Food Storage

You just made chocolate milk and the bottle is sitting on the counter. Does it go back in the fridge or can it live in the pantry like it did before you opened it? Does chocolate syrup need to be refrigerated? The short answer is

There is a bottle of chocolate syrup in the back of the fridge and you are not sure how long it has been open. Or there is an unopened bottle in the pantry that is past its best-by date and you are wondering if it is still good. The short answer is

You are mid-recipe and wondering how long cream cheese can sit on the counter. Or you are asking whether it needs refrigeration at all. Does cream cheese need to be refrigerated? The short answer is

You find a half-open block of cream cheese in the back of the fridge. The date is borderline, or it has been sitting there for a couple of weeks and you are not sure whether to use it or toss it. Does cream cheese go bad? The short answer is

Someone left the sour cream on the counter and now you are wondering if it is still safe. Or you are asking whether sour cream even needs to be kept cold at all. Does sour cream need to be refrigerated? The short answer is

You open the fridge and spot the sour cream container. The date looks borderline, or maybe there is a little liquid sitting on top and you are not sure if that means it has gone bad. Does sour cream go bad? The short answer is

You reach for the steak sauce and notice the bottle has been in the fridge for a while. Or maybe there is an unopened bottle sitting in the pantry and you are not sure how old it is. Does steak sauce go bad? The short answer is

Dinner is done and the steak sauce bottle is sitting on the counter. Does it go back in the fridge, or can it stay in the pantry with your other condiments? Does steak sauce need to be refrigerated? The short answer is

You find a half-used jar of cocktail sauce in the back of the fridge and wonder how long it has been sitting there. Or maybe you unearthed an unopened bottle that is past its best-by date and you are not sure whether

Dinner is over and the cocktail sauce is still sitting on the table. Does it need to go back in the fridge or can it stay out? And what about the unopened bottle in the pantry? Does that need refrigeration too? Does cocktail sauce need to be

You pull out the tartar sauce and notice the date is getting close, or maybe it has been open for a while and you cannot remember when you first cracked the jar. Does tartar sauce go bad? The short answer is

You finish dinner and the tartar sauce is still on the table. Does it go back in the fridge or can it stay out? And what about the sealed jar you bought last month that has been sitting in the pantry? The short answer is