We are all concerned about maintaining proper nutrition, and that means trying to stock up the fridge with the right food at all times. It’s second nature for most of us to buy a few food products in bulk. And as soon as we get home, we toss them inside the fridge so that they will last longer. What might shock most of us is that several food items that we’ve been refrigerating for years shouldn’t go in there at all. The extreme cold temperