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Rid Your Refrigerator of these foods

written by Vidya Sury April 21, 2016
Rid your refrigerator of these foods. Vidya Sury

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The refrigerator is a convenient place to stash our food and groceries, because we believe that everything we put in it will stay fresh and last longer. However, the truth is, quite a few fruits and vegetables are better off without refrigeration along with other foods.

Why does food spoil, though? There are two kinds of problem causing bacteria:

  • the ones that cause food-borne diseases with no noticeable difference in how the food  looks, so you really don’t know whether it is safe to consume or not
  • the ones that transform the appearance, smell and taste of foods without actually being dangerous

Great! So how do we figure out which is which and stay safe? Here is a list of foods with the low down on what happens when you refrigerate them. The bottom line: do NOT store them in your fridge.

Potatoes and sweet potatoes

Better off in a rack in a paper bag in a corner at room temperature. If you refrigerate them, the starches turn to sugar making them smell strange.

Honey and real maple syrup

Honey crystallizes in the fridge. Store at room temperature away from direct sunlight.

Tomatoes

I always stored tomatoes in the fridge and wondered why they didn’t really stay fresh. Truth is, they lose their flavor and become mushy. They stay just fine on the kitchen counter!

Apples

Same as tomatoes. They lose flavor and the skin wrinkles in the fridge. Keep them on the counter, and if you enjoy a crisp apple, put them in the fridge half an hour before you want to eat them.

Onions

Same as potatoes in a paper bag in a cool dark corner. In the fridge, they tend to soften  and stink up everything around them. And who loves onion-flavored pastry or milk?

Peanut butter

Perfect on the shelf in your kitchen away from sunlight

Bread

I’ve seen a lot of people store their bread in the fridge and I’ve tried it, but found that it dries the bread faster.  Bread is fine in a bread box in your kitchen cupboard. Just consume by its “best before” date.

Bananas

They are quite happy on the counter. In some types of weather the skin turns dark before you can eat them, so put them in the freezer to use up in banana bread.

Oils

Almost all oils are fine at room temperature. Some oils such as safflower or sunflower with lower saturated-fat content must be stored in a  cool dark place.

Avocados

These go on the counter but leftovers must go into the fridge and be consumed as soon as possible. Preferably, use the whole avocado.

Peppers

Put them in a paper bag – green yellow, red – and in a cool shelf.

Winter squash

Includes all squash – room temperature is best.

Citrus 

Place your lemons, limes and oranges on your kitchen counter, with some space around each rather than pile them up to avoid mold.

Berries

Keep on your kitchen counter and finish them off as soon as you can after you bring them home. They have a short shelf life anyway.

Melons

Best out of the fridge, but store left over cut melon in the fridge and use as soon as you can.

Ketchup

Ketchup keeps well even after opening on your kitchen shelf thanks to the preservatives and vinegar used in  making it.

Jam

Same as ketchup, preservatives keep jams and jellies fine outside the fridge even after you open them.

Stone fruits

Keep on the counter until ripe and enjoy.

Pickles

The salt and preservatives in pickles keeps them fine outside the fridge.

Garlic

Store in a paper bag in your kitchen to keep it flavorful.

Hot sauce, Soy sauce

Its place is in your pantry. With its preservatives and spice, it stays fine even after opening.

Spices

Ground spices do not need the refrigerator.

Coffee

Room temperature is best as its natural oils stay fresh that way. Don’t stock up on coffee, though. Buy small quantities. Fresh is best.

Salad dressing

Vinegar or oil based salad dressings stay fine at room temperature. Store cream/yogurt/mayo based salad dressings in the fridge as they putrefy.

Nuts and dried fruits

Store in an airtight container in a cool dark place.

Cereal

No need to keep in the fridge.

Herbs

These often get stuffed in a plastic bag in the veg tray in the fridge and forgotten until they are no longer usable. They stay fine in a water filled glass, adding to the decor of your kitchen, to be used when you cook.

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