AboutCarol Schlitt Expertise I can answer questions on home food safety, sanitation, home food preservation and commercial food safety (HACCP).
Experience I am an Extension educator, nutrition, wellness and food safety. I am a certified HACCP manager and a food safety instructor for the Illinois Department of Public Health.
Organizations International Association for Food Protection, American Association of Family and Consumer Sciences (Certified CFCS), National Extension Association of Family and Consumer Sciences, Society for Nutrition Education.
Education/Credentials BS - University of Illinois
MS - Southern Illinois University at Edwardsville
Question Tonight I made spaghetti bolognese with all fresh ingredients bought from the store. At the tail end of cooking the sauce I wanted to add some more tomato paste to it and grabbed the tube I kept in the pantry and squirted about a 1/2 tablespoon in. It was only that I noticed after we had eaten and I was cleaning up that it said refrigerate after opening. The tube was used once before for the same recipe and I never noticed the warning. When I added the paste the sauce was boiling and kept boiling and simmering for about 5 minutes after I added it. The dish also had ground beef in it.
I asked my mom and she said she never puts her tube in the fridge and wasn't even aware you should. She's never been sick either. So should I keep the tube or toss it? It tasted and smelled fine and the tube was rather cool itself (it's winter and our apartment is chilly).
Answer Hi Lisa,
Tomato paste is an acidic food (pH below 4.6) and is therefore a food that can be at room temperature (it does not support the growth of harmful bacteria). Refrigeration will extend the product shell life and decrease the growth rate of molds and yeasts.
Manufacturers recommend refrigeration to cover all bases with food --both the safety and quality of the product. In this case, refrigerating an open tube of tomato paste will increase the likelyhood of the product not molding as quickly.
As long as the paste looks, smells and tastes okay it should be fine to consume.
