Everyone has a favorite condiment. Mustard, mayo, ketchup, hot sauce, ranch, Sriracha, and BBQ sauce are all popular picks. But my favorite, hands-down, is soy sauce. I always have a bottle (actually, two) of it on hand.
I use it for dipping takeout sushi rolls, or for making dishes like homemade teriyaki chicken. But I have always wondered the following question: How should I be storing soy sauce? Right now I have one opened bottle in the fridge, and one opened bottle in the cupboard. So I had to find out if soy sauce needs to be refrigerated after opening, and, therefore, which of my bottles is being stored incorrectly.
Does Soy Sauce Need to Be Refrigerated?
Soy sauce does not need to be refrigerated after opening, according to Kikkoman’s website. However, the brand does recommend keeping it in the fridge.
The brand explains that this will help to maintain the bottle’s flavor and quality for a longer period. Once your bottle of soy sauce is opened, its freshness and flavor will begin to change as a result of being exposed to air (oxidation). Refrigerating it will help to slow down this process and preserve it. The brand’s EU website also explained how oxidation can make the sauce have a darker color; storing the bottle in a low-temperature environment, like the refrigerator, can help prevent this.
Is It Bad to Leave Soy Sauce Out?
Kikkoman says that your soy sauce bottle shouldn’t spoil if you don’t refrigerate it, as long as no water or other ingredients have been added to it.
If you’re wondering about that soy sauce packet collection you have stored in a random drawer right now, those are apparently fine to leave out at room temperature. They should be OK as long as they are away from heat. Because the packets are unopened, it’s similar to a new unopened bottle of soy sauce that’s on the (unrefrigerated) shelves at the grocery store. Just make sure to use them within one year of their production date (which is something I’m guilty of not doing!).
Do you store your soy sauce in the refrigerator or in the pantry? Let us know in the comments.
