So, on a similar topic, what's the verdict on Ketchup? In the fridge or on the counter?

I doubt that it matters very much. I have a bottle of ketchup in my desk drawer (I'm looking at it now) that is just about used up, still a cup or so left in it, and still perfectly palatable (or at least as palatable as ketchup might be) and while I can't find any actual dates on the bottle (there are lot numbers and maybe even a serial number (?!) on it), I know for certain it has been in that drawer for at least four years.

tanstaafl.