We all know the feeling of opening up the fridge and starting a meal, only to be met with mealy tomatoes or a brand-new loaf of bread that’s stale. It’s enough to make you lose your appetite entirely. While we may think we’re doing everything right when it comes to storing our food properly, there are some common mistakes we’re all guilty of making. Let’s talk about the most common foods you shouldn’t refrigerate!
Most Common Foods You Shouldn’t Refrigerate
The humidity and temperatures of a fridge can have negative effects on some foods. For example, too much humidity can cause vegetables to spoil faster. Meanwhile, if the temperature inside your fridge is too cold, it can cause your food to freezer burn. Some of these may surprise you and some may not, but here are ten foods you shouldn’t refrigerate, and why:
#1: Tomatoes
The cold temperature of the fridge causes tomatoes to lose their flavor and become mealy. Store them on the countertop instead.
#2: Potatoes
Potatoes need to be stored in a cool, dark place like a pantry or cupboard. If you put them in the fridge, they’ll become sweeter.
Image from I Really Like Food
#3: Onions
Onions should also be stored in a cool, dark place. If you put them in the fridge, they’ll start to sprout and rot more quickly.
#4: Bread
Storing bread in the fridge will make it go stale more quickly. The best place to store bread is in a cool, dry place like a pantry.
#5: Garlic
Garlic is best stored in a cool, dark, and dry place. This helps to keep it fresh and prevents it from going bad. If you store garlic in a warm or humid environment, it will spoil quickly.
#6: Honey
Honey doesn’t need to be refrigerated, but if you do put it in the fridge, it will become crystallized.
#7: Fruit
It might surprise you to see fruit on this list of foods you shouldn’t refrigerate, but certain fruits like apples and bananas should be stored on the countertop. Other fruit, like berries and cherries, should be stored in the fridge.
#8: Nuts
Nuts should be stored in a cool, dry place. If you put them in the fridge, they can go rancid more quickly.
#9: Chocolate
Chocolate doesn’t need to be refrigerated, but if you do put it in the fridge, it will become more dense and fudgy. If you’re looking for a lighter, fluffier texture, then storing your chocolate in the fridge is not the way to go.
#10: Cake
Cake is best stored in a cool, dry place like a pantry. If you put it in the fridge, it will become dry and hard.
And that’s it! Next time you go to put something in the fridge, make sure to check whether or not it belongs there first. Your food will thank you for it! If you’re following this guide and still having food go bad, it may be due to an issue with your fridge. Call the refrigerator repair service team at Cody’s to get your fridge back up to working order fast!
Looking for more refrigerator tips? Check out our blogs on how to organize a refrigerator and our refrigerator cleaning tips blog!
