It's a debate as old as time: Does ketchup belong in the refrigerator?
Nearly everyone has chimed in on the argument: food experts, home cooks, condiment connoisseurs...you name it. But at last, Heinz has finally taken a stance on the ketchup-refrigeration debate, and we definitely did not expect their answer to be this straightforward.
"FYI: Ketchup. goes. in. the. fridge!!!" @HeinzUK tweeted earlier this week.
Needless to say, many people weren't satisfied with their decree, and they didn't hesitate to express their disappointment with the ketchup manufacturer.
"You guys must be awfully confused. Obviously it goes in the cupboard!" one user tweeted.
"No it doesn't. You stick to production and I'll deal with the consumption," another person added.
A number of commenters were taken aback by Heinz's declaration, given that ketchup isn't refrigerated when you purchase it.
"Why is it not in the fridge at the supermarkets then?" one person questioned.
In response to all of the questions about why ketchup isn't refrigerated at the grocery store, one person did point out that it's meant to be refrigerated after it's opened.
"Of course it does. after opening is this controversial?" they asked in response to Heinz's tweet.
Another person provided further insight, writing, "Ketchup at the supermarket is often shelf-stable, meaning it doesn't need to be refrigerated until after it's been opened. Once opened, it's best to keep it in the fridge."
A few years ago, Cardi B tweeted about the issue: “People who put their ketchup in the fridge are not to be trusted.” And as PEOPLE reported, back in 2018 Jennifer Lopez made a video for Tinder's YouTube channel. She saw this written on a potential match's profile: “If you store your ketchup in the fridge, we’re not going to work out." She was not impressed by this anti-fridge stance and swiped left, saying, “Bye bye him."
I mean, as long as we can all agree that ketchup doesn't belong on hot dogs, we're good.
Danielle Harling is an Atlanta-based freelance writer with a love for colorfully designed-spaces, craft cocktails and online window shopping (usually for budget-shattering designer heels). Her past work has appeared on Fodor’s, Forbes, MyDomaine, Architectural Digest and more.
