Pantry or fridge? Top chef Curtis Stone settles tomato sauce debate

Tomato sauce is a kitchen staple in millions of households across the world.

No matter how you pronounce it, if it's store-bought or homemade, hot, spicy or original, it is a much loved condiment. 

Yet, there is one question that continually sparks debate about this humble sauce: where should it be kept, the pantry or the fridge?

For some, the answer to this question is personal. It's the preference between enjoying a nice big cool dollop on a hot pie, or an squeeze of room temperature red.

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As for the culinary professionals, award-winning Australian chef, author and restaurateur Curtis Stone shared his thoughts.

"I keep it in the pantry. Once it's opened, I keep it in the fridge," Stone told 9honey Kitchen.

"So if it's a sealed jar, whether you make it yourself or you buy it's absolutely fine to keep shelf-stable. So you can keep it in the pantry once you've opened it."

Though he did acknowledge that for longevity, once opened, a cooler place is best.

"You'll get a longer life certainly if you keep it in the fridge," he said.

Meanwhile, another question raging around the topic of fridge versus pantry is where to keep Tim Tams during the summer months.

The folks at Aussie biscuit giant Arnott's believe they have the answer – and they should know, they are the creators of the iconic sweet treat.

For some, this question might seem redundant, because, well a packet of Tim Tams might not last long enough for them to be stored.

But for argument's sake, let's say you need a place to keep them between snack breaks.

Given Tim Tams can melt - the cult tradition of the Tim Tam Slam is proof of this - it makes sense to keep them in a cool place.

For those that need a reminder about the Tim Tam Slam, it's when you bite off the opposite corners of the biscuit and use it as a straw in a hot drink, usually a coffee.

A dry cool place is also needed to keep Tim Tams fresh. But this could just be an airtight container stored away from the sun.

"Tim Tam biscuits are delicious no matter how you like to enjoy them," Rebecca Chan, Senior Marketing Manager for Tim Tam, told 9honey Kitchen.

"Whether you prefer a crisp, chilled bite from the fridge, or the combination of crunchy and velvety textures straight from the pantry, each Tim Tam biscuit promises an experience that's simply irresistible."

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But let's get down to brass tacks.

"Personally, I love the melt-in-your mouth moment of a Tim Tam biscuit straight from the pantry, which also is perfect for a Tim Tam slam," Chan said.

"However, a cool, crunchy Tim Tam from the fridge is always nice on a warm summers day."

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