24 foods you should STOP refrigerating!
24 foods you should STOP refrigerating! (Getty Image)
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We're completely aware of how modern refrigeration is a substantial practice in every kitchen and household. It goes a long way in preserving our food and maintaining its quality.
But did you know, despite popular belief, refrigerating certain foods can actually change their flavour (not in a good way). This is not it. It can even reduce their nutritional quality, or accelerate the spoiling process. Keep reading to find out the food items you are never supposed to refrigerate. We bet some of these are sitting in your fridge right now!
1) BREAD
It is perfectly fine to freeze bread, but keeping it in the fridge causes it to dry faster. And you end up eating dry bread. Instead, keep what you'll eat within four days at room temperature and freeze the rest. Store in a cool cupboard or bread box for a fresh slice.
2) HERBS
It's natural instinct to stuff the fresh herbs, you just bought from the grocery, right onto the fridge. But did you know herbs wilt faster in the fridge? You could place them in a water-filled glass jar on your kitchen counter to to keep it fresh and crisp.
3) POTATO
Refrigeration adversely affects the flavour of potatoes, therefore it is best to store them in paper bags. Remember, plastic bags promote moisture and speed decay process.
4) FRUITS like ....
Avocado, apples, bananas, citrus fruits, berries, peaches, apricots, and nectarines should be stored out of the fridge. Refrigerating these fruits will result in loss of flavors and textures. However, you can refrigerate these fruits for 30 minutes prior to eating if you want a crisp bite. Store oranges, lemons, and limes at room temperature on your kitchen counter. Just be careful not to bunch them too closely, or they will tend to mold. Don't store an underripe avocado in the fridge, but an already ripe or cut avocado can be refrigerated.
5) ONION
The best way to store onions is in a paper bag in a cool, dark spot, away from potatoes. Potatoes tend to release moisture and gases that can cause onions to rot. They soften and impart an oniony scent on nearby foods. The moisture of the fridge softens the onions and moldy.
6) SALAD DRESSINGS
Just like other condiments, most salad dressing, especially ones that are vinegar or oil-based, are just fine stored outside the fridge. However, cream, yogurt, or mayo-based dressings should be stored in the fridge.
7) TOMATO
Tomatoes lose their flavor and start becoming mushy when stored inside the fridge. In order to ripen the tomatoes faster, however, store them out of the fridge in a paper bag. Once ripe, they'll last for about three days.
8) KETCHUP, SOY SAUCE
Thanks to the vinegar and preservatives, the saucy ketchup and soy sauce will be just fine without refrigeration, even after it has been opened.
9) CEREAL
Your morning cereals will be fine and happy outside the fridge. So don't upset them.
10) OILS
Pretty much all oils are safe to store at room temperature. If the oil has a lower saturated-fat content, such as safflower or sunflower, it will benefit from being kept cool, so store it in a dark cabinet or the fridge door. The only oils that you must refrigerate are nut-based oils.
11) COFFEE
You all know this. Coffee fares best in an airtight container. In fact, refrigeration condenses coffee and reduces the flavor.
12) PICKLES
High on preservatives, pickles will stay fresh outside the fridge. Store it in an open space, so air can move around it.
13) MELONS
Melons normally do best outside the fridge. Once refrigerated, they tend to break down and become powdery and grainy. So to keep the flavour intact, melons need to be stored at room temperature. However, after cutting, you should store the melons in the fridge for three to four days.
14) PEANUT BUTTER
No need of refrigeration, just keep it stored in a cool, dark spot and your peanut butter will be just fine.
15) HONEY
Refrigeration will cause the luscious honey to harden. That's why you should be storing it at room temperature and out of direct sunlight.
16) BERRIES
Fresh berries already have a short shelf life, so leave them out of the fridge and eat them within a day or two of purchasing.
17) JAM
Due to the high amount of preservatives in jams and jellies, it is acceptable to store without refrigeration, even after opening.
18) STONE FRUITS
Stone fruits such as peach, cherry and plum aren't exactly good friends with the fridge, therefore it's best to keep them aside in the kitchen until they're ripe, and ready to eat.
19) GARLIC
Refrigeration reduces the flavor of garlic and affects its lifespan as well. The refrigerated environment can actually cause mold to develop. Store garlic in a paper bag in a cool, dark spot.
20) SPICES
Ground spices need no refrigeration whatsoever.
21) NUTS & DRIED FRUITS
There's no need to refrigerate them. Nuts will be fine stored in a cool, dark spot.
22) WINTER SQUASHES
Butternut squash, acorn squash, spaghetti squash, delicata and pumpkins are just some of the many varieties of winter squash we find in the market. These vitamin A and C rich veggies do best when stored at room temperature. On top of that, squash can last for about a month or longer out of the fridge.
23) PACKED TUNA
You might not be sure, but that tuna has been sealed, just like in a can, so it's more than fine stored at room temperature.
