Foods that Don’t Belong in the Fridge

2. Tomatoes (and how to fix refrigerated tomatoes)

Some foods ripen even when they’ve been plucked and prepared for commercial sale. It’s a scientifically proven fact, but it’s not something you would call widespread knowledge, is it? Because people think the ripening process stops early, they are quick to place many fruits and vegetables in the comfort of their own fridge. Such an occurrence can only mean bad news for the ripening fruit and its nutrients. One such example is tomatoes.

There is one case where tomatoes have to be stored in the fridge. If you’re handling overripe tomatoes, you can store them in the fridge. However, overripe tomatoes can only be kept for 2 or 3 days when they go really bad and sour. If you’ve been storing regular tomatoes in the fridge, there is a way you can fix the damage. Simply take them out and store them at room temperature somewhere. They will be as good as new in a matter of a few hours. But avoid refrigerating them.

3. Potatoes

Although some vegetables indeed belong in the fridge, others should avoid such premises. Not all plants that we classify as veggies are able to withstand the cold the same way as others do. The reason for this is the different build every vegetable has. For example, red bell peppers and carrots do have to be kept in the fridge. They contain no starch, which experiences a tricky chemical reaction when face to face with the inside of your fridge.

This happens with potatoes and is a big reason they often get ready to be thrown out after some time in the fridge. Even though potatoes are full of carbohydrates, it’s a simple type. However, potatoes that are kept in a cold environment experience the starch modification process. This leads to the breakdown of starch and the creation of sugar. You will be left with big chunks of candy, ruining their taste severely. Much more than some other members of this list, potatoes are really tricky. Another thing you should watch out for is hot or humid areas.

4. Onions

Moisture is something that is very much present in your fridge, without you being aware of it. You may not notice the correlation between cold air and moisture, but it’s there all the time. The mechanism of the refrigerator functions by using moisture to cool down foods that need to be cooled down. They may benefit from that mechanism, but some foods are very much prone to going bad under such circumstances.

This incredibly healthy and beneficial vegetable is not very prone to withstanding extreme moisture. It will ruin them and cause the taste to resemble more of a sour aroma than the usual pronounced one. You may be in for an unpleasant surprise while digging through your salad. Therefore, it would be best that you keep your onions within a cool, but not cold area of your house. They require a fairly low temperature, but lots of air and dryness. Plastic, closed containers are also a big no-no. They cut off the air supply and accelerate the spoiling process.

5. Honey

When it comes to liquids, some gooey ones can experience a fairly negative reaction to cold and dark environments. Why is this the case? Well, the main reason is the risk of crystallization, a real concern when it comes to some substances. Crystallization can be reversed by placing the liquid in a warmer environment, but the aforementioned process can forever damage the taste and texture. We have one particular food in mind. Honey is something that we all know and love. However, it is one of the foods that has to be kept as far from the fridge as possible.

A crystallized jug of honey may taste entirely different when you put some on your cake or pancakes. Not to mention that cold air can stimulate mold growth on the surface of your honey, possibly causing food poisoning and serious gut infections. That is something you would want to avoid and reduce the chances of, but by any means necessary. When we’re talking about honey storage, there is one more important facet of it to be mentioned. That is the fact that you should avoid having honey come in contact with any sort of metal container. Metal and honey together accelerate the oxidization process of the honey.

6. Olive oil

Oils can be pretty tricky to keep and take care of. This is because most people aren’t sure about where and how to store their oil. Keeping it in extremely cold conditions can negatively impact the taste, texture and the entire experience of the oil. This is why refrigeration is something that shouldn’t be bestowed upon any oil possible. A simple mistake of putting oil in a fridge can cause your meal or salad to go bad really fast.

When it comes to oils, virgin olive oils is the one which is the most prone to spoilage in the fridge. You should keep it out of there at all possible costs. A prolonged period in a cold environment allows it to become more condensed and less resembling a liquid. By using a condensed batch of olive oil, you risk a large concentration of fats in one place, which is not good news for your health. Therefore, it’s safe to say that the fridge is your olive oil’s worst nightmare. Also worth mentioning is the fact that humidity can make the oil cloudy.

