10 Foods You Should Never Put In Your Fridge

Honestly, it can get confusing when you come home from the store with a bunch of groceries. You’re tired from shopping and really just want to get everything put away as fast as possible.

Now, a few things have their regular spots. Tea in the cupboard above the kettle. Oats, quinoa and other grains in the low one by the stove. And then you are left with a bunch of miscellaneous produce, condiments, and other items that you’re really not sure where to put.

They could maybe just sit on the counter, but they also might belong in the fridge. Since you don’t want anything to go to waste, you probably just throw anything the least bit questionable in the refrigerator and sleep easy knowing that you’re covered.

The trouble is, a lot of those things don’t need to be refrigerated at all.

10 Foods That Don’t Belong In Your Fridge

    1. Potatoes – are happiest when kept in a dark place. The frigid cold of your fridge can turn the starch to sugar, resulting in a weird flavor and grittiness.
    2. Tomatoes – are best left on the counter. In the fridge they can lose flavor and become mushy.
    3. Honey – is best stored at room temperature out of the sun. It will quickly crystallize and become hard if put in the fridge.
    4. Melons – can become mealy and lose some of their antioxidants when stored in the refrigerator. For the best taste and most nutritional value, they should be left out.
    5. Onions – get mushier and moldier faster when kept in the fridge and can make nearby food smell of onions. They are better kept in a cupboard.

  1. Bread – is a tricky one because putting it in the fridge will keep mold away for longer. It does, however, dry out faster and harden a bit. A better storage plan is to keep it in the freezer until you are ready to use it and then to keep it covered in a towel in a bag or bread box while you are eating your way through the loaf. I only put my bread in the fridge if it’s nearing the expiry date and I know it won’t be finished in time.
  2. Coffee – can easily pick up smells from the other food in your fridge, so is best left at room temperature to keep its bold, fragrant flavor.
  3. Garlic – has no reason to be put in the fridge. It can last for weeks if left in a cool, dark place in a paper bag. Putting garlic in the refrigerator can actually cause mold to appear quicker.
  4. Hot Sauce – all the spices in most hot sauces will keep them good for years even when open and left at room temperature.
  5. Herbs – with long stems like cilantro, parsley, and basil are actually best treated like a bouquet of flowers. Simply put them in water and leave them on your counter for easy use while cooking.

Other foods that might better be left out of your fridge include avocados, oranges, apples, bananas, and olive oil.


Sources:

http://xposethereal.com/the-11-items-you-should-not-keep-in-the-fridge-4-saved-me-so-much-money.html

http://dailysavings.allyou.com/2014/07/22/non-refrigerated-food/

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Steele Roddick

Lemon, cucumber, mint water is my jam, I make my own apple-jalapeño salsa, and I do a lot of push-ups. I’m a young writer who believes in living well and uncovering the truth. I’m frustrated that a healthy diet is more expensive than a fat-filled, sugar-saturated, chemical-crusted one and that so few people seem to care. I can’t believe that we continue to lead sedentary lifestyles, despite the overwhelming evidence that it’s bad for our health. I’m no longer content with a life of mediocre health and am passionate about helping others lead lives that are far better than the current normal.

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