24) PEPPER
Whether red, green, yellow, and even chili peppers, they're going to be just fine without any refrigeration. Store them in a paper bag in a cool space.
But did you know, despite popular belief, refrigerating certain foods can actually change their flavour (not in a good way). This is not it. It can even reduce their nutritional quality, or accelerate the spoiling process. Keep reading to find out the food items you are never supposed to refrigerate. We bet some of these are sitting in your fridge right now!
1) BREAD
It is perfectly fine to freeze bread, but keeping it in the fridge causes it to dry faster. And you end up eating dry bread. Instead, keep what you'll eat within four days at room temperature and freeze the rest. Store in a cool cupboard or bread box for a fresh slice.
2) HERBS
It's natural instinct to stuff the fresh herbs, you just bought from the grocery, right onto the fridge. But did you know herbs wilt faster in the fridge? You could place them in a water-filled glass jar on your kitchen counter to to keep it fresh and crisp.
3) POTATO
Refrigeration adversely affects the flavour of potatoes, therefore it is best to store them in paper bags. Remember, plastic bags promote moisture and speed decay process.
4) FRUITS like ....
Avocado, apples, bananas, citrus fruits, berries, peaches, apricots, and nectarines should be stored out of the fridge. Refrigerating these fruits will result in loss of flavors and textures. However, you can refrigerate these fruits for 30 minutes prior to eating if you want a crisp bite. Store oranges, lemons, and limes at room temperature on your kitchen counter. Just be careful not to bunch them too closely, or they will tend to mold. Don't store an underripe avocado in the fridge, but an already ripe or cut avocado can be refrigerated.
5) ONION
The best way to store onions is in a paper bag in a cool, dark spot, away from potatoes. Potatoes tend to release moisture and gases that can cause onions to rot. They soften and impart an oniony scent on nearby foods. The moisture of the fridge softens the onions and moldy.
6) SALAD DRESSINGS
Just like other condiments, most salad dressing, especially ones that are vinegar or oil-based, are just fine stored outside the fridge. However, cream, yogurt, or mayo-based dressings should be stored in the fridge.
7) TOMATO
Tomatoes lose their flavor and start becoming mushy when stored inside the fridge. In order to ripen the tomatoes faster, however, store them out of the fridge in a paper bag. Once ripe, they'll last for about three days.
8) KETCHUP, SOY SAUCE
Thanks to the vinegar and preservatives, the saucy ketchup and soy sauce will be just fine without refrigeration, even after it has been opened.
9) CEREAL
Your morning cereals will be fine and happy outside the fridge. So don't upset them.
10) OILS
Pretty much all oils are safe to store at room temperature. If the oil has a lower saturated-fat content, such as safflower or sunflower, it will benefit from being kept cool, so store it in a dark cabinet or the fridge door. The only oils that you must refrigerate are nut-based oils.
11) COFFEE
You all know this. Coffee fares best in an airtight container. In fact, refrigeration condenses coffee and reduces the flavor.
12) PICKLES
High on preservatives, pickles will stay fresh outside the fridge. Store it in an open space, so air can move around it.
13) MELONS
Melons normally do best outside the fridge. Once refrigerated, they tend to break down and become powdery and grainy. So to keep the flavour intact, melons need to be stored at room temperature. However, after cutting, you should store the melons in the fridge for three to four days.
14) PEANUT BUTTER
No need of refrigeration, just keep it stored in a cool, dark spot and your peanut butter will be just fine.
15) HONEY
Refrigeration will cause the luscious honey to harden. That's why you should be storing it at room temperature and out of direct sunlight.
16) BERRIES
Fresh berries already have a short shelf life, so leave them out of the fridge and eat them within a day or two of purchasing.
17) JAM
Due to the high amount of preservatives in jams and jellies, it is acceptable to store without refrigeration, even after opening.
18) STONE FRUITS
Stone fruits such as peach, cherry and plum aren't exactly good friends with the fridge, therefore it's best to keep them aside in the kitchen until they're ripe, and ready to eat.
19) GARLIC
Refrigeration reduces the flavor of garlic and affects its lifespan as well. The refrigerated environment can actually cause mold to develop. Store garlic in a paper bag in a cool, dark spot.
20) SPICES
Ground spices need no refrigeration whatsoever.
21) NUTS & DRIED FRUITS
There's no need to refrigerate them. Nuts will be fine stored in a cool, dark spot.
22) WINTER SQUASHES
Butternut squash, acorn squash, spaghetti squash, delicata and pumpkins are just some of the many varieties of winter squash we find in the market. These vitamin A and C rich veggies do best when stored at room temperature. On top of that, squash can last for about a month or longer out of the fridge.
23) PACKED TUNA
You might not be sure, but that tuna has been sealed, just like in a can, so it's more than fine stored at room temperature.
24) PEPPER
Whether red, green, yellow, and even chili peppers, they're going to be just fine without any refrigeration. Store them in a paper bag in a cool space.
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