Why can ketchup stay out on the table at a restaurant but it has to be refrigerated at home?

Question

Why can ketchup stay out on the table at a restaurant but it has to be refrigerated at home?

Answer 1

because it doesn't have to be refrigerated at home...

Answer 2

I have never ever refrigerated my Ketchup!! that is gross!!!

Answer 3

Ketchup is the most used condiment in restaurants.  A bottle of ketchup in a restaurant  is probably used up in a couple of days.  The ketchup in your refrigerator takes much longer to use up.  And this was a very interesting question.

Answer 4

ketchup does not have to be refrigerated... unless its a cheap brand. Many cheaper or "off" brands do require it because of the ingredients that are inside the bottle.

Heinz for example only RECENTLY started putting refrigerate after opening on their bottle.. which restaurant glass bottles last I checked still don't have that.

It does last longer if you refrigerate it but I know my family has never refrigerated our Heinz once in my entire life. It never went bad, and it never made us sick.

But also.. restaurants go through ketchup must faster than you would at home which probably would make a difference versus having a bottle sit on your counter for 4 months versus a few days.

Many studies show that all refrigerating a ketchup does is make it last longer.. but like anything bacteria can grow in it eventually.

Answer 5

thats a good one ketchup at restraunts has certain stuff in it that keeps it cool but are ketchup dont have that stuff in it thats why they have to be refridgerated

Answer 6

they want to kill you>-=

Answer 7

to those who say it doesn't, just read the bottle, it says "refrigerate after opening ", but maybe in a restaurant it gets used often and doesn't have time to spoil? idk, interesting though

Answer 8

I don't refigerate my ketchup either, you don't need to. That doesn't mean it doesn't say refrigerate after opening on a bottle. It just means that it will not spoil if you leave it in your cabinets.

Answer 9

It does not have to be refrigerated!

Answer 10

Best question I've seen in here.

I said the same thing many years ago.  You think about it there are more item you don't have to refrigerate, but we do.

Answer 11

Hahahaha. Wow. Frankly, I like that question. A lot.

Answer 12

interesting question. maybe that's why its so cold in restaurants to keep the ketchup from spoiling.