7. Garlic

Many vegetables are only as good as their hardness. Oftentimes, when they become soft, their nutritive value, texture, and taste suffer a lot. Therefore, it would be smart to avoid such occurrences and be smart when it comes to taking care of many veggies. The aforementioned consequences don’t only relate to taste and such elements, but can also affect your health in a negative way. A perfect example of this notion is garlic.

This vegetable is one of the healthiest in existence, but it can’t resist the cold and humidity it would face on the inside of a fridge. Keeping it in a cool, dark place is essential for a good and long shelf life. Nobody in the right mind purchases garlic only to use it up during one day. A period of good care can allow garlic to be fit for use even up to several weeks. A cupboard or your pantry would be ideal choices for such a location. Another important thing to know about garlic is that it needs oxygen. It’s not rare for people to keep it out of the fridge, but in a plastic bag. This causes it to spoil fast, without any previous indications that the process has already started. Such an occurrence can be prevented by putting the garlic in a perforated bag or in a basket.

8. Coffee beans and grounds

You’ve probably seen the term hygroscopic nature somewhere. If you were wondering what it means, it’s basically a property possessed by some foods that allow them to absorb tiny water particles from the vicinity. This directly leads to reactions in the presence of moisture. An excessive time spent in a moist place can lead foods to become spoiled, tasteless, and even detrimental to your organism, regardless of the initial form. Coffee is one such example if you didn’t know before.

There is an excellent reason why people keep their beans or grounds on the counter or in the pantry. Due to coffee’s hygroscopic properties, it’s not fit for keeping in a fridge. It will absorb all the tiny water particles in a short amount of time and become soggy. Moisture can also affect the flavor and aroma of ground coffee. But wait, there is more to it. Coffee can also take on the smell and taste of other food in the fridge. So, if you don’t want your coffee to taste like cake or some other food, keep it out of the fridge. A good choice would be to keep it in a non-transparent jar or jug, in a cool and dry place.

9. Bread

Even though starch is a big unknown to many of us, it’s still a prominent ingredient in many different dishes and foods. Baked goods are full of starch and present a prime candidate for the food that should not be kept in a fridge under any circumstances whatsoever. Starch is prone to be affected by a number of chemical reactions when faced with moisture and cold air, some of them easily able to spoil your lunch and stomach all at once. Out of all the baked goods, the one that gets put in the fridge most often is bread.

Sometimes, people don’t eat the entire loaf and think that they will save some of it by putting it in the fridge. If you’ve read our potato section, you will remember that starch transforms into sugar, something you want to avoid in such big quantities. Also, starch breaks down pretty quick and causes the food to lose shape. You will be left with a big bunch of crumbles, rendering you unable to make a proper sandwich without a mess. Also, cold and moisture are known to accelerate the staling process in bread.Contrary to popular belief, it starts much sooner than we can see it. This ignorance is oftentimes the reason why people get sick without being aware of the reason of their malady. If you really want to keep bread for a long time, you can use the freezer.

10. Stone fruits

What are stone fruits, anyway? No, they don’t have the ability to break your head or anything similar. It’s merely a collective name for all the fruits which have seeds that are large compared to their size. You’re probably eating them on a daily basis. This group includes peaches, apricots, plums, and cherries. When it comes to refrigerating them, there is one simple trick to follow. The aforementioned trick is simply – don’t. There is no need for it, as they can keep their shape and taste pretty easily out at room temperature. Aside from that, there is also the added risk of accidentally eating moldy fruit. Yes, it may be true that some fruits and vegetables require special treatment in terms of being placed in the fridge. However, this doesn’t mean that all fruits respond to a humid and cold environment the same way.

As we’ve said earlier in the articles, some fruits and veggies contain their ripening process despite being plucked. An overly cool environment only halts this process and accelerates the rotting. The best place to keep these fruits would be in a regular bowl somewhere not directly in the sun. If you need to eat apples or apricots, you can also keep them in a paper bag, in case they need to be kept for a longer time period. Another good strategy for avoiding the spoilage process would be to buy any type of fruit in small or moderate amounts. If you like very ripe fruits, keep them in the sun on purpose. That will accelerate the process as much as possible and contribute to the sweetness of the fruit. In that case, it is best advised that you eat them as fast as you can.

