Coming from the grocery store and putting everything away when you get home should be simple. We all know what goes where, even though we have seen all those organization videos online in the past years.
But what if we’ve been doing it wrong all this time? Foods that don’t belong in the fridge will last longer if we store them correctly. Long shelf-lives from our food and less waste is the way to go.
Potatoes go bad when stored somewhere moist
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If you store potatoes in your refrigerator, remove them right away. As a rule, potatoes should be stored in a place that’s dry, dark, and cool. While a refrigerator may be dark inside, it’s definitely not cool or dry.
They are cold and moist inside. It’s fine if you place a single potato in your refrigerator for ten seconds, but storing them in there for long periods of time will convert the starch content into sugar.
Store potatoes in a well-ventilated area instead.
Keep peeled and unpeeled onions in a dark and cool place
Onions are always a part of our grocery shops each week. Some buy whole onions so they can do as they please, while others prefer buying ones that have already been peeled and chopped.
And these are often stored in refrigerators at the store. The problem?
That doesn’t mean you should be storing them in the fridge. Whole onions kept in the refrigerator will cause them to soften inside the skin, turning them soft and potentially moldy.
A good alternative is to hang them in the pantry, with pantyhose making for a great storage solution.
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Avocados won’t ripen in the refrigerator
Avocados are one of the most popular fruits, and it seems as though everyone loves smashed avocado on their toast. Add a poached egg on top – to let the world know how to store them properly.
Oftentimes, avocados in the supermarket aren’t ripe.
It’s your job to ripen them at home, but don’t put them in the refrigerator. Ripening occurs at room temperature, so putting them in the cold will stop the ripening process.
Store avocados on the side or in the pantry where they can ripen until you’re ready to use them.
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Fresh garlic doesn’t need to be cold to remain fresh
If you have the time to use fresh garlic, then you surely don’t want any of your hard work wasted. Peeling and chopping a small clove can be fiddly. To maintain the freshness of garlic, keep it away from your refrigerator.
Garlic softens and becomes moldy if left in a cold and dark environment. The best way to preserve their appearance, texture, and freshness is to store them at room temperature.
It’s a good way to keep the vampires at bay and should mean less food waste.
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Bread will turn stale if it’s kept too cold
If there’s one annoying question that causes debate, it’s where do we store our bread? Some keep it in the pantry, while others store their loaves in a bread bin.
Then you have those who think that bread should be in the refrigerator to stop mold from forming.
But keeping bread too cold could lead to stale bread. The refrigerator will change the consistency of the bread and will leave it feeling dry and hard. The best way is to place bread in a dark and dry container, like a bread bin.
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Coffee tastes the best when kept out of the sun and in an airtight container
Keeping fresh coffee beans in the refrigerator might sound confusing to some, but it’s more common than it seems. Fresh coffee is different from instant coffee. Both need to be stored appropriately if you want the best taste from every cup you brew in the morning.
So we’re here to remind you that you shouldn’t place your coffee beans in the refrigerator. Moisture makes the beans stale, and this will leave a bitter taste in your mouth.
Store your beans in an airtight container instead and keep your coffee away from direct sunlight.
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Tomatoes won’t really ripen if kept in the refrigerator
Have you ever put your tomatoes in a refrigerator? Don’t worry, we all have. So we’re here to tell you that putting them in the refrigerator will actually ruin their taste and flavor.
The moisture and the cold stop the tomatoes from ripening as they would in room temperate conditions. If they don’t ripen normally, they won’t taste like the tomatoes you love. In fact, they won’t taste nice at all!
If you want quality tomatoes, keep them in a natural environment, with natural lighting, and away from other vegetables, since the gasses they release can ripen other food.
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Honey will crystalize and harden when kept cold
You may not be a honey expert, but you do know that honey is packed full of natural preservatives. This means they will look and taste good for a long time before you eventually have to say goodbye.
That means you won’t have to keep it in the refrigerator.
Honey in the refrigerator will cause it to crystallize and go extremely hard. No one wants hard honey, because you cannot spread it on your toast.
Just carefully heat the jar in warm water or a microwave.
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Melons don’t need to be in the refrigerator until they’re cut
If you know a thing or two about melons, you know that these are packed full of antioxidants. They are extremely healthy and beneficial for many people and are a great addition to our diets.
But you can hinder this healthiness if you store uncut melons in the refrigerator.
The cold and moist conditions remove many of the antioxidants. You should refrigerate your melons once they are cut, but wrap them in food wrap. Other than that, keep them at room temperature if you haven’t cut them up.
The question is: how long can you resist fresh melons?
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Donuts either go stale or soggy in the refrigerator
If you love donuts, then you already know that you shouldn’t keep them in the refrigerator. Dough does not react well to the cold and damp conditions.
They will become stale to the point that even you won’t enjoy it. And even if donuts don’t go stale, there’s a chance they will become soggy and floppy.
To maintain the fluffiness and the texture, don’t keep them anywhere near moisture.
Store donuts in an airtight container and away from direct sunlight to make sure they remain delicious.
