Everyday wisdom teaches us that to prolong the freshness and shelf life of products, we need to keep them in the cold. However, not all products thrive in low temperatures. For some, the chill of the refrigerator only causes harm: some products sprout, others mold, and still others simply spoil faster.
Here is a selection of products that, contrary to popular belief, should not be stored in the refrigerator:
1. Bananas
Bananas preserve their nutrients better when kept outside the refrigerator. According to the Association of Fruit and Vegetable Marketing, low temperatures slow down the ripening process of bananas.
2. Potatoes
Ideally, potatoes should be stored unwashed in a cool, dry, and dark place, such as a cellar. The refrigerator is not suitable for storing potatoes because the starch breaks down faster into glucose. If you don’t have a cellar, use well-ventilated cardboard boxes or crates. It is not recommended to store potatoes in plastic or paper bags.
3. Onions
After some time in the refrigerator, onions will become soft and even moldy. This is especially true if you store unpeeled onions in plastic bags in the refrigerator, as they need air for prolonged storage. As for peeled onions, it is better to store them in the refrigerator in sealable containers.
4. Avocado
When it comes to avocados, it is best to use the refrigerator if the fruit is ripe and you don’t plan to eat it immediately after purchase. If the avocado is still unripe, let it ripen in a fruit bowl on your table.
5. Garlic
Storing garlic in the refrigerator actually promotes sprouting. There is a high probability that it will become moldy and soft. By the way, the appearance of garlic won’t change much, and the truth will only be revealed when you cut it open.
6. Bread
In terms of keeping bread fresh, only the oven can compete with a breadbox, so if you don’t want to chew on a hard, dry piece of bread for a long time, only put it in the oven if you have already made a sandwich.
7. Tomatoes
Storing tomatoes in the refrigerator can lead to loss of their taste, which is why we love them, and according to the host of the TV show “Edim Doma” Julia Vysotskaya, it can also damage the skin of the tomatoes.
8. Watermelon
Our grandparents used to keep watermelons under the bed, and we recommend that you do the same. Otherwise, the watermelon will quickly lose the beta-carotene substances it contains, in other words, vitamin A, which is so beneficial to our health. If the watermelon is cut, be sure to cover it with plastic wrap before putting it in the refrigerator.
9. Olive oil
When stored in the refrigerator, olive oil can acquire a creamy consistency. Therefore, it is best to keep it on a kitchen shelf.
10. Basil
Strangely enough, basil will wilt faster in the refrigerator than if you put it in a glass of water and take care of it like a houseplant. Moreover, it has a property of absorbing odors from other products placed nearby on the same shelf. For long-term storage, chop it finely and freeze it in the refrigerator.
11. Fruits: apricots, kiwis, peaches, plums, mangoes
Like avocado, the above fruits are best kept in a vase rather than in the refrigerator, otherwise they will lose a lot of nutrients.
12. Peanut oil
Peanut oil is best stored in a kitchen cabinet and it is completely pointless to keep it in the refrigerator, as room temperature is comfortable for it.
13. Pickles
Pickled cucumbers already have immunity to spoilage in the form of preservatives, so they do not need to be refrigerated. The same goes for all products containing marinade or brine.
14. Eggs
There is a lot of debate about whether to store eggs in the refrigerator or not. Some studies show that eggs do not change their properties regardless of where they are stored. But according to the results of alternative experiments, it can be said that eggs lose their natural taste and smell when stored in the refrigerator. Therefore, it is better to keep eggs outside of it.
15. Salad
Whether or not to put a salad in the refrigerator depends on what it is dressed with. If it is mayonnaise or yogurt, then it should be refrigerated. If it is olive oil or vinegar, you can safely leave the dish on the kitchen table.
16. Ketchup
You don’t have to worry about an open package of ketchup and take up space on the refrigerator shelves. All the additives used to make ketchup preserve it for a long time.
17. Canned tuna
Everything is planned in advance down to the smallest detail: the purpose of canning is to make it possible to store it outside of the refrigerator.
18. Citrus fruits
At sufficiently low temperatures, oranges and lemons develop spots, their peel wilts, and the fruit becomes too soft. You can answer the question of where to store such products yourself.
19. Cucumbers
Cucumbers, like most of the products on the list above, are best stored at room temperature. Of course, not for a whole week, but at least for a few days.
20. Carrots
It’s no secret that sometimes drops of water form inside the refrigerator due to improper use, which is detrimental to carrots. It quickly spoils and becomes watery, and that’s just the least that can happen to carrots when stored in the refrigerator.
21. Sweet pepper
If you put the pepper in the refrigerator, it is likely to even change color to a darker one, which is a sign of spoilage.
22. Apples
It is said that an apple a day keeps the doctor away. They contain an abundance of beneficial substances and vitamins. Apples can be stored at room temperature for one to two weeks. If you consume them frequently, you don’t need a refrigerator.
23. Soy sauce
The shelf life of soy sauce is even longer than that of ketchup or mustard: from one and a half to three years. It is made by fermentation, which is why the sauce does not require low temperatures. If soy sauce is not used for a long time, it may slightly change color but it will still be suitable for consumption.
24. Eggplants
These vegetables should be stored away from direct sunlight at room temperature since eggplants are sensitive to low temperatures. If the temperature drops below +10ºC, eggplants lose their nutrients and beneficial properties, and also become soft and flabby.
25. Salami
As we know, salami is a type of hard smoked sausage made from air-dried meat taken from one or different animals. Historically, salami was popular among peasants because after cutting it could be stored at room temperature for a period of 30-40 days. Nothing has changed since then.
