Just Where Should Ketchup Be Stored? Heinz Sets The Record Straight

It’s an age-old debate that many people have a different answer to. With summer in full swing, consumers want to know for sure, where should tomato ketchup be stored? Catering to 200 countries and territories, Heinz can be considered something of an authority on the subject of ketchup, and the company has a definitive answer for those hungry for knowledge – though, not everyone is satiated.

The debate comes down to two factions: one in favor of storing it in the refrigerator, while the other argues that the cabinet would suffice just fine. The final answer actually depends a little bit on one key factor: timing.

Heinz weighs in on the great debate of where to store ketchup

With June coming to a close and July – along with the Independence Day holiday break – approaching, the UK Twitter account for Heinz took to social media to proclaim once and for all, “FYI: Ketchup. goes. in. the. fridge.” Right below, it also shared a poll asking its 19.4k Twitter followers, “Where do you keep yours?” before reminding them, “It has to be… in the fridge!”

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Especially after opening a bottle. While a bottle of ketchup could – to an extent – stay out while still sealed, because of its acidic properties, once that seal is broken, it should definitely take up residence in the fridge. In general, keeping food cold is good since lower temperatures slow molecules and cause microbes to enter a dormant state, which helps food keep longer.

The debate isn’t entirely over, though. 12 hours after the poll went live, 54.6% of responders agreed they put their ketchup in the fridge, while 45.4% defied Heinz and said they keep theirs in the cupboard. In the replies, one user shared, “I’ve never kept ketchup in the fridge. In the cupboard or on the countertop.” Another, however, was shocked at this alternative, asking, “People keep it out of the fridge? *gasp.*”

A bit of an informed source when it comes to ketchup

Check out any food rankings that deal with ketchup, and if Heinz isn’t top of the list, it’s definitely present and high up there – sometimes more than once! Why? Of course, taste is a very subjective matter, but in general, it’s agreed that Heinz is able to hit every flavor the tongue is capable of tasting at just the right balance. Do you agree?

If you do, you’re not alone. According to NPR, 97% of Americans have at least one bottle of ketchup in their fridge and about half of those people say that the bottle is none other than Heinz. It’s been at the top of the food chain for over 140 years now.

Here are some more numbers: Considering those individual, small packets, 11 billion of those are sold every year. On top of that, the brand sells 650 million bottles across 140 countries, netting $1.5 billion dollars annually. According to their Twitter poll numbers, half of those 650 million bottles are in cabinets, while the other half are in refrigerators. Where do you fall in the debate?

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