Oyster sauces contain the necessary chemicals to maintain their flavor for three to six months after opening the bottle. However, they may want it to last longer.
Many people store their food in their refrigerators to prolong its shelf life. But does oyster sauce need to be refrigerated? How to store it properly?
This article will help you answer these questions. Let’s follow us and learn the best ways to keep your oyster sauce in its best condition!
Does Oyster Sauce Need to Be Refrigerated?
Yes. The refrigerator provides oyster sauce with an ideal environment to maintain its quality. Also, there won’t be bacteria growth in cool temperatures.
If you store the unopened oyster sauce bottle in your refrigerator, it can remain good for two years. But it’s only true when you keep it continuously refrigerated.
Why Should You Keep Oyster Sauce in the Refrigerator?
Many oyster sauce manufacturers recommend storing their products in the fridge. The sauce can maintain its texture, flavor, and overall quality in such a cool condition.
It would be best to store unopened oyster sauce bottles as they won’t allow air to penetrate and break down the texture. Air exposure also leads to bacteria development.
Is Oyster Sauce Good If Not Refrigerated?
Even after being kept out of the fridge for a while, the oyster sauce may still be delicious. Often, you can enjoy the sauce after opening and removing it from the refrigerator for a few days to weeks.
However, we strongly advise refrigerating oyster sauce once opened. It’s the best storage method to keep your food’s quality and freshness.
Related: Fried rice with oyster sauce
How Long Does Oyster Sauce Last?
Oyster sauce’s quality and storage methods significantly impact how long it can last. It would be best to refrigerate the sauce to extend its lifespan.
| On the countertop | In the refrigerator | |
| Unopened | 18 to 24 months | 18 to 24 months |
| Opened | 3 to 6 months | 2 years |
Completely-sealed bottles often last around 18 to 24 months without refrigeration. No matter how good they are, most oyster sauces have a similar lifespan when unopened.
It’s also important to pay attention to the label dates, which may include:
- Best used by: The last date before the product’s taste deteriorates.
- Closed by: The date that the manufacturer packed the product.
- Sell-by: The date when you can’t buy the product from stores.
- Use by: The final day the product is in peak condition.
These dates are not the oyster sauce’s expiration dates but rather an estimate of how long the sauce will maintain its highest quality.
In other words, if an oyster sauce bottle has no indications of spoilage, you can use it after the indicated expiration date. However, some of its tastes, color, and texture may decrease.
Tips to Store Oyster Sauce
Refrigeration is the ideal way to store oysters. You can also keep it on the countertop if you don’t plan to use it for a long time.
No matter which storage method you choose, the following tips can help you extend your oyster’s sauce lifespan.
Keep It Sealed
Oyster sauce often comes in a jar with a screw cap or a flip cover. Whichever you choose, ensure to fasten the lid firmly before storing it.
Keeping the oyster sauce sealed is essential because you have to prevent air from leaking inside. It will accelerate the development of bacteria as a result.
Please note that bacteria invasion is among the most common causes of food poisoning. Your food may go bad even before its expiration date.
Avoid Direct Sunlight
If you intend to store oyster sauce on the countertop, make sure to keep it away from direct sunlight or heating sources.
The key is to avoid bacteria growth, which rises if exposed to the temperature danger zone. This range refers to temps between 41 to 135 degrees.
Keeping oyster sauce out of direct sunlight will be more important if you live in a hot climate and the weather is getting hot.
Store It in a Cool and Dark Place
It’s preferable to keep the oyster sauce in a cold, dark area to prevent direct sunlight exposure. Either the cupboard or a kitchen cabinet will suffice to store it.
The best tip for keeping oyster sauce is to stick to the recommendations given by the manufacturer. Depending on the maker, some may advise you to keep it in the fridge after opening it, and others might not.
How to Tell If Oyster Sauce Is Bad
The dates printed on the label can’t tell if the products are still good. Some oyster sauces may taste nice even when they are past the best-used date.
As a result, we recommend checking for signs of spoilage to determine if your oyster sauce is good and edible.
Color
Over time, oxidation may cause the oyster sauce to darken. However, it doesn’t necessarily imply that the sauce has turned bad. So even if it won’t be as delicious as you prefer it to be, you may still use it.
Odor
The smell of the oyster sauce is meaty, rich, and fresh. Even though the sauce may not have the best aroma in the world, the smell won’t be too bad. You should discard it if the odor doesn’t seem right.
Taste
Air exposure also intensifies the oyster sauce’s taste. There is absolutely no need to keep it if the flavor becomes excessively strong.
Mold
When you open an oyster sauce bottle and notice green or white froth on top, there is mold in the sauce.
Even if you completely remove the mold, the sauce is still unsafe to eat if it has turned moldy. It is advisable to get a new bottle whenever this problem occurs.
Texture
One feature that distinguishes oyster sauce from other sauces is its dense texture. Because of the separation of the sauce and the thickener, spoiled oyster sauce usually gets watery.
Unfortunately, the watery texture can’t recover. So if you notice it, throw the oyster sauce away. It won’t be safe to eat anymore.
Risk of Consuming Expired Oyster Sauce
You should never eat spoiled food to avoid getting sick from it. Although oyster sauce may be safe after the “used-by” dates, it’s better to avoid consuming it.
Mild to serious symptoms of food poisoning will occur. They can be:
- Headaches
- Vomiting
- Diarrhea
- Mild fever
- Loss of appetite
- Nausea
- Weakness
- Abdominal cramps
The signs mentioned above of food poisoning are not life-threatening. You can usually cure it at home using over-the-counter medicines.
However, you must make an appointment with your physician right away if you have any of the symptoms:
- Bloody urine
- Dehydration
- Difficulty seeing or speaking
- A fever that is higher than 101.5 degrees
Frequently Asked Questions
What Happens If You Don’t Refrigerate Oyster Sauce?
Suppose you leave it open at room temperature for some days or weeks, and it will not become rotten. However, refrigeration is the best option.
Does Oyster Sauce Spoil?
Yes. Oyster sauce can spoil, especially when outdated or not correctly preserved. The storage conditions will affect how long oyster sauce lasts before going bad.
Can You Freeze Oyster Sauce?
No. The oyster sauce doesn’t freeze because of the high salt concentration. Particles like sodium and ions won’t free at high temps once dissolved in the liquid.
Moreover, we make the oyster sauce by fermenting it. Hence, the ethanol in alcohol after fermentation will reduce the freezing point.
Conclusion
Refrigeration is the best storage method for oyster sauce. Remember to keep the bot sealed firmly to maximize the sauce’s shelf life.
Hopefully, you got the perfect answer to the question: “Does oyster sauce need to be refrigerated?” This guide will help you handle oyster sauce properly. If you have any problems, don’t hesitate to contact us. We will help you with that.
Thank you for reading, and see you in the next post!
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