best used by date’.

Thankfully, you are very unlikely to get sick from older Sriracha.

Unless it has been contaminated.

And this is easily done; especially if you place the end of the bottle too close or on food.

Equally, if you ever were to pour some out and don’t end up using it – discard it.

Don’t transfer it back.

Otherwise, you can accidentally transfer bacteria into the sauce. And then it may proliferate.

That’s when it can go bad, and potentially make you sick.

Lastly, be sure to clean the tip of the bottle frequently.

You don’t want this clogging up!

Finally

Refrigerating Sriracha sauce; not necessary but can make sense.

Whatever you choose to do, just be sure to check the sauce is okay to consume if the best before date has passed.

Even if it cannot make you ill, when this sauce changes color or flavor, it can ruin a meal.

At that stage, it would be best to discard it; get a new bottle. It’s not too pricey.

Especially over at Amazon when you buy it in bulk.

At least that’s what I do.

Wondering what other sauces need to be kept refrigerated? Check out my following guides below:

• Does Tabasco Sauce Need To Be Refrigerated?
• Does Hot Sauce Need To Be Refrigerated?
• Does Hoisin Sauce Need To Be Refrigerated?
• Does Teriyaki Sauce Need To Be Refrigerated?
• Does Soy Sauce Need To Be Refrigerated?
• Does Tartar Sauce Need To Be Refrigerated?
• Does Worcestershire Sauce Need To Be Refrigerated?