Food is paramount, and to enjoy delicious food, condiments are essential. Many people like to keep condiments near the stove for easy access while cooking.
However, different condiments require different storage methods. Furthermore, the stovetop is hot, so even ordinary cooking oil should not be left for long periods of time, as this can accelerate spoilage and potentially harm health if consumed over time.
Common misplaced condiments
Oyster sauce and some soy sauces...
Refrigerate after opening.
Oyster sauce's main ingredients are oysters, water, and starch, all of which are susceptible to oxidation and decomposition at room temperature. This is especially true in warm temperatures, where spoilage is more likely. You might even see mold forming on the bottle's opening just a few weeks after opening.
All oyster sauce bottles advertise the following storage requirements: "Store at room temperature. Refrigerate after opening," or the more specific "Refrigerate between 0°C and 4°C after opening." However, few people take note.
Tip: Not all spoiled oyster sauce will develop hair. If it starts to thin out from its original viscous consistency, becomes particularly difficult to pour, or loses its original umami flavor, it may have gone bad.
As for soy sauce, low-salt, preservative-free soy sauce, such as children's soy sauce or Japanese soy sauce, should be refrigerated after opening. Regular soy sauce can be stored in a cool, dry place. If the soy sauce develops a white film or becomes sour, it has gone bad and should not be consumed.
Spoiled oyster sauce and soy sauce can easily breed various bacteria, such as E. coli, and ingestion can cause diarrhea, nausea, and other symptoms.
In addition, the following condiments should always be refrigerated after opening:
① Spice blends and sauces (such as mustard and shacha sauce).
② Condiments containing egg, milk, or fruit or vegetable ingredients (such as mayonnaise, salad dressing, and ketchup).
③ Fermented black beans and other fermented products (such as fish sauce and shrimp paste).