Hot sauce does not belong in the fridge.
By @avasorta · Hot Takes
My boyfriend puts every single condiment in the refrigerator, including hot sauce. I insist that it's a shelf-stable item and keeping it cold ruins the flavor and texture.
The full story
This is a stupid, low-stakes argument but it's driving me crazy. My boyfriend and I just moved in together and are figuring out our shared kitchen habits. He's a 'refrigerate everything' guy. Ketchup, mustard, soy sauce... you name it, it's in there. I can live with most of it, but the hot sauce is where I draw the line. I grew up with a bottle of Tabasco or Cholula on the kitchen table 24/7. It's vinegar-based, it's preserved, it literally does not need to be cold. In fact, I think making it cold makes it taste... weird. The flavor gets muted and it's just a cold, vinegary shock instead of a spicy kick. He thinks I'm being ridiculous and that 'all opened sauces go in the fridge.' He says it's a food safety issue, which I think is just factually wrong. Now we have two bottles of the same hot sauce: his in the fridge, and mine in the pantry. It feels like a waste. This isn't a big deal but it's one of those little daily things that makes me question everything. I'm right, right?
How people voted
- Valid Take — 50% (15 votes)
- I’m Torn — 23% (7 votes)
- Bad Take — 27% (8 votes)
Readers say “Valid Take” (50%) — 30 votes and 5 comments so far.
What people are saying
@rose — My ex did this but with peanut butter. It was one of the first signs it wasn't going to work out.
@quinnwelp — two hot sauces is the only way to live
@beau — Absolutely agree. I'd start putting one of his random possessions in the fridge every day until he gets the message.
@owenyk — soft.
@brbcrying — I mean, I'm a fridge guy for all sauces, but the fact that he's ignoring that the bottle literally says 'refrigerate after opening' or NOT is the real issue.
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