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Salami prefers room temperature conditions
Salami is meat, and therefore meat should be kept in the fridge, right? Well, no.
While salami is a form of meat, it’s different from other types of edible on the market. It’s a preserved meat, which thrives off the oxygen that it receives out in the open.
Depriving salami of oxygen can make it go extremely dry and lose some of its signature taste and texture.
Let it do its own thing in a room temperature environment, like a pantry or a cupboard in the kitchen, where it will keep for around six weeks.
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Matured cheeses can harden if they are kept cold
Matured cheeses are boring compared to immature cheeses, right? Sorry, that was a little too cheesy.
When we think of cheese, we think of the milk content and assume it must be kept in the refrigerator. But that isn’t always true, especially with matured cheese.
Matured cheeses are normally cured, so they don’t need to be kept in a cold and damp environment. Refrigerators dry out these cheeses and make them much harder than they already are.
That could ruin all those years they took to mature. Store them in a cool and dark place for that perfect amount of cheesiness.
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Vinegar and vinaigrettes are stored differently to thrive
You don’t need to be a genius to realize that vinegar is extremely acidic. It’s this quality that makes it self-preserving. Which means you don’t need to worry about extra preservation.
There’s no need to keep vinegar in the fridge, but you do need to keep vinaigrettes in the refrigerator.
Vinaigrettes normally contain vegetables and herbs. They can spoil when they’re not properly preserved. On the other hand, normal vinegar isn’t filled with things that spoil.
So remember, vinegar should be kept in a cool and dark place, while vinaigrettes in a refrigerator. So why do we pickle things to make them last?
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Basil can absorb moisture and will smell in the refrigerator
There are two kinds of people in this world. Those who use dried herbs in their cooking, and those who use fresh herbs.
If you’re in the latter group, then you have a whole host of herbs dotted around your kitchen, waiting for the right recipe to bring their tastes to life.
Where should basil not be kept? In the refrigerator.
Basil is an extremely absorbent herb that wilts quickly in the fridge, while absorbing the smell of different foods in the same area.
Chefs and cooks don’t want wilted basil that smells like beef, so store them in water at room temperature instead.
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Only certain types of ketchup need to be refrigerated
As you already know, tomato ketchup is made from, of course, tomatoes. If other foods that shouldn’t be kept in the refrigerator are anything to go by, we know that tomatoes shouldn’t be kept in the refrigerator.
The same goes for when they’ve been crushed into a condiment.
One of the main reasons is because this product is full of preservatives. Not only does that give it a long shelf life but that also keeps it fresh without needing to refrigerate it.
However, if you buy low-fat or low-sugar ketchup, then you may need to store it in the fridge. Just read the label.
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Tuna is fine kept in an unopened can
If you’ve wondered why tuna is stored in a can, then here’s the answer. Canning is a form of preservation, allowing food to remain in perfect condition, even for a few years.
Refrigeration is also a form of preservation, so don’t worry about doing a double-whammy. Just keep canned tuna in a cool and dark place so the can does its thing.
When you want to taste some of the canned goodness, remove the leftover tuna from the can, drain the liquid, place it in an airtight container, and then place it in the fridge.
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Peanut butter will go hard and dry in the fridge
Peanut butter is delicious. You can spread it on toast, team it up with jelly, and even bake it into cookies.
It’s so yummy and even healthy on occasion so have a jar or two at home. That’s why it would be a shame to ruin it by storing peanut butter incorrectly.
If you want to preserve peanut butter, avoid the refrigerator. If you do, you might find the peanut butter becomes dry, hard, and then begins to crystallize.
This isn’t what you want, so keep it in a cool, dry place instead
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Pickles don’t need to be refrigerated
If you like pickles, then there’s a chance you have a few jars at home. Where do you keep them? Most assume you should keep your pickles in the refrigerator, but that’s not the case.
As these pickles are pickled, you don’t need to add any extra preservation processes.
The pickling keeps them fresh and tasty for as long as possible, so unless you like your pickles cold, there’s no need to add them to your fridge shelf.
It won’t do any harm, but you could be wasting sintomasdelsida.org refrigerator space by storing pickles in there.
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Salad dressings in the cupboard, depending on the ingredients
Salads can get boring if you don’t add anything to spice it up, that’s why so many people love a salad dressing or two.
However, if you have a dressing that is made from vinegar or oil, know that you don’t need to keep it in the refrigerator. That’s because the vital ingredients do not need to be refrigerated, and can be kept in a cupboard instead.
It’s a different story if you have dressing that is mayonnaise or yogurt-based, as these ingredients need to be stored in the fridge. Just read the label to check before storing.
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Citrus fruits can lose their nutritional value if kept too cold
Citrus fruits are wonderfully sweet, and are super healthy. It’s easy to find the likes of lemons, oranges, and grapefruits in the supermarket, but do take note of where you find them.
Did you get them from the refrigerated section or somewhere else in the store?
Probably the second one so instead of changing up the rules, follow the same footsteps as your local supermarket, because refrigerating citrus fruits can delay the ripening process.
That can also remove some of the nutrients from the cell membranes, meaning you miss out on some of the health benefits.
