Does Worcestershire sauce have gluten?
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Worcestershire sauce is often used to flavor caesar salads and shrimp cocktails. Does Worcestershire sauce have gluten? Does Worcestershire sauce have to be refrigerated? Is it safe to consume for people with celiac disease? This article will let you know everything about it and much more including the how to store food, the storage tips for Worcestershire sauce.
Worcestershire sauce is probably not a condiment you use often. It’s likely that you only use it when making a salad or deviled eggs. Even if you make these dishes often, it is unlikely that you will use an entire bottle of sauce every month.
- It typically contains molasses, distilled white vinegar, sugar, water, and salt. All of these ingredients are naturally gluten-free. Worcestershire sauce containing soy is not gluten-free (for obvious reasons!) and can cause reactions in people with celiac disease.
- Many Worcestershire sauce brands are made with the same or similar ingredients. Gluten-free brands are also available in the market, making them safe for celiac disease patients and everyone.
- It has been reported that the Worcestershire sauce of some brands may not be gluten-free when purchased in other countries and may contain barley malt or other wheat ingredients. There is also a chance that the sauce is processed in machines that process glutenous ingredients.
Always read labels and be aware of products that contain wheat or gluten.
Shelf Life Or Worcestershire Sauce – Does Worcestershire sauce go bad?
Worcestershire sauce is labeled with a date, which means it will spoil by some point. Let’s first look at the ingredients. It lists vinegar, molasses, and other main ingredients that can last for years. It also contains salt and sugar, which are both natural preservatives. It shouldn’t be a surprise that this sauce is of good quality and lasts for years.
Worcestershire sauce does not usually spoil like meat or dairy, but it slowly loses its flavor after being opened. At a certain point, you should throw it out for quality reasons.
Homemade Worcestershire Sauce
Homemade Worcestershire sauce should last for several weeks to over a month or two if stored in an air-tight container in the fridge according to the recipe used. For longer storage, can it in a boiling-water canner according to the manufacturer’s instructions.
Unopened Worcestershire Sauce
The sauce’s quality and flavor will not change if the bottle is kept unopened. Even if the sauce is opened after three years, which is usually the shelf life for English sauces, you will not notice any difference in quality or taste from a new one.
Opened Worcestershire Sauce
However, once you open the bottle, things start to change. The sauce is exposed to fresh air which speeds up its degradation. It takes a long time for the sauce to go through the degradation process. You will start to notice a difference in taste after two to four years. This means that the sauce’s quality will change over time and may not be up to your standards after a few years.
The speed of the process is dependent on several factors such as where and how you store the sauce. A Worcestershire bottle that was opened more than three years ago will still be fine if it is well cared for. You can throw out the sauce if the flavor is not as good as it used to be and purchase a new bottle.
Storage Tips For Worcestershire Sauce – How to store Worcestershire sauce?
Similar to other condiments, Worcestershire sauce should be kept in a cool and dry place. This is best done in a dark cupboard in your pantry or kitchen. Do not let the sauce sit out in the sun. It could affect its taste. This is all you need to store an unopened bottle.
The first thing you should remember after opening the bottle is to seal the container tightly when not in use. The answer to the question of whether the sauce should be refrigerated or not is “No”. The sauce’s natural preservatives are so that it can be stored for up to a year without refrigeration.
If you plan to keep the Worcestershire sauce just because you have enough space in the fridge, keep the bottle of Worcestershire sauce in the fridge.
If the sauce is not refrigerated, it won’t spoil in its true sense even after passing the expiry date. Also, refrigerating the sauce will not increase its shelf life.
Key Takeaways
- Worcestershire sauce can be stored indefinitely if it is not opened.
- The sauce gradually loses quality once you open it.
- It should be kept in a cool, dark place and away from direct sunlight. Once it is opened, you can refrigerate it to preserve its quality but it doesn’t increase its shelf life.
