The refrigerator seems to be a safe haven for food. It keeps everything cold, and what could be better than food that is protected from the possibility of spoilage.
Well, not all foods need to be refrigerated. As a matter of fact, refrigerating some foods may actually decrease their longevity. Here are some of the foods that you may want to keep out of the fridge.
Egg
It is a long debate whether you should keep eggs inside your refrigerator or not. One study suggests that keeping eggs whether in a refrigerator or not does not change their normal properties, so it can be said that if you keep eggs at room temperature, there should not be any problem. There is another study that reveals that keeping eggs inside the refrigerators spoil the natural taste and flavor of eggs, so it is wise to keep eggs outside of your fridge.
Avocados
If you purchased an avocado that’s not ripen, you should not place it in your refrigerator. Since they will need time to ripen, keeping in the cold cooler will deter and impede that process. Also, placing the avocado in your fridge should only be done if the avocado is already ripe and you won’t use it right away.
Ketchup
Having bacteria deterring acids is a boon for ketchup as you can expect to be okay with your ketchup up to more than years without refrigeration. The preservatives used in ketchup are very helpful in maintaining the quality of it for many days even after opening it. So if you have already opened a ketchup bottle and tensed with its decaying, then you will not have to worry anymore.
Citrus Fruits
Chill damage is a common effect of cold temperature to the fruits filled up with citric acid like oranges or lemons. These citrus fruits need natural temperature for ripening, so keeping them inside the refrigerators hampers this process. You will also see some spots as well as dull skin on these types of fruits if kept in the refrigerators.
Tuna
Many people keep their canned tuna in their refrigerator, but they should know that as long as the pack of the tuna fish is sealed, it is safe to keep it at room temperature without causing any damage. Canned tuna has a lot of preservatives which makes it completely fine to keep in the kitchen cupboard rather than in the fridge. Also the taste is better at room temperature rather than having it completely cold.
Pickles
Pickle is often found in refrigerators, but for your kind information leave them outside of your fridge and give your fridge some free space. You should know that pickles are high on preservatives and I have tasted 3-year old pickles that were kept outside of our fridge. Truly speaking, I did not get any odor or distaste from them while chewing. It should be also noted that some foods are preserved with the help of pickles, so as pickles used as preservatives, you should not worry about its preservation without refrigeration.
Bananas
Bananas in the fridge? Because they retain nutrients better outside the fridge, they should never be placed inside the refrigerator. According to Canadian Produce Marketing Association, bananas are better kept on the counter until they ripen. The cold temperatures actually slow down the ripening process of the bananas, while the moisture and darkness of the fridge will only facilitate rotting.
Potatoes
Potato Growers of Alberta all agree; spuds should be placed in a cool, dry and dark space. By reason of the cold temperatures of the fridge, it can turn starch into sugar more rapidly. Because of that, keeping tots out of there, is best. It is also recommended that potatoes be removed from plastic or paper bags they may have been placed in. Also, keep them unwashed, as well in a well-ventilated cardboard box.
Onions
Placing your onions inside your refrigerator will eventually end up turning them moldy and soft. According to the National Onion Association in the U.S, unpeeled onions should be kept out of plastic bags and fridge. One of the reasons for this is because unpeeled onions require and need air exposure for maximum life. If you have peeled an onion though, then you should keep it in the fridge, in a covered container.
Bread
Nothing dries out bread faster than your refrigerator. In the event that you have made sandwiches with the bread, then you can place them in the fridge. The cold temperature will make the bread tough and chewy. Furthermore, the coldness tends to make the bread turn stale and harder, at a faster pace.
Coffee
Since both ground coffee and beans require cool, dry and dark spots to retain their flavor & freshness, the fridge is not the place for them. Coffee and beans also need an airtight container. If you have large amounts of coffee that you won’t use right away, then you can freeze it. Just make sure to wrap the coffee in airtight bags. This way, you can store it for up to a month in your refrigerator.
Tomatoes
We all love tomatoes for their taste. But putting them in the refrigerator will cause them to lose all of their flavour. Plus, the cold air in the cooler stops the ripening process as well. And as we all know, ripening is what gives every tomato more taste and flavor. The cold temperature of the fridge will alter the texture of the tomatoes as well. Lastly, coldness breaks down the membranes within the fruit walls, according to Harold McGee’s On Food and Cooking. For best results, keep tomatoes out, and inside a basket or a bowl on your counter.
Salad
Oil or vinegar based salad is capable of being okay for long period of time without refrigeration. Moreover, refrigeration of salad dressings brings bad smell to them. Keep in mind that there are some salads that are mayo or yogurt based should be refrigerated in order to keep them fine. So if you have some salad that has been already dressed, you can keep them away from your fridge without any hesitation.
Chocolate
It is very usual to see that chocolates are kept inside the refrigerators. You can keep those types of chocolates inside your fridge that are very much prone to diluting due to hot temperature, but most chocolates do not need refrigeration. You can also experience different taste of a chocolate after keeping it in the fridge. So never go for refrigeration for your chocolates unless you notice a huge change in its solid state. If some chocolates become liquid for excessive heat, then you can keep them in your fridge for making solid again.
Honey
Providing that you keep it in a tightly sealed place, honey will stay good almost forever. Therefore, storing it in your cooler doesn’t make sense. Honey, is a naturally preserved food so it needs no help from us. Ironically enough, placing honey in your refrigerator will in fact speed up the sugar crystallization process. The result of that will be the honey becoming almost dough-like, in form. Thus, making it harder or nearly impossible to scoop or use.
Cereal
Never be tensed with your cereal as you do not have to put it in the refrigerator in order to keep them fresh. It can be okay without refrigeration. Again, the moisture in the fridge and the low temperature can spoil their texture and make cereal less crunchy.
Melons
If you haven’t opened your melons, then there’s no need to place them in your fridge. Research has demonstrated that storing melons in room temperatures, will in effect, keep the antioxidants levels the same. The studies were done by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). Also, melons lost some of their beta-carotene content as well. Keep in mind though, that the research pertained to whole melons. Sliced melons can be placed in the fridge, but should be covered.
Olive Oil
Since storing olive oil in a fridge will turn it harder and make it condensed, it should never be placed there. Instead, put the olive oil in dark, cool place. Otherwise, you risk turning your olive oil into a butter-like density.
Flour
Whether you keep flour inside your fridge or not, it has no effect on the flour. So it is up to you whether you want to jam-packed your refrigerator with more foods or not! Never be foolish by making your fridge crowded with unnecessary food items. Flour remains quite okay and fresh if you just keep it in an airtight container. Always select a place for keeping flour. Make sure that the container used for keeping flour is well-dried.