11. Bananas

Rotting is something that we have a skewed perception of, it seems. The most obvious association someone has when they hear rotting is being left out of the fridge. For the majority of foods, it seems that this is absolutely and always true. However, for a minority, putting them in the fridge may very well mean a death sentence for the taste, state, and texture. If you want to retain the juiciness you adore and respect, it would be best to steer clear of the refrigerator

Cold, as we’ve mentioned before, severely slows down the ripening process and promotes rotting. An interesting fact is that bananas start rotting from the inside out, in the depths of the juicy parts. Therefore, it’s entirely possible for you to eat a rotten banana without knowing it. Also, unlike many fruits and veggies on this list, bananas need light, even when disconnected from the palm tree. Thus, the ideal place to hold your bananas in would be a bowl with a moderate source of light.

12. Pumpkin

Smaller fruits generally behave differently when in contact with moisture than bigger ones. However, there are some examples that prove to be exceptions to the rule. This is the case with many heavier sorts of fruit, as their size and core bestow upon them completely different characteristics. A good example of this type of different behavior is pumpkins, the giant piece of deliciousness we all know and adore. What seems to be the issue with them?

A chief characteristic that sets pumpkins apart from most fruit is the fact that they need ventilation. In most cases, when you want to take a natural, but sweet bite, you can be safe, knowing that your snack is protected by a bag. Pumpkins literally need to breathe, as oxygen indeed makes them fresh, sturdy and tasty. It would be a crime to try to ruin this wonderful Halloween treat, something that Charlie Brown loves more than anything in the world. Although pumpkins can take a lot of strain when it comes to coming to terms with the extra moisture, you should really keep them in a dry, secluded place.

According to most sources, the best way to store them would be to put them in a basement corner.

13. Basil

Leafy plants are something that we know perishes after a certain period. It’s kind of logical when you look at it. They are rooted in the ground every second of their life. It’s their source of nutrition and energy. When we separate them from the ground, it’s normal to expect them to wither. In those situations, with spices and spice plants, we tend to put them in the fridge in order to slow down the rotting and withering process.

The plant/spice we refrigerate the most is basil. This can’t be more wrong, as we find that it wilts in a matter of hours and we’re left confused because of the results. Also, basil has one distinct property that contributes to its demise. It smells very strong, but it also has the ability to absorb every other smell in the vicinity. This can create a lot of chaos in terms of taste for your special dish. So, what’s the key when it comes to keeping basil fresh as long as possible? The magic trick is only to put into a cup of tap water. It will provide the plant with a plethora of nutrients and it will be able to stay alive even a few days after you’re finished putting it.

14. Peanut butter

Spreads are a source of a whole lot of debate in the gastronomical community. Some people say that you should freeze them in order to preserve them better. Others say that there is no way to possibly alter the expiration date of a spread by keeping it in a cold environment. People tend to do both and it’s seemingly a split decision, something that depends on individual preference. Unfortunately, simple logic and science will break a myth that has been standing for a long period of time. The notion of freezing spreads is completely bogus. A good example of this is peanut butter. This is flawed logic, because most people deem peanut butter to be in the same category as jelly, therefore concluding that it should be put in the fridge like its best friend.

The truth is that peanut butter is a completely different substance, meaning that it doesn’t need to be refrigerated. Not even a little, as that will not alter its taste in a positive way. It will only create further problems for your meal, making it unpleasant. When it comes to putting peanut butter in the fridge, you are risking making it hard and dry. Of course, the process is reversible and no damage will be done.

15. Pickles

Okay, pickles are vegetables and their bigger cousins, cucumbers, are oftentimes stored in the fridge. What seems to be the problem then? Seemingly, it all seems logical and perfect, but it isn’t. Cucumbers are placed in a cold environment because they are fresh vegetables full of water. In fact, they are 90% water and thus love the cold, dark environment. Although that part seems logical, you can cross pickles off the “keep in the fridge” list. They have their own special properties, preventing them from being stuck in the fridge. It’s highly likely that you’re used to having them inside the fridge, do yourself a favor and clear out some space. The truth is – pickles are high on preservatives and thus don’t need to be kept in a cold environment.

In fact, pickles are good for consumption even 4 years after being put in the marinade. As astonishing as it seems, there is no possible reason for you to clog up your fridge with an extra jar. They literally never change, regardless of the place they’re held in. With an incredible resistance to any kind of external conditions, pickles are a great food for keeping as a stash. The texture, the taste, and the flexibility never change, contrary to popular belief. So, you can rest because pickles are even used to preserve other food. The acidic value of them is high and doesn’t allow any temperature or force to alter their state. Life is too short to worry about pickles spoiling. But you can refrigerate them if you like!

16. Strawberries

The garden strawberry is a widely grown hybrid species of the genus Fragaria, collectively known as the strawberries, which are cultivated worldwide for their fruit. The fruit is widely appreciated for its characteristic aroma, bright red color, juicy texture, and sweetness. Refrigerating strawberries reduces their sweet flavor and gives them a mushy texture.

For better taste, store fresh strawberries on the countertop, out of direct sunlight, and use them within a day or two of picking or purchasing. And don’t wash them until you’re ready to eat them; strawberries go bad more quickly after they’re washed. Fresh berries already have a short shelf life, so leave them out of the fridge and eat them within a day or two of purchasing.

17. Ketchup

Ketchup is a table condiment or sauce. Although original recipes used egg whites, mushrooms, oysters, grapes, mussels, or walnuts, among other ingredients, the unmodified term now typically refers to tomato ketchup. It’s highly debated whether ketchup should be stored in the cupboard or fridge.

However, bottled ketchup was sold years before refrigerators became commonplace. Ketchup’s high vinegar, salt and sugar content mean it’s safe to store at room temperature without spoiling. If you use ketchup often, just leave it out. Ketchup can be kept unrefrigerated for up to one month.

18. Soy Sauce

Soy sauce or simply “Soy”, is an East Asian liquid condiment of Chinese origin, traditionally made from a fermented paste of soybeans, roasted grain, brine, and Aspergillus oryzae or Aspergillus sojae molds. It is considered to contain a strong umami flavor. The labels on bottles of soy sauce may state it should be refrigerated, but restaurants safely leave the condiment on tables all day. The truth?

The high salt content means it can be stored at room temperature for up to six months. Soy sauce will be just fine without refrigeration, even after it has been opened. As you should know by now, soy sauce can go bad, but it’s very unlikely to happen. If stored properly, it would be safe to consume for many years, but it’s recommended to use within 2 to 3 years because its quality deteriorates over time.

19. Salad Dressings

Salad dressing is a mixture of oil, vinegar, herbs, and other flavourings, which you pour over a salad. Just like other condiments, most salad dressing, especially ones that are vinegar or oil-based, are just fine stored outside the fridge. Since many dressings are oil-based, and we’ve already established oil’s longevity outside the fridge, they should be fine in a pantry. However, cream, yogurt, or mayo-based dressings should be stored in the fridge.

Here are the “rules” for keeping your salad dressings fresh. 1) Salad dressing (sold unrefrigerated, unopened) Best-by + 1 – 2 months. 2) Salad dressing (sold unrefrigerated, opened) 3 – 6 months. 3) Salad dressing (sold refrigerated) Use-by + 1 – 2 weeks. 4) Homemade salad dressing 3 – 5 days

20. Eggplant

Eggplant, aubergine or brinjal is a plant species in the nightshade family Solanaceae. Solanum melongena is grown worldwide for its edible fruit. Most commonly purple, the spongy, absorbent fruit is used in several cuisines. Typically used as a vegetable in cooking, it is a berry by botanical definition. The best place to store eggplant is not in the refrigerator, but at room temperature, where it’s likely to last longer.

Keep eggplant in a cool spot, away from direct sunlight, and use it as soon as possible after harvesting or buying. Eggplants don’t need to be in the fridge, but be careful not to leave them somewhere too warm, or they’ll shrivel up. It’s important to find a happy medium if you want to get the best from this ingredient: house them in a cool, dark place away from direct sunlight.

21. Dried Fruit

Dried fruit is fruit from which the majority of the original water content has been removed either naturally, through sun drying, or through the use of specialized dryers or dehydrators. It has less moisture than fresh fruit, so it doesn’t spoil as quickly.

Putting dried fruits in the fridge will only add unwanted moisture. They’re best preserved somewhere, dry and dark, in an airtight container. When kept correctly, they may last for up to six months. The best packaging for dried fruits is the vacuum-sealing type. It gives the best shelf life since it effectively removes air. This sealed packaging keeps mold and moisture away from your fruits.

22. Syrup

In cooking, a syrup or sirup is a condiment that is a thick, viscous liquid consisting primarily of a solution of sugar in water, containing a large amount of dissolved sugars but showing little tendency to deposit crystals. Its consistency is similar to that of molasses.

If you’re the kind of household that gets through a jar of syrup within a few months, it’s perfectly safe to store it in the cupboard. A low water, high sugar concentration means most syrups, including maple and golden syrup, last perfectly well outside the refrigerator. At fridge temperatures, syrups become stiff, which isn’t ideal if you plan to pour them over your pancakes.

23. Chocolate

Chocolate is a preparation of roasted and ground cacao seeds that is made in the form of a liquid, paste, or in a block, which may also be used as a flavoring ingredient in other foods. The fridge is the worst place for your bar or box of chocolates. The temperature and moisture of the fridge can tamper with the taste, colour and texture.

Chocolate (specifically the cocoa butter) also absorbs the smell of surrounding food, so it’s best kept away from other, odorous ingredients. Instead, protect your chocolate in a cool, dry place, in an airtight container if you’ve already broken into it.

24. Pastries

Pastry is a dough of flour, water and shortening that may be savoury or sweetened. Sweetened pastries are often described as bakers’ confectionery. The word “pastries” suggests many kinds of baked products made from ingredients such as flour, sugar, milk, butter, shortening, baking powder, and eggs.

To keep them just right, pastries are best wrapped in a paper bag and kept at room temperature. If you place your pastry treats in the fridge, the inevitable condensation can compromise their texture, leaving them limp and soggy.

25. Spices

A spice is a seed, fruit, root, bark, or other plant substance primarily used for flavoring or coloring food. Spices are distinguished from herbs, which are the leaves, flowers, or stems of plants used for flavoring or as a garnish. The refrigerator is the enemy of dried spices as unwanted condensation is likely to get in every time you remove them.

To maximise shelf life, keep in a dark, dry place, and keep them away from extreme heat too. It’s worth having a regular clear out of spices that have been lurking in your cupboard for more than a year. Don’t know your coriander from your cloves? Read – Buy These 20 Spices and Herbs to Optimize Health.

26. Jams and Jellies

The term preserves is usually interchangeable with jams even though preserves contain chunks or pieces of the fruit whereas jams in some regions do not. Other names include: chutney, confit, conserve, fruit butter, fruit curd, fruit spread, jelly, and marmalade.

Providing jam is properly sealed inside a sterilised jar, it can be stored outside the fridge for up to two years. Once it’s opened, jam should be kept inside the fridge to prevent mould growing. However, always read the label on individual jam jars if you’re unsure.

27. Champagne

Champagne is a French sparkling wine. Many people use the term Champagne as a generic term for sparkling wine. Strictly speaking, champagne is a sparkling wine that comes from the Champagne region of northeastern France. If it’s a bubbly wine from another region, it’s sparkling wine, not champagne.

If you’re not planning on opening a bottle of Champagne or sparkling wine within the next five days, don’t keep it stored in the fridge as the fluctuating temperature of the door opening and closing will wreak havoc on it. Champagne is best stored on its side, away from light, in a room with a consistent temperature. Chill a couple of hours before you want to open it.

28. Citrus Fruits

Citrus is a genus of flowering trees and shrubs in the rue family, Rutaceae. Plants in the genus produce citrus fruits, including important crops such as oranges, lemons, grapefruits, pomelos, and limes. Citrus fruits are juicier and more flavourful at room temperature. Store lemons, limes, grapefruit and oranges in a cool, dry space and consume them within a couple of weeks.

However, if you want them to keep longer, store them in a plastic bag inside the fridge crisper drawer. Store citrus fruits on the counter. Keep close tabs on them, though, as one moldy fruit will infect the others. Oranges should last about 10 to 14 days at room temperature.

29. Eggs

You may be surprised to see eggs on the list, because in the US the fridge is where they should be. Eggs are sterilised after production to kill bacteria (which also weakens the eggshell) and must be kept cool to prevent it returning. But if you’re in Europe, eggs should not be put in the fridge. They are not sterilised and their shell is a good barrier.

