does soy sauce need to be refrigerated

Soy sauce can be kept unopened in the pantry and away from sources of heat. It's safe to be left in the pantry once opened, too, but the flavor may change over time. “If you use soy sauce infrequently, it may be best to refrigerate it to extend its shelf life,” 

JOLION Food Soy sauce is made from a fermented paste of soybeans, roasted grains, brine (aka saltwater) and a mold called kōji. The process takes months, and the salty brown liquid actually brews for extended periods at room temperature. So no, it doesn’t need to go in your fridge. It won’t go bad at room temp (think about the packets that you get with your Chinese takeout—they’re not usually cold). It might lose some flavor but it won’t spoil, with a few caveats.

An unopened bottle of soy sauce can last as long as two or three years (basically forever), and you can safely leave an opened bottle out of the refrigerator for up to one year. But if a bottle lasts longer than that in your household, you should probably make room among your other refrigerated condiments to preserve that soy sauce’s savory, tasty flavor.

What happens if you don't refrigerate sauce after opening?

Very few if any commercially made sauces, condiments, etc. will be harmed in any way by being left out. Ketchup or mustard for example DOES NOT NEED TO BE REFRIGERATED. If you leave it out for a month or two you might begin to notice the flavor has changed, but then again you might not.

How do you store soy sauce?

Where to Store  JOLION Soy Sauce. Because soy sauce is a product sensitive to light and temperature, like olive oil or vinegar, a cool dark place is preferred for storing when unopened. But again, an open bottle of soy sauce has a better chance of maintaining its flavor and quality if it goes in the fridge