The refrigerator is usually the go-to option for storing food. Just because it is the most apparent option doesn’t mean it is the right one. Here is a list of 35 food that should never be placed in the refrigerator.
1) Coffee
Place your coffee beans in an airtight container in a clean, dry place at room temperature. Placing coffee in the refrigerator would cause moisture and smell from surrounding to leech in and ruin your beans.
2) Olive oil
Exposing olive oil to cold air will damage it. The oil will solidify at lower temperatures and form a butter-like texture, effectively ruining your oil.
3) Avocado
Avocados remain fresh out of the fridge for about a week or so. Avocados will further ripen during this week. If you want to decelerate the ripening process, then you can place avocados in the fridge.
4) Bananas
Bananas aren’t adapted to handle cold air. They are the fastest to ripen and spoil in the refrigerator. Moreover, refrigerating bananas causes it to lose many essential nutrients.
5) Potatoes
You shouldn’t place potatoes in the refrigerator. Potatoes don’t need it. Just store them in a cool, dry environment. Potatoes also need to be kept in the dark, or they’ll start germinating. So a relatively cool, dry cabinet is perfect.
6) Honey
Cold temperatures cause honey to crystalize and form solid chunks. Therefore, there is no point in storing honey in the refrigerator.
6) Eggplant
Temperature affects the composition and nutrients present in most vegetables. Eggplants are no different. The ideal temperature for storing eggplant is above 10 °C.
7) Chocolate
That’s right! As controversial as it sounds, chocolates shouldn’t be refrigerated. The cold environment and moisture in the refrigerator can alter the taste, texture, and chocolates’ color. Moreover, chocolates contain cocoa butter, which absorbs smells from its surroundings. Therefore the best way to store chocolate is inside an airtight container in a cool, dry place.
8) Ketchup
Tomatoes shouldn’t be refrigerated. Ketchup’s main ingredient is tomato, along with flavoring and a lot of preservatives. These preservatives are enough to keep ketchup good outside of the fridge for long periods.
9) Peanut Butter
Colder temperatures will cause peanut butter to become chunky, which means you won’t be able to smoothly spread it on your bread.
10) Melons
Clinical research has shown that room temperature is better for storing melons, as opposed to refrigerating them. The cold temperatures may also cause melons to lose some of its vital antioxidants.
11) Soy Sauce
Soy sauce is very salty, and the high salt content makes it possible for it to be edible for up to six months without being refrigerated.
12) Dried Fruit
The ideal method of storing dry fruit is inside an airtight container in a cold, dry, and dark place (like a cabinet). Moisture in the refrigerator will ruin dried fruits.
13) Nuts
Nuts contain essential oils and fats. Refrigerating them will cause nuts to lose these oils, and they will smell like other foods.
14) Pickles
Pickles contain a lot of preservatives. These preservatives are enough to keep your Pickles from spoiling out of the fridge. Screw the lid on tightly, don’t use a dirty spoon to scoop out any Pickles, and check the use-by-date on the label, and you will be just fine!
15) Dried Spices
Dried spices are, well, dried. They don’t do too well with the moisture inside the refrigerator. Store your spices in a cupboard, and regularly check the use-by-date to make sure you don’t use old or expired spices.
16) Fresh Herbs
Certain herbs need to be stored in the refrigerator. However, this is not the case for basil, mint, coriander, dill, and parsley. If refrigerated, these herbs will become soggy and undesirable.
17) Peppers
Peppers will lose their flavor and freshness if stored in a fridge. Just keep them in a dry area with plenty of fresh air and use them as quickly as possible after purchase.
18) Champagne
The best way to store champagne is on its side, away from light and under consistent temperature. Keeping champagne in the fridge is a terrible idea because the constant temperature change when you open and close the fridge door will cause it to spoil.
19) Orange
Most citrus fruits, including oranges, should be kept out of the refrigerator. Their highly acidic nature and thick skin will cause the skin to become dull and lead to spot formation.
20) Maple Syrup
Maple syrup is a concentrated sugar solution. Which means it will be perfectly fine on your cupboard. Storing maple syrup in the fridge will cause the syrup to become stiff making the process of pouring it over your pancakes very difficult.
21) Hot Sauce
Hot sauces are usually packed full of vinegar, which prevents bacterial growth. Therefore, hot sauce will remain in perfect condition even out of the fridge.
22) Salad Dressing
Creamier, milk-based salad dressings should be refrigerated, but you can store vinegar-based or oil-based dressings in the cupboard for a couple of days.
23) Tomato
The refrigerator’s cold air will cause tomatoes to lose its tangy flavor and form wrinkles on its skin. Moreover, the lower temperature will destroy the tomatoes’ internal membranes, causing a decline in its quality.
24) Garlic
Fresh garlic (with its skin on) spoils quicker in the fridge due to added moisture. The ideal way to store garlic is in a dry place, away from light with good air circulation.
25) Onions
Exposure to cold air and excessive moisture makes onions soft and moldy. Just store unused onions in at room temperature. You can store onions in the fridge after being peeled and processed (sliced or pureed).
26) Evaporated Milk Cans
Evaporated milk is usually used for cooking purposes and doesn’t need to be kept cold like regular milk.
27) Freshly baked bread
Exposure to lower temperatures alters the structure of bread, making it taste stale and dated. Don’t bother refrigerating bread if you plan on eating it soon after purchase. However, you can freeze bread for long periods and pop it into the toaster to freshen it up when you eat.
28) Mangoes
Lower temperatures of the fridge slow down ripening. Therefore, like avocados, you should store unripe mangoes at room temperature.
29) Pastries
An excellent way to store pastries is to wrap them in a paper bag and store at room temperature in a dry place. The best way to store pastries, is not to store them at all. Eat them freshly baked. The taste is incomparable.
30) Jam
Jam can be stored out of the fridge in a sterilized jar for up to 2 years. However, you should keep open jams in the refrigerator.
31) Old white wines
Chilled wine is the best kind of wine. However, refrigerating old and complex white wines such as Chardonnay isn’t an ideal option.
32) Pumpkins
Pumpkins need to be exposed to sunlight so that they can be “cured.” This will keep them fresh and toughen their skin. After they have been cured, store pumpkins in a dark, dry place with good air circulation.
33) Butternut Squash
Uncut butternut squash shouldn’t be refrigerated. Instead, store it on a shelf or table at room temperature.
34) Chocolate spreads
Chocolate spreads, such as Nutella have one function- you spread them on bread. Storing chocolate spreads in the fridge causes them to solidify, and the process of spreading the chocolate becomes challenging.
35) Peaches
Cold temperatures not only slow down the ripening process for peaches but also accelerated the spoiling process. Only refrigerate peaches when they are ripe enough to be eaten.