Active discussions

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To have a whole fridge shelf for condiments/jars?

107 replies

bumchic · 30/09/2025 18:11

DH thinks I have a problem. I think they’re all used fairly often. Moving house and he’s adamant they’re not all coming with us.

mustard - whole grain, Dijon, hot dog
ketchup
chili sauces - Nando’s x2, sweet chilli, chile crisp, gochujang
jams - marmalade, lemon curd, strawberry, seedless raspberry
pickles - Branston, red onion chutney, cornichons, pickled onions, sliced jalapeños, capers, black olives, green olives, picalilli
misc - BBQ sauce, tamarind paste, mint sauce, cranberry sauce, horseradish, mayo

OP posts:
endofthecorridoor · 30/09/2025 22:50

I've got a whole fridge for condiments. We make jam and pickles and stuff. It's called the pickle fridge

CoastalCalm · 30/09/2025 22:49

I’ve got two and most of the inside of the door too - a lot are ingredients vs a pure confinement though like gouchugan and various curry pastes

OkOkWhatsNext · 30/09/2025 22:49

Mustard in the fridge? Are you high?

Staywithmemyblood · 30/09/2025 22:49

Condiments rule in my fridge too. I don’t check dates, no harm done 👍🏻

intrepidpanda · 30/09/2025 22:46

Most of those can go in the cupboard

Snugglemonkey · 30/09/2025 22:38

CAMHShelp · 30/09/2025 22:36

YABU they go off after 4 weeks. Yuk!

😂😂😂😂 no they do not. I have jars in my fridge that I do not remember buying, but they are all grand.

CAMHShelp · 30/09/2025 22:36

YABU they go off after 4 weeks. Yuk!

longtompot · 30/09/2025 22:35

TwoLeftSocksWithHoles · 30/09/2025 22:27

Checked the dates? CHECKED THE DATES?

In my day, we didn't have dates on things, and everything was fine, and it came in a brown paper bag or waxed paper.
Yes, we had dysentery and cholera and bombsites but we were happy.

If only we could turn the clock back (sigh).

Show quote history

🤣

longtompot · 30/09/2025 22:34

I also keep soy sauce, mirin, fish sauce and Shaoxing in the fridge but not sure I need to? Thinking of it they’re prob sugary/salty/fermented enough as it is.
Chuckjng them all out and starting again is exactly what DH is proposing ahead of our move btw. What a waste! I do all cooking and meal planning and am not hugely keen on his helpful tips like this

I also think it's a waste of money and resources to throw them away to then just need to buy them all again. That said, the rice wine etc can be stored on a shelf, that's where mine are along with various vinegars, soys and the Worcestershire sauce. Though keep the fish sauce on the fridge.
We have a shelf full of condiments, and I keep our ketchup etc and jams in the fridge too

deirdrerasheed · 30/09/2025 22:31

Who does the cooking?

TwoLeftSocksWithHoles · 30/09/2025 22:27

Rooit · 30/09/2025 18:15

Have you checked the dates?

Can you post a photo of this shelf?!

Checked the dates? CHECKED THE DATES?

In my day, we didn't have dates on things, and everything was fine, and it came in a brown paper bag or waxed paper.
Yes, we had dysentery and cholera and bombsites but we were happy.

If only we could turn the clock back (sigh).

5foot5 · 30/09/2025 22:17

Mydogisagentleman · 30/09/2025 18:17

I have 2 shelves in the fridge and a pull out corner cupboard for dry spices and stock cubes etc

Snap! Same exactly.
This is my herb and spice drawer, alphabetised more or less

To have a whole fridge shelf for condiments/jars?
ChocolateGreenTriangle · 30/09/2025 22:11

Sounds like my fridge

AnneLovesGilbert · 30/09/2025 22:09

We have the full top shelf and two door shelves devoted to condiments, pickles, chutneys etc. It’s an under-counter fridge so small to start with. If I ever get one of those mega fridges I’ll dedicate half of it to stuff in bottles and jars. A lot of it is homemade and not properly labelled which adds a bit of fun peril/opportunity to the day.

NellyTimes · 30/09/2025 22:07

On a slight tangent, cold ketchup is rank.

Mammut · 30/09/2025 22:06

Soy sauce, mirin etc definitely NOT in the fridge

Mammut · 30/09/2025 22:03

What you have is perfectly normal but much of it doesn’t need to be stored in the fridge.

MrsPinkCock · 30/09/2025 22:01

I have a full jar shelf too. Pickles, dressings, jams, spreads, spice pastes etc. I have done for probably more than ten years!

Ketryne · 30/09/2025 21:58

ShodAndShadySenators · 30/09/2025 21:43

You need a big cool bag. Maybe ditch any that only have a few teaspoons left in them to prune them back a little?

We write the date they've been opened in Sharpie on the jar/lid, and ditch anything that's seriously well over the time limit suggested.

We’ve recently started this system too. I used to forget how long things had been open and then randomly panic after a bit and throw a jar away. Now we have a roll of masking tape and a pen in the kitchen and stick a little date label on. I don’t follow the dates religiously at all, but at least I now know if things were opened this year. I was starting to wonder if I should be more strict, but it sounds like I don’t need to bother.

DrDisrespect · 30/09/2025 21:56

My fridge is very similar... most of the top shelf and one shelf in the door 😂

Davros · 30/09/2025 21:46

Many of those things don’t need to be in the fridge if they are “preserves” of any sort. Just make sure you use a clean spoon when serving. We never keep mustard to ketchup in the fridge or pickles etc. Mayo should go in the fridge

ShodAndShadySenators · 30/09/2025 21:43

You need a big cool bag. Maybe ditch any that only have a few teaspoons left in them to prune them back a little?

We write the date they've been opened in Sharpie on the jar/lid, and ditch anything that's seriously well over the time limit suggested.

FurForksSake · 30/09/2025 21:43

I did go through my shelf and chucked out the dubious stuff, dh cheered!

Original poster
bumchic · 30/09/2025 21:30

I don’t get keeping ground coffee in the fridge. We get through 250g a week so it has no time to go stale?

Also I get it about some going in the cupboard but I feel like with my lax attitude towards use by dates (v glad to have found my sisters on this thread) maybe fridge over cupboard is helping me out a bit.

And totally agree on pesto - mould within hours! I hate the jarred supermarket stuff but it is good for kids’ quick teas.

I also keep soy sauce, mirin, fish sauce and Shaoxing in the fridge but not sure I need to? Thinking of it they’re prob sugary/salty/fermented enough as it is.

Chuckjng them all out and starting again is exactly what DH is proposing ahead of our move btw. What a waste! I do all cooking and meal planning and am not hugely keen on his helpful tips like this.

OP posts:
Unescorted · 30/09/2025 21:21

We have shelves.... And a cupboard for the yet to be opened / unrefrigerated ones. If you don't have a full shelf what do you eat with your cheese and crackers?

Swipe left for the next trending thread