Many of us put our food in the fridge to keep it fresh as long as possible. However, some should never be stored in the refrigerator because it alters their taste or for health reasons. To be correct, you can rely on your usual stores: what could be better in the supermarkets should be relaxed at home. Let’s take stock here with 15 foods that should never land in your fridge.
Eggs
Eggs aren’t sold fresh in your grocery stores, so there’s no need to store them in the fridge. In Europe, eggs are usually only washed after they are offered for sale. This allows them to retain their natural protective film. If you put them in the fridge, they will absorb odors, and their taste will change completely!
Butter (And Cheese)
Our grandparents kept their butter and cheese on sort of grid shelves to prevent pests from landing on them. There are also terracotta butter dishes or cheese trays to store your dairy products. It is not contraindicated to keep them cool; however, they develop all their tastes at room temperature and are much easier to spread!
Fruit
In theory, fruits should not be put in the fridge because they lose their taste. Stone fruits also see their ripening process altered. However, since red fruits are very fragile, putting them in the refrigerator may be essential to ensure a slightly longer shelf life.
The tomato (a fruit) keeps better in the fridge. However, it will lose all its taste. It is best to consume them as you shop or pick them up. If you have too many, you can cook them in sauces and sterilize them.
Vegetables
Vegetables can’t be stored in the fridge! However, to ensure the longevity of some, you can use the fridge. Like fruit, they are sold out of the refrigerator in your stores so that you can keep them at room temperature at home.
- Carrots keep perfectly well in sand, and if they have softened, a few hours in a glass of water will make them crisp again.
- Green vegetables (leeks, salad, fresh onions, watercress, lamb’s lettuce, celery, cabbage, etc.) are best kept in a glass of water or the cut part soaked in water.
- Cucurbits (squash, zucchini, squash, squash, darlings, etc.) can be stored on shelves in a cool, dry place.
- Onions, garlic and shallots can be stored on shelves. In the cool, they will deteriorate much more quickly because they will wilt.
- Potatoes and sweet potatoes turn starch into sugar when they are excellent! They, therefore, become much more caloric. They can be stored unwashed on shelves in a dry place away from light.
- Even if we like them very cold in summer, melon and watermelon should only be put in the refrigerator a few hours before consumption because the cold kills the antioxidants;
- Cucumbers wilt very quickly in the fridge.
- The cold stops the ripening of the avocados. It is, therefore, advisable to keep them at room temperature.
- Bananas darken faster in the fridge.
Aromatic Herbs
Parsley, basil, dill, chives, cilantro, etc., keep better at room temperature in a glass of water. In the cool, the leaves will wither, and the aromas will tend to evaporate. At worst, if you have a lot of them, the best thing is to chop them and freeze them to use in small portions when you need them.
Charcuterie
Like cheese and butter, dried, unsliced deli meats can be stored under a tea towel or a cloche. This concerns cured or smoked hams, sausages, chorizo, etc. On the other hand, the slices must be kept in the fridge.
Spreads, Oilseed Butter And Jams
Spreads, peanut butter, almond butter, cashew butter, etc., should be stored at room temperature. In the summer, the oil can rise to the surface. To avoid this phenomenon, you can use the fridge to harden the dough. Alternatively, there’s an age-old trick of storing your jar upside down on the cap.
Thus, the oil will remain at the bottom of the pot when you use it! Besides, walnuts, hazelnuts, almonds, cashews, etc., should not be stored in the fridge, as they will absorb odors and moisture. They will therefore be less tasty! You can keep them in a glass jar away from light; to avoid worms, it is advisable to consume them reasonably quickly.
For jams, it’s the same; they can be kept out of the fridge. Their high sugar content allows them to prevent the proliferation of bacteria. You, therefore, risk something if you like light jams. As a precaution, you can keep them cool.
Oil And Vinegar
All oils can be stored at room temperature. Note that coconut and olive oil congeal, when cool, can be challenging to use. In addition, they can develop a particular taste when subjected to these temperature variations. It is, therefore, best to keep all your oils out of the fridge.
The same goes for vinegar. In theory, it is a fermented product that continues to “ripen” over time, just like wine. Keeping it in the fridge is not advisable, but away from light.
Chocolate
Chocolate is eaten and stored at room temperature. Even in summer, chocolate should not go in the fridge. Indeed, it absorbs odors from your refrigerator and whitens (a chemical reaction that causes cocoa butter to rise).
Mustard, Ketchup, Hot Sauces And Soy Sauce
Unlike mayonnaise, ketchup and mustard are best kept in your condiment cupboard. Moreover, the sugar in the ketchup ensures its good preservation. Of course, you can keep them cool, but know that they won’t expire outside! Sriracha-type spicy sauces can also be stored in the fridge, containing sugar. The same goes for soy sauce, which has salt, thus ensuring its preservation.
Pickles And Other Pickles
Pickles, in general (i.e., small condiments dipped in vinegar or salt brine), do not need to be kept cold. Vinegar and salt are natural preservatives, so they don’t need to be refrigerated.
Honey
Filled with sugar, honey does not need to be refrigerated to optimize its conservation. Microorganisms do not grow there. Moreover, honey, like most oils, is a product that never expires!
Bread
Yes, some people keep their bread in the fridge. And that’s a terrible idea… The fresh air will tend to harden and dry it out. When you take it out to eat it, it will be elastic and no longer crispy. Better to keep it under a tea towel or in a bread box.
Cans And Glass Jars
As long as the cans or jars are unopened, there is no point in keeping them refrigerated, especially since the fridge’s humidity can cause your canned goods to rust and alter the container and the rest of the fridge!
Coffee
Coffee should not be stored in the fridge, whether ground or in beans. Humidity can alter the taste and distort the aromas of your drink. It is best to keep your coffee in an airtight container.