Refrigerator and Chilling Food Basics - When To Refrigerate Foods

Busy Cooks

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Busy Cooks

To Chill or Not to Chill

Basics of Cooking Lesson Series: Refrigerate After Opening

Related Resources

• All Busy Cooks Cooking Lessons
• Stock Your Kitchen
• Always Chill
• Always Freeze
• Refrigerator Tips
• Do Not Chill
• Chilling Not Recommended
• Do Not Freeze
• Freezing Tips

These foods must be refrigerated after opening to ensure the safety of the product. Make sure to read labels on any canned or jarred food for more information. After opening, these foods cannot be left at room temperature longer than 2 hours or bacteria will begin to grow at an exponential rate. If the ambient temperature is warmer than 80 degrees Fahrenheit, these foods should be back in the refrigerator within 1 hour.

FOOD	SPECIAL TIPS
MAYONNAISE	Once opened, mayonnaise must be stored, tightly covered, in the refrigerator.
MUSTARD AND KETCHUP	Store tightly covered in the refrigerator after opening for best quality and flavor.
CANNED FOODS	Once canned foods are opened, they must be refrigerated. Remove the foods from their original can and package in glass or plastic, tightly sealed containers to avoid a tinny taste.
PICKLES AND PRESERVES	After you break the seal on these foods, they must be refrigerated.
JAMS AND JELLIES	Store in the refrigerator after opening.
ASEPTICALLY PACKAGED FOODS	Aseptically packaged foods are packaged in a pouch or box and processed with ultra-high temperatures for a short time to kill bacteria. The package is designed with a sealed foil layer to prevent moisture or air transfer, just like canned foods. When opened, this seal is destroyed and the foods must be refrigerated. These foods include shelf-stable entrees, dairy products, soy milk, juice boxes, and smoked meats.
CONDIMENTS	Chutney, pickled products, and other condiments should be refrigerated after opening.
SALAD DRESSINGS	Store in the refrigerator after opening.
BABY FOODS	All canned and bottled baby foods must be covered tightly and refrigerated immediately after opening.
CANNED PET FOODS	Tightly cover canned pet foods (I use foil, then ziplock bags to avoid flavor transfers with other foods in the fridge) and store for 1-2 days after opening.
NUT OILS	Nut oils can become rancid very quickly and should be stored, tightly covered, in the refrigerator after opening.
HOT SAUCES, CHILI SAUCE	Refrigerate after opening in the original container.
CHOCOLATE SYRUP AND ICE CREAM TOPPINGS	Refrigerate in the original container, tightly covered, after opening.