Another good reason to refridgerate is to maintain potency. I used to keep my Tabasco bottles out at room temp. I found that the liquid would become a pale pink color after a while and didn't possess the nice zip of fresh sauce. I became aware of that when opening a fresh bottle immediately after using the last of an old one. Big difference. Now it always stays in the fridge. -----Original Message----- From: Jim Campbell [SMTP:mwph2hot@indy.net] Sent: Friday, February 06, 1998 1:00 PM To: Hobby Farmer Cc: chile-heads-digest@globalgarden.com Subject: Re: [CH] refrigeration The admonition to 'refrigerate after opening' is often offered under the guise of 'better safe than sorry', rather than a strict necessity. As a sauce maker I too, put that on the label just as a good hygenic precaution. I know the