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Refrigeration might just be that greatest storage method invented in the 21st century. It’s so great because it helps in the preservation of so many different foods and also makes sure they are served in the best ways possible, cold. This is especially the case when you think of ice-cream, milk, sodas, cheese and many other foods. When your friends come over they will often make a stop at that big cold box to pick something they can snack on before they fully settle in your living area. That said, it’s easy to think that all foods belong in the refrigerator, but this is not the case. Some foods should not be put inside refrigerators for health reasons. In such cases, there are better alternatives and in some cases, it just doesn’t make much sense to keep these foods in the refrigerators. Here are examples of foods that should never be put in the refrigerator:
1. Potatoes
When you refrigerate potatoes you affect them in a negative way. For example, the taste changes, the freezing turns starch into sugar and then the potatoes become colorless. So, instead of freezing potatoes, you can store them in many different ways. One, keep them in paper bags. Just make sure you don’t use plastic papers as these make the potatoes decay faster. Alternatively, store them unwashed and far away from direct sunlight. You should also keep them away from extreme temperatures. A burlap sack or a pantry is best.
2. Aged cheese
When you get hard cheese, you don’t need to refrigerate it. This is because refrigerating hard cheese makes it doubly solid. When this happens the usability of this cheese is affected. It’s very easy to feel the need to refrigerate cheese because it’s a dairy product. However, while it may seem logical, it’s ill advised. This is because such cheese has gone through so many long processes during its manufacture. These processes ensure the cheese stays durable for a long period just as long as it is stored in a cool, dry and dark place. However some types of cheese may need refrigeration, just not this hard type.
3. Berries
For foods like berries, different factors are considered, including the amount of time you want to keep the berries stored and also for how long you want to consume the berries. If you don’t intend to eat these berries soon then it’s best not to keep them refrigerated. Remember, how you store berries even outside your refrigerator matters a lot. You should be careful and rinse the berries well to prevent the formation of mold.
4. Garlic
Regardless of how you look at it, garlic should never be kept in a refrigerator. This is because it degrades faster in those conditions with added moisture. However, if you peel garlic it will thrive in wet conditions. Generally though, moisture will make your garlic lose its flavor. It will also lead to growth of mold. So, to keep your garlic in good condition store it in a cool, dry place away from light.
5. Onions
You should store your onions in a cool place far away from light and never in a refrigerator. Onions contain starch and when you keep them stored in areas that contain a lot of moisture, they become damp. This promotes formation of mold. You should store your onions away from potatoes because storing them together could lead to the release of gases that promote decay of your onions. Store them in a mesh bag instead.
6. Honey
Simply put, anytime you expose honey to low temperatures, the honey will solidify. The honey then crystallizes and becomes very clumpy which you won't like. The clumpyness will make your honey difficult to use. So to store your honey properly, keep it in a pantry.
7. Olive oil
You shouldn't place your olive oil inside your refrigerator. Since the fridge is humid and condensation occurs in it, it could easily cause your olive oil to lose its natural taste. It could also make your olive oil cloudy. You can however store olive oil in the opposite conditions. This is more preferable. That said, keep it away from sunlight and store it in a cupboard or another cool and dry place.
8. Vinegar
Vinegar is one of the foods that are manufactured to have a much extended shelf life because they preserve themselves. As such, you do not need to refrigerate vinegar. Instead, store it in your pantry or a cool dry place like a cupboard.
9. Bread
If you ever tried it before, then you know very well that it's not advisable to keep your bread in a refrigerator. Bread is packed with starch and so when you put it in a refrigerator it becomes dry, something that causes the bread to get spoilt faster. When you store it in your refrigerator for an extended period of time, you are most likely to find mold on your bread. When you keep your bread at room temperature it will stay in good condition for a considerable amount of time.
10. Pumpkins
When pumpkin is stored in cold conditions it gets damaged much faster. As such, you should not keep your pumpkins in refrigerators. Any given environment with temperatures lower than 10 degrees is not great for pumpkins as it will make your pumpkins soggy. You won't be able to enjoy your pumpkins for much longer.
11. Spices
If you want to keep your spices tasty for a long time, keep them away from your fridge. If you store them in there, the spices will clump together. Spices can last longer even outside the fridge especially when grounded. In fact, the grounded spices can last for years especially when you store them in a dry place. The dampness in a fridge will destroy the usability of your spices and also their effectiveness.
12. Peanut butter
For peanut butter to be considered high quality, it must spread well. However, when you put your peanut butter in a refrigerator you affect the ability of the peanut butter to spread smoothly. However, the natural peanut butter can actually survive longer when refrigerated. However if it is not natural, refrigerating it can make it more rancid. So the natural type is best stored in the fridge but if not natural, do not refrigerate.
13. Avocado
Avocados are some of the most difficult foods to manage. When you decide to refrigerate them, you end up stalling their ripening process. So in case your avocados are not yet ripe, leave them out of your fridge for a week. Once they are ripe, you can either store them whole in your fridge or cut them and place them in the fridge.
14. Coffee
The best way to store your coffee is to place it in an airtight container. There is never a need to put it inside your refrigerator. The humidity inside your refrigerator will make your coffee tasteless which you don't want. After all, you want your coffee to have its authentic powerful taste. The best place to store your coffee is in a dark place until it is ready for brewing.
15. Sealed tuna
You’ll notice that most of the time, tuna is never refrigerated in those stores where you buy it. There is a good reason for this. Tuna often comes in a container that is usually pre-sealed in optimum conditions. Tuna is often also manufactured in such a way that it has a considerably long shelf life. That said, the moment you open up your tuna, you should store it in a fridge so that it doesn’t go bad.
16. Nuts and dried fruits
If you don’t want your nuts’ flavor to be tampered with, then avoid storing them in cold temperatures. These cold temperatures can also make your dried fruits hard and when this happens, they become hard to eat as well. So, instead of keeping them in your fridge, it’s best to store your nuts and fruits in a cool, dry place.
17. Salad dressing
Most salad dressings you find around are either oil-based or vinegar-based. Thanks to this, they never need any refrigeration. The oil-based salad dressing types should never be placed in very cold temperatures. Such temperatures will make the oils solidify.
18. Peaches
If you want your peaches to ripen quickly then the last thing you want to do is place them in a refrigerator. The fridge makes the process slower and even worse, it will make your peaches get spoiled much faster. So a cool and dry place is a better for your peaches storage. You should also make sure the place is well ventilated.
19. Champagne or sparkling wine
Wine should not be put in places where there is fluctuation of temperatures from hot to cold. This kind of fluctuation will alter the taste of your wine and not in a good way. For that reason, you should avoid placing your wine in the fridge unless you actually plan on drinking it within about five days. The best way to store wine is to place it in a room that has constant temperature.
20. Fresh soft herbs
Herbs such as mint, parsley, basil, coriander and drill should be given the most delicate treatment. As such, avoid storing them in your refrigerator as the refrigerator will make the leaves wilt and you'll notice they will start changing color. The best thing to do is cut them and then keep the herbs in a glass of fresh water. Ensure this is kept at room temperature. There you go, 20 foods you should never store in your refrigerator.