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Cucumber can tear and absorb harmful bacteria in the fridge
Many others store vegetables and salad items in the fridge believing it keeps them fresh for longer, but it seems as though that isn’t always the case.
Researchers at the University of California found that storing cucumber in the fridge can cause more damage than if you kept them at room temperature.
Cold temperatures can cause little tears in the skin which ultimately absorb bacteria in the air and then rot the insides.
To combat this, keep cucumber in a room temperate environment and away from direct sunlight. At least until you cut into it, anyway.
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Bananas won’t keep their vital nutrients if stored incorrectly
Grabbing fruit from the store and knowing where to store it at home can be easier said than done. Most are displayed in large refrigerators, but does that mean they all go in the fridge at home? Not necessarily.
Some believe keeping bananas in the refrigerator will preserve them, but it’s not true. The cold slows down the ripening process, which can also slow the release of vital nutrients.
It’s healthier to eat bananas that have been kept out on the countertop or in a fruit bowl. Also, better to buy a selection of ripe and unripe bananas at the same time.
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Carrots rot faster when kept in the refrigerator
Most refrigerators come with drawers designed to hold vegetables, but should you use them? Well, not for carrots. Carrots grow in the ground, away from the cold and sunlight.
It may be cooler underground, but it’s nowhere near as cold as the refrigerator, and that’s your first clue.
Carrots don’t need any extra darkness or moisture when they are harvested. If they are exposed to too much moisture, they will start to rot and become moldy.
You won’t be able to eat them and they’ll likely become compost before you get to cut them up.
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Chocolate loses some of its taste due to conditions in the fridge
Most people don’t want their chocolate to melt. When temperatures begin to rise, it seems natural to keep your chocolate in the refrigerator to keep it intact.
However, you may have realized by now that placing chocolate in the cold can change its taste quite a bit. This isn’t just because of the cold, but also because the conditions change the consistency and the flavor.
To avoid this, find somewhere cool and dark to keep it instead, such as in the cupboard or pantry. Your sweet tooth will thank you later.
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Cereal stays crisp and fresh in an airtight container
Not sure who needs to hear this, but you don’t need to refrigerate your cereal. Before adding milk to your breakfast, you can see that the flakes and the yummy goodness is extremely dry.
It’s designed and made that way, with cereal companies using a process called toasting or drying to get these results.
One of the main reasons for this is that this process acts as a form of preservation. Cereal will keep in your pantry for weeks, and still remain fresh and crunchy.
If you can, keep your cereal in an airtight container to avoid any traces of moisture.
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Flour can absorb unwanted smells and moisture
Have you ever stored flour in your refrigerator? If you have it in your fridge right now, go and remove it.
One of the main properties of flour is that it absorbs anything close to it. We’re talking smells, odors, and moisture, which isn’t what you want from this baking staple.
It is a rather disgusting picture, but keeping flour in the refrigerator gives a smelly lump of wet sludge, and we’re sure you don’t want to put that in your pancakes.
Keep flour in an airtight container in a dry location, such as in the cupboard.
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Bell peppers don’t need to be refrigerated until cut
Vegetables should be kept in the fridge, right? Nope! Well, it’s that way sometimes.
When you buy vegetables in the supermarket, some are kept in chillers, while others are not. Bell peppers aren’t in the chiller, which means you don’t have to store them that way back home.
The cold and dark temperatures of a fridge dull the taste and color of peppers, and may cause them to go bad quicker than those kept on the counter.
Of course, it’s different when you cut your peppers, since you will need to keep these refrigerated until used.
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Jam has its own natural preservatives
If you didn’t already know, jam is chock-full of sugar. This is to upgrade the taste, but it’s also used to preserve the product for as long as possible.
When you have a full, unopened jar of jam, don’t worry about keeping it in the refrigerator because the preservation process keeps it in check.
You’ll be happy to know that this doesn’t change once you’ve opened it either. You can keep it outside the fridge at all times – unless you bought one that’s low in sugar.
In that’s the case, it will contain fewer preservatives and should be given a helping hand to stay fresh and safe for you.
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Spices keep their flavor better when kept somewhere dry and dark
Ever seen wet spices? Chances are the answer is no. Spices are created using a form of dehydration, making them as dry as possible.
This way, their flavor will be enhanced when added to your dishes, and they can be stored easily at home without any extra work needed.
Adding moisture to spices will not help when you’re not using them, so avoid keeping them in your refrigerator at all costs.
They last for years in your cupboards, but do keep this storage area as dry and as dark as possible to keep as much flavor locked in as you can.
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Apples lose their nutritional goodness when refrigerated
An apple a day keeps the doctor away, but not if you keep it in the refrigerator. Apples need to be stored in a cool and dry place for you to reap the best rewards.
Thankfully, that means we don’t need to worry about filling our fridges with all our favorite fruit.
Keeping apples in a moisture-ridden vessel such as a refrigerator can destroy the nutrients within, leaving them feeling soggy and tasting strange.
It’s best to keep apples away from the refrigerator because they are so much better when they are fresh and tasty. You heard it here first.
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