Fish sauce has grow to be a preferred ingredient all over the world, including a savory umami kick to dishes from stir fries to salad dressings. This salty fermented condiment supplies a taste enhance, however there’s some debate across the refrigeration query. Must you retailer your fish sauce within the fridge after opening, or is it secure at room temperature? Right here’s a complete have a look at the info.
➡ Additionally see Ought to Worcestershire Sauce Be Refrigerated?
What’s Fish Sauce?
Fish sauce is a liquid condiment constructed from fermented fish that has been salted and aged for months and even years. The salty brown sauce is a staple ingredient in Southeast Asian cuisines, in addition to historical Roman cooking. Conventional fish sauce makes use of anchovies as the principle fish, that are layered with salt and pressed to extract the liquid. Fashionable variations may incorporate different fish like mackerel or sardines. The fish and salt combination ferments for as much as two years in heat climates, a course of that breaks down the proteins right into a intensely savory, umami-rich sauce.
Fish sauce is utilized in small quantities to offer an enormous burst of taste. The varieties from totally different areas have their very own distinctive kinds. Vietnamese nuoc mam is mostly lighter in coloration and taste. Thai nam pla tends to be stronger and saltier. Filipino patis is kind of gentle with a touch of sweetness.
Does Fish Sauce Go Dangerous?
The quick reply is not any, fish sauce does not likely go unhealthy within the conventional sense. The salt content material and fermentation course of protect the condiment to make it extremely shelf-stable. An unopened bottle can final for years with out refrigeration. Nevertheless, refrigeration can assist extend high quality and stop degradation in aroma and taste over time.
Fish sauce’s lengthy fermentation interval primarily “pre-digests” the proteins, making it proof against spoilage. The low pH and excessive salt focus forestall microbial development. So fish sauce gained’t make you sick or be harmful to eat even years after the best-by date, assuming it was produced correctly. Nevertheless, the standard can deteriorate over time, so optimum storage strategies are advisable.
Suggestions from High Manufacturers
Crimson Boat Fish Sauce, which is commonly named the top-rated Vietnamese-style fish sauce, states “we advocate refrigerating our fish sauce after opening for optimum high quality and taste.” They clarify that refrigeration helps preserve the contemporary style, aroma, and look of the nuanced sauce. As they notice, “As soon as opened, fish sauce is greatest saved chilled within the fridge. Whereas historically it was saved at room temperature in picket barrels, refrigeration helps decelerate the results of oxidation.”
Crimson Boat recommends utilizing their fish sauce inside 1 12 months after opening when saved within the fridge.
Refrigeration Tips from Main Manufacturers
Model
Type
Unopened Shelf Life
Opened Refrigerated
Opened Room Temp
Crimson Boat
Vietnamese
2 years
1 12 months
Quick-term
Tiparos
Thai
36 months
18 months
Historically used
Mega Chef
Vietnamese
3 years
9-12 months
6 months
Squid Model
Thai/Vietnamese
3 years
1 12 months
Not advisable
The Key Takeaways:
Unopened bottles will be saved at room temp for 2-3 years earlier than opening
Refrigerating after opening extends shelf life considerably (as much as 18 months)
Room temperature storage after opening reduces advisable utilization instances
All manufacturers point out refrigeration optimizes high quality and shelf lifetime of opened bottles
Transient room temperature storage after opening is taken into account secure by most
The Advantages of Refrigeration
There are some clear benefits to storing your fish sauce within the fridge after opening:
Slows down enzymatic reactions that may trigger flavors to degrade over time
Inhibits mildew development by stopping microbial exercise
Protects towards oxidation that results in rancidity and “off” flavors
Maintains best viscosity and look for longer
Prevents absorption of different fridge odors like cheeses
By storing fish sauce within the fridge, its high quality and contemporary style will probably be extended considerably. Refrigeration can lengthen the shelf life from a number of months to over a 12 months. So when you don’t use fish sauce ceaselessly, protecting it chilled can assist it final.
Dangers of Room Temperature Storage
Whereas room temperature storage gained’t make fish sauce unsafe or spoiled, there are some potential downsides:
Taste can degrade extra shortly with out refrigeration
Some mildew development could happen in humid environments
Oxidation is extra probably, inflicting quicker growth of rancid flavors
Might take in different odors and flavors from the pantry
The largest danger is quicker deterioration of high quality and taste. In case you undergo fish sauce shortly, this might not be noticeable. However for a bottle that lasts a number of months, the style might decline extra quickly.
Absorption of different odors is one other concern in unrefrigerated storage. The pungent aroma means the sauce can choose up different smells from the pantry.
Indicators Your Fish Sauce Has Gone Dangerous
Fish sauce does not likely “go unhealthy” by way of meals security. However listed below are some indicators that the standard has degraded and it could be time to exchange your bottle:
Dramatic change in coloration – from amber to darkish brown or gray
Sturdy medicinal, bitter, metallic or in any other case “off” aroma
Important change in viscosity – turns into too thick or separates into solids and liquid
Mildew development – often a fuzzy layer on the floor
A lot saltier style than when initially opened
In case your fish sauce stays roughly the identical coloration, aroma, texture and salty taste, then it’s probably nonetheless good. However when you discover dramatic shifts from its authentic state, the standard has diminished. Belief your nostril and style buds!
Ideas for Correct Storage
Listed below are some storage ideas to assist maintain your fish sauce contemporary longer:
Preserve the bottle sealed tightly when not in use
Retailer within the fridge after opening if attainable
If storing at room temperature, maintain in a cool, dry spot out of direct mild
Wipe drips from the lid and bottle to forestall sticky residue
Switch to a smaller container if not utilizing ceaselessly to restrict air publicity
Keep away from temperature extremes like very popular pantries or freezing temperatures. As with most condiments, fish sauce will last more when saved optimally.
The Verdict
Whereas refrigeration is right for prolonging high quality and shelf life, fish sauce doesn’t essentially require refrigeration for meals security causes. The salty, fermented nature of the condiment prevents dangerous microbial development. That mentioned, room temperature storage will probably result in quicker taste degradation.
The advice is to refrigerate fish sauce after opening to keep up optimum aroma, texture and style. However transient intervals out of the fridge, and even unrefrigerated pantry storage, is not going to make correctly fermented fish sauce harmful to eat.
Use your senses as a information – if the style and odor of your fish sauce appears off, it could be previous its prime. However with best storage situations, an opened bottle can last as long as a 12 months or longer earlier than the standard diminishes.
Recap and Key Takeaways
Refrigerating fish sauce after opening is right for max freshness
Nevertheless, fish sauce doesn’t require refrigeration for security on account of excessive salt and fermentation
Room temperature storage could result in quicker taste deterioration
Examine for indicators of spoilage like aroma, style, texture modifications
Discard fish sauce that smells or tastes rancid or “off”
With correct storage, fish sauce lasts as much as a 12 months refrigerated, or a number of months unrefrigerated
Belief your senses, and don’t be afraid to make use of fish sauce that has been saved at room temperature for some time. A fast style and odor test will inform you whether it is nonetheless good. Fish sauce supplies a novel umami taste, so maintain a bottle available to raise Asian dishes and extra.
