We all love our ketchup,
don’t we?! When we’re plastering it over a hot dog or a burger, we don’t take
the time to really think about what we’re doing. But, ketchup has a lot of
interesting facts behind it that you probably won’t know.
So, let us educate your minds with some awesome facts about one of
the world’s most popular condiments.
The World’s Largest Ketchup Packet
If you pick up a copy of the 2009 Guinness World Of Records book, you’ll find this entertaining bit of history. The world’s
largest ketchup packet was created in 2007, for which 4000 Heinz bottles were
donated. If you’re wondering, it holds 480 litres of ketchup. And no - we don’t
know why they decided to make it. They’re history makers, so they’ve got that
going for them!
It Was Originally A Cooking Ingredient
There was a time when ketchup wasn’t something that was used to
put on your fries, you know! Mainly, it used to be used to flavor meats and as
a compliment for sauces. This remained the case until the 1900’s came along
when it started being used in a similar way to how it is today. Still, there
are many, many ways to use ketchup as a cooking ingredient, with lots of recipes
online.
It Can Be Stored Longer When Refrigerated
We’re going to have to take the word of Still Tasty on this one. They say that ketchup
can be stored in the pantry for up to a month. However, if you’re willing to
put it in the refrigerator, it can be stored for up to six months! Better start
clearing some room!
It Didn’t Always Contain Tomatoes
We all associate ketchup with tomatoes, but that isn’t the way it
used to be. In fact, the original versions didn’t contain them at all. Back
then, walnuts, anchovies, lemons and more were used to create the ketchup
taste. A mushroom recipe was also very common back in the 1800’s. There are
even versions of ketchup that use bananas! I’ve heard it all now!
It Isn’t The Most Popular Condiment In The US
You can find quality condiments for your meals preparation in a variety of forms aside from ketchup. Still, you might consider it to be the most popular condiment on the market. If that’s the way you’ve been thinking, you’re wrong! That goes for the US, anyway. Apparently, mayonnaise is the most popular according to Wonderopolis. We’re certainly not limiting ourselves to ketchup as a nation - there are loads of great alternatives out there.
It Might Cure Cancer
We don’t want to get too ahead of ourselves here, but ketchup might cure cancer! Ketchup contains a chemical called lycopene, which is actually how tomatoes get their red color. Lycopene levels are very high in ketchup, and this chemical appears to provide a variety of health benefits. It would seemingly help to prevent prostate cancer, as well as a selection of other cancers. It’s also supposedly good for the heart. Hooray for ketchup!
