Ranch sauce is awesome, right? But even though that, it, like with pretty much every other sauce, usually takes quite some time before you finish it. Precisely because of that, it may come in handy to know the answer to this question:
Does ranch need to be refrigerated? No, ranch doesn’t need to be refrigerated, but you should still store it in dark and chilly places, away from direct sunlight and heat. Additionally, refrigerating your ranch sauce is highly recommended after you open it.
But this was just to put it quickly – if we really want to understand this topic, we’re going to have to dive into it a bit deeper.
What are we waiting for then? Let’s just get started!
Table of Contents
- Does ranch need to be refrigerated?
- How long does ranch last in the fridge?
- Can unopened ranch be unrefrigerated?
- Does ranch need to be refrigerated after opening?
- How to store ranch without refrigeration?
- How long can ranch stay unrefrigerated?
- Is it safe to leave ranch at room temperature?
- What happens if you leave ranch unrefrigerated?
- How do you know if ranch has gone bad?
- Summary
- Resources
Does ranch need to be refrigerated?
No, ranch sauce doesn’t need to be refrigerated; as long as you haven’t opened it, putting it into some dark and chilly place like the pantry will be enough. On the other hand, you should always refrigerate your ranch after opening it.
Does McDonald’s ranch need to be refrigerated?
Due to its content and especially packaging, McDonald’s ranch doesn’t need to be refrigerated, at least if you haven’t opened it yet. However, after opening putting it into the fridge is highly recommended, and you should also consume it within two days.
Does Dominos ranch need to be refrigerated?
Dominos ranch sauce doesn’t need to be refrigerated as long as you have not opened it yet. On the other hand, an already opened pack of Dominos ranch belongs to the fridge, where it will stay suitable for up to four days.
Does Popeyes ranch need to be refrigerated?
While Popeyes ranch doesn’t need to be refrigerated before opening, an already opened package of it should be put into the fridge and tightly sealed again; otherwise, it could turn bad very fast, just in a few hours.
Does buttermilk ranch need to be refrigerated?
Yes, buttermilk ranch sauce needs to be refrigerated because otherwise, it could get spoiled after some time. In the fridge, though, buttermilk ranch will last for up to three weeks, meaning you don’t have to hurry up with using it all.
Does Dion’s ranch need to be refrigerated?
According to the manufacturer, Dion’s ranch sauce should be kept in the fridge but never be frozen. The reason is that refrigerating is necessary for keeping the sauce fresh, but freezing it may harm its flavor.
How long does ranch last in the fridge?
Usually, ranch lasts for about six months in the fridge when talking about store-bought ranch dressing, while the homemade one should ideally be consumed within two weeks. This may seem like a short time, but remember that if you didn’t put it into the fridge, it could turn bad as fast as after two hours!
Can unopened ranch be unrefrigerated?
Yes, unopened ranch can be unrefrigerated! Since ranch sauce is shelf-stable, it is enough to just put it into some dark and chilly place like the pantry.
Does ranch need to be refrigerated after opening?
As explained above, ranch sauce doesn’t have to be in the fridge if you haven’t yet opened it. However, ranch needs to be refrigerated after opening because otherwise, it could turn bad just in two hours.
How to store ranch without refrigeration?
The best way to store ranch without refrigeration is to put it into your pantry. But with that being said, this works only as long as it is not yet opened since, after opening, you have to put your ranch sauce into the fridge.
How long can ranch stay unrefrigerated?
Ranch can stay unrefrigerated for a really long time, even as long as a year; however, this is only the case when talking about an unopened bottle. Since an opened bottle of ranch sauce should always be refrigerated, it could turn bad as soon as after two hours if it sits out, according to the USDA.
Is it safe to leave ranch at room temperature?
While it is absolutely safe to leave the ranch at room temperature before opening, afterward, it, unfortunately, isn’t. If you left your ranch at room temperature when it was already opened, it would become dangerous to eat just after more than two hours. Because of that, you should always put your ranch sauce into the fridge after opening it.
What happens if you leave ranch unrefrigerated?
As we’ve touched above, two things can happen if you leave ranch unrefrigerated – firstly, nothing at all when talking about an unopened bottle of ranch, since that actually doesn’t have to be refrigerated!
However, things change a lot when talking about an already opened ranch because that should be refrigerated all the time. So if you leave opened ranch unrefrigerated, it will spoil quickly, usually just after about two hours.
How do you know if ranch has gone bad?
To know if the ranch has gone bad, you don’t have to do anything complicated – just thoroughly check its smell and appearance, and if you don’t notice any weird changes, the ranch is good to go. On the contrary, if you see anything suspicious, you should rather throw the ranch sauce out.
Summary
Like pretty much every other sauce, ranch doesn’t need to be refrigerated because it is more than enough just to put it away from direct sunlight and heat.
But this is the case only with an unopened bottle of ranch sauce – after you have opened it, you should, on the other hand, refrigerate it all the time, because otherwise, it could turn bad in just any more than two hours.
Also Read:
- Do Peppers Need to Be Refrigerated?
- Does Chick-fil-A Sauce Need to Be Refrigerated?
- Do Bitters Need to Be Refrigerated?
- Does Cooked Bacon Need to Be Refrigerated?
- Does Molasses Need to Be Refrigerated?
Resources
Image credits – Canva
