Putting food in the fridge seems to make sense. After all, that’s where we put things that we don’t want to spoil. However, there are actually quite a few foods that should never be put in the fridge. For some, it actually causes them to decay and rot faster. Mold growth is also another factor due to the relative dampness of the interior of most refrigerators.
And yet we still commonly put these foods in the fridge.
Want to know what you have probably been storing incorrectly?
Check out the list we put together:
The fridge can damage the skin of cucumbers. They also tend to decay faster in the cold and damp environment. Leave them somewhere cool and dry instead.
Basil doesn’t do well in the fridge. In fact, it wilts really quickly in the cold. Place your basil in a jar of water on the counter, stems down, to keep it fresh for longer.
Putting berries in the fridge seems to make sense. However, it will actually speed up the ripening and cause fuzz to grow on them faster than if they are left on the counter.
The cold of the refrigerator damages potatoes by causing the starch to turn into sugar faster. This changes the texture and may cause potatoes to get an unnecessarily sweet flavor. Store then in a cool, dark, and dry place instead.
Unless it will be used within a couple of days, don’t put bread in the fridge. It will end up drying out the bread and leaving it inedible. Place it in a breadbox or on the counter. If it’s going to take more than four days to go through a loaf, freeze the extra slices for later use.
Tomatoes are regularly found in fridges everywhere. They shouldn’t be. The fridge will sap their flavor and destroy the texture. Leave them on the counter instead.
Bananas are already notorious for turning black too fast. Putting them in the fridge will just speed up that process. Leave them out on the counter instead.
Fresh coffee is appealing, but you won’t be getting it by putting your coffee beans or ground coffee in the fridge. Leave them in an airtight container at room temperature or freeze them if you want them to retain their flavor.
Ketchup has enough preservatives to keep it good for a very long time. No refrigeration is required.
Oranges are mostly water. Because of this, they can end up damaged if the fridge is set too low. To avoid chill damage, leave them on the counter.
Putting garlic in the refrigerator will reduce the flavor. To keep your garlic tasting its best, leave it in the cupboard instead.
An open jar of honey will stay good for as long as two years when left at room temperature. If put in the fridge, it will crystallize and harden, making it a whole lot more difficult to use.
Before a melon has been cut, there is no reason to put it in the fridge. Maintain their antioxidant and beta-carotene levels by keeping them at room temperature instead.
Putting an avocado in the fridge will halt the ripening process. This may be helpful for already ripened avocados, but it will leave unripe avocados hard and inedible.
Carrots seem pretty much indestructible. However, keeping them in the fridge will speed up the process of decay. Leave them somewhere cool, dark, and dry to preserve them for much longer.
Placing peanut butter in the fridge will make it harder to spread. Leave it in the pantry instead.
Onions already have their own protection – their peels. They don’t need to be in the fridge. In fact, being kept in the refrigerator will promote mold and rot in onions.
We’ve all been guilty of putting a jar of pickles in the fridge. However, they’re actually very well preserved already. There is no refrigeration required.
Pumpkins seems like they can handle just about anything. However, putting them in the fridge will cause them to become mushy.
Placing apricots in the fridge will halt their ripening process. It will also cause them to lose nutrients.
If eggs have a coating of oil on their shells, they can actually stay out of the fridge. In fact, they will stay fresh for longer than if they were in the cold.
Unless it’s hot enough in the house to melt chocolate, keep it out of the fridge. Leaving it in the cold for too long will diminish the flavor.
Dry beans can stay good for a very long time unless put in the fridge. There, the dampness will cause them to lose their flavor, and they may even begin to sprout.
Keeping flour in the fridge probably won’t harm it, but it also won’t keep it fresh for longer. Make some extra space in the fridge by leaving it in the cupboard instead.
These are commonly found in fridges everywhere. The truth is, leaving them in the fridge will cause the skin to wrinkle faster. No one wants that.
A lot of people store peaches in the fridge. It’s a bad idea if you want them to retain their nutrients.
Lemons are another type of fruit that doesn’t do well in the fridge. To avoid them becoming squishy and downright questionable, leave them out on the counter instead.
Jam can stay in the cupboard for months after it has been opened. It’s too full of preservatives to decay.
Oil should ideally be stored in a cool and dry spot. Putting it in the fridge will cause it to become too cold and turn into a thick goo.
Some people believe that it’s safer to store canned tuna in the fridge. It’s actually completely unnecessary. Just eat it before the expiration date.
It probably won’t do them too much harm to leave them in the cold, but it’s better to keep spices out of the fridge. They won’t clump as fast, and they’ll actually stay good for longer.
Apples do fine on the counter. In the fridge, they tend to rot faster.
The fridge is not friendly to donuts. It will leave them soggy and stale. It’s better to leave them out on the counter until eaten.
Nutella doesn’t need to be kept in the fridge. In fact, the label says to leave it out. It will become hard and difficult to spread if left at cold temperatures.
Despite it being a dairy product, hard cheese should not go in the fridge. It has already cured at room temperature and will simply become rock hard if left in the fridge.
If you live in a relatively cool climate, leaving pasteurized and salted butter outside of the fridge will be safe. It also makes it a whole lot easier to spread.
If you intend on using your eggplant within a few days, leave it out of the fridge. Also, keep it away from other fruits and vegetables. Leaving it near them, even inside the fridge, will promote its decay.
Vinegar has an incredibly long shelf life even when open. There is absolutely no need to put it in the fridge.
Mustard has a high acidity level. This means it stays well preserved even outside of the refrigerator.
Plums ripen and retain their flavor best outside of the fridge. If you plan on enjoying them in the next few days, leave them out on the counter.
Molasses is already hard enough to pour. Don’t put it in the fridge where it will become solid.
Leaving nuts in the fridge will reduce their flavor. Keep them in an airtight container at room temperature instead.
Dried fruit is already preserved well enough. It doesn’t require any refrigeration.
The humidity of the fridge will damage the texture of cereal and make it soggy. Keep it fresher by keeping it in the cupboard.
Hot sauce is actually really inhospitable for bacteria. It’s safe to leave it on the counter for quite a while, even after it has been opened.
Please SHARE this with your friends and family.
[like_cta]
Putting food in the fridge seems to make sense. After all, that’s where we put things that we don’t want to spoil. However, there are actually quite a few foods that should never be put in the fridge. For some, it actually causes them to decay and rot faster. Mold growth is also another factor due to the relative dampness of the interior of most refrigerators.
And yet we still commonly put these foods in the fridge.
Want to know what you have probably been storing incorrectly?
Check out the list we put together: