20 Foods You’re Spoiling By Putting In the Refrigerator
Updated: Mar. 20, 2019
It may be second nature to stash just about anything in the fridge, but this produce actually stays fresher at room temperature.
Whole melons
The fridge can cut the number of antioxidants in half. A USDA study found that watermelons at room temperature develop nearly double the levels of compounds like beta-carotene (which promotes healthy skin and eyesight) than do refrigerated melons. Cool air stunts the antioxidant growth that occurs after harvest. Chill sliced melons to prevent bacterial growth. Check out these other foods you’ve been storing wrong.
Basil
If this tropical plant is stored below 40 degrees F, it turns black quickly. Keep on the counter in a shady place, and mimic placing flowers in a vase: Fill a glass with water and submerge the stems. Place a zip-top plastic bag over the plant to allow it to breathe and stay moist. Here are 40 ways to use up fresh basil.
Potatoes
Cold temperatures convert potato starch into sugar. This results in a gritty texture and a slightly sweet flavor. Potatoes do best at 45° F (most refrigerators are set from 35° F to 38° F). Store them in a paper bag in the cool pantry. Sunlight causes chlorophyll to accumulate, turning potatoes green and sometimes bitter.
Onions
These vegetables need air circulation to stay fresh. Store whole onions in a hole-punched paper bag in the pantry. Don’t keep near potatoes; onions emit gas and moisture that can cause potatoes to spoil quickly. Find out which foods you shouldn’t store in the pantry.
Tomatoes
Cool air alters chemical pathways in tomatoes, slowing those that contribute to fresh flavor and accelerating others that dull flavor. Store whole tomatoes on the counter for a better taste.
Coffee
The moisture in your fridge causes the beans to deteriorate, meaning you aren’t getting the fresh, bold flavor you want from your morning brew. Plus, the temperature fluctuates every time you open the door to your fridge, creating condensation, which in turn creates even more moisture. Stash your coffee beans in an airtight container in the pantry instead. By the way, here are 10 unexpected ingredients that will completely upgrade your cup of joe.
Garlic
Garlic cloves fare best in temperatures between 60 and 65° F. Put your bulbs in a ventilated container to allow moisture in and stash it in a cool place.
Hot sauce
The vinegar and preservatives in store-bought hot sauce keep it from going bad in the pantry. In the fridge, the spicy peppers might lose some of their heat. By the way, this is the best hot sauce you can buy, according to our Test Kitchen experts.
Honey
This sticky, sweet stuff should not go in the fridge. Honey is known to seize up and crystalize in cold temperatures, so room temperature is ideal for this sweetener.
Sliced bread
Although keeping bread in the fridge keeps mold at bay, it also dries out the loaf. Instead, store extra bread in the freezer and bring to room temperature when you are ready to eat them. If you go through bread a lot, it’s best to keep it out on the counter. These are the 13 items in your kitchen you need to throw out already.
Nuts
Foran optimal nutty flavor, it’s best to store nuts in an airtight container in the pantry or cupboard. Storing nuts in the fridge exposes the shelled variety to absorbable fridge odors. Plus, the cool environment diminishes the nutty flavor.
Avocados
The creamy green fruit is best kept at room temperature if it’s hard, or if it’s ripe and you plan on using it right away. That said, finicky avocados that quickly go from underripe to overripe can go in the fridge to last longer.
Stone fruits
Peaches, plums, nectarines and apricots are all best kept at room temperature so they can ripen to perfection. This is how long you can keep foods past their expiration date.
Olive oil
This cooking oil should go in a cool, dark place. Keeping it in the fridge can create a harder, more butter-like consistency.
Cucumbers
Cucumbers should come out of the fridge. The common mistake of keeping them in the fridge leads to watery and pitted cukes.
Bell peppers
Mushy peppers are never tasty, so don’t put them in the fridge. Low temperatures cause the peppers to lose their crunch.
Pickles
It’s not a big dill (pun intended!) to keep your pickles out of the fridge. Since they’re already preserved in brine, they can remain in your pantry until you are ready to eat them. Here are 25 brilliant kitchen shortcuts you’ll wish you knew sooner.
Chocolate
Keep chocolate at room temperature somewhere dark and dry for maximum flavor; this avoids a grain consistency from the fridge.
Eggplant
If you’re eating eggplant a few days after purchase, it’s OK to keep it out on the counter. Storing it in the fridge could dull the flavor. Take note though that eggplant does have a short shelf life outside of the fridge, so be sure to eat it right away.
Whole watermelon
You don’t need to make room for a huge, uncut watermelon in your fridge. The fruit is actually best stored at room temperature. Keep it on the counter until it’s time to cut it up. After you slice it, wrap it up and place it in the fridge. Next, check out these space-saving kitchen storage ideas.
Sources: Sheryl Barringer, professor and chair of the department of food science and technology at Ohio State University; medicalnewstoday.com; Cooking Light; lifehack.com; theyummylife.com; eatingwell.com; ohionline.osu.edu; cals.uidaho.edu; rodalesorganiclife.com; foodnetwork.com