And if the eggs have never been refrigerated, they can hang out on the counter, or in another cool place, for about a week. But once refrigerated, eggs have to stay refrigerated… After two hours, you’d be safer to throw those eggs out and get a fresh dozen rather than chance it.

30. White wines

White wine is a wine that is fermented without skin contact. The colour can be straw-yellow, yellow-green, or yellow-gold. It is produced by the alcoholic fermentation of the non-coloured pulp of grapes, which may have a skin of any colour. It’s widely accepted that white wines are best served chilled, however, storing bottles in the fridge isn’t the best option for mature white wines such as Chardonnay and Viognier.

The ideal temperature for storing white wine is between 45 to 65 °F (7 to 18 °C). Store your wine in a basement, interior closet, or wine fridge to keep it cool. Because white wine is very sensitive to light, store it in a dark place out of direct sunlight and fluorescent light. While sparkling wines and lighter white wines should be served at colder temperatures, complex whites are better appreciated at slightly warmer temperatures. If you have one, a wine fridge set at 10-13ºC (50-55.4ºF)

31. Coconut Oil

Coconut oil, or copra oil, is an edible oil extracted from the kernel or meat of mature coconuts harvested from the coconut palm. The fatty acids in coconut oil can encourage your body to burn fat, and they provide quick energy to your body and brain. They also raise HDL (good) cholesterol in your blood, which may help reduce heart disease risk

Coconut oil is stable at room temperature for up to two years, so there’s no need to store it in the fridge where it becomes hard and virtually impossible to scoop out. Unlike some oils that remain liquid at cool temps, coconut oil contains a high percentage of saturated fats, which causes it to solidify in the refrigerator.

32. Winter Squash

Winter squash is an annual fruit representing several squash species within the genus Cucurbita. It differs from summer squash in that it is harvested and eaten in the mature fruit stage when the seeds within have matured fully and the skin has hardened into a tough rind. Putting butternut squash, acorn squash, pumpkins, or other types of winter squash in the fridge will dull their flavor and give them a mushy texture.

You don’t need a fridge to keep these vegetables fresh. When stored in a dark, cool (not cold) spot, such as an unheated basement, these autumn favorites will remain viable for two months, or longer. Leftover raw winter squash can be chopped into chunks and frozen for an additional two months.

33. Apples

You can refrigerate these fruits, but you don’t need to. The cold air inside the refrigerator tends to break down their crisp texture. Leave them out on the counter. But if you prefer your fruit cold, go ahead and refrigerate. Store fresh apples on the countertop for the best flavor.

While apples will remain crisp longer in the fridge, the ethylene content in their skins (a ripening agent) can cause other nearby produce to spoil more quickly. If you really want to refrigerate apples, first place them in an airtight container to keep from spoiling the other foods in your fridge.

34. Cucumbers

The cucumber is a member of the Cucurbitaceae family. Other members of the family include squash and different kinds of melon, including bitter melon. Cucumbers provide various nutrients but are low in calories, fat, cholesterol, and sodium. The saying might be “cool as a cucumber,” but cukes are actually quite sensitive to the cold. These crisp greens fare best when left at room temperature.

According to a post at Root Simple, you should store cucumbers at room temperature – not in the refrigerator. Root Simple cites the University of California, Davis, which determined that cucumbers are sensitive to temperatures below 50°F. When stored at room temperature, cucumbers thrive and last longer.

35. Avocados

Avocados that need ripening should be kept well away from the fridge for four to seven days. Chilling them will prolong the process and can cause them to go off more quickly. Once ripened they can stay in the fridge until you want to eat them. Want to try something other than avocado on toast? Many avocados available at the grocery are green and hard, and need a couple days to ripen before they’re ready to eat.

They’ll only ripen, though, if you keep them out of the fridge. The only time you should refrigerate an avocado is when it’s completely ripe, but you’re not ready to use it. Then, refrigeration will give you an additional day or two before it goes bad. Store whole avocados on the counter. If they’re very soft, you can get a few extra days by putting them in the fridge, but you’ll pay for it in flavor. It’s better just to enjoy them right away. Don’t buy more than you can use.

Where did we find this stuff? Here are our sources:
https://www.farmersalmanac.com
https://www.lovefood.com
https://www.bobvila.com
https://www.canitgobad.net
https://foodsafety.wisc.edu
https://www.thekitchn.com
https://everydaykoala.com