applesauce

If I buy apple sauce and someone puts it in the fridge for a couple hours can I take it out and put it at room temperature and it still be good? I tried googling this but couldn't find anything.

apple sauce is sold on store shelves not in the frigerated sections.

somewhere on the packaging or jars and cans it will say "refrigerate after opening". (Mandatory food labeling in USA.)

in other words -

........unopened.......... cans, jars and single serve apple sauce packages is fine not refrigerated but after you open it what's left needs to be put in the fridge.

I'm talking after it's been refrigerated. I know it doesn't have to be refrigerated, but I Know some foods once you get them cold you have to keep them cold.

bringing apple sauce to room temp will not harm it. here in america its one of those things that are frequently fridgerated then put in lunch bags, lunch boxes and so on, then it sits there for sometimes up to 4 hours ormore.

I have children and frequently include fruits and veggies in their lunch boxes, snak boxes and so forth for school, trips, field trips or any other event where I know my children will do the "im hungry can we stop at mcdonalds" routine.

I have also packed cold applesauce in my purse or carry-on bags.

like already stated ...

if you have not previously opened it, it does not require being frigerated, it does not matter. if you put it in to get cold then take it out again. if you have not opened it the FDA says store bought and packaged applesauce does ....not.........need to be frigerated.

it is only ..............after.................... you have opened it that the FDA (federal Food and Drug Administration) says apple sauce needs to be refrigerated. per the labeling on the apple sauce directions.

if you are still concerned contact your local health department, they will explain to you in a way that you will understand, they will be able to tell you how to get a pamphlet or other informative papers on food storage and safety requirements. or you can contact the FDA (federal food and drug administration) who can tell you what the federal food storage and safety requirements are on applesauce.

That applies to frozen stuff. You dont want to thaw something and then wait too long to cook it, and you should never refreeze it. Like if there is a power outage. But if something is canned / bottled / sealed and shelf stable, then as long as it hasnt been opened, it doesnt matter how hot or cold it gets, as long as an extreme of temperature either way doesnt break the seal.

Like you could chill your applesauce, put it in your lunch bag, then eat it later or even the next day, no problem, as long as it was unopened.

Thank you, that was all I needed.

If the jar (or other type of container) is unopened and still has the vacuum seal, it's fine going back to room temp. If opened or the seal is broken, it should go back in the fridge. It works like this in any type of "canning".

Once it's been opened it should go back in the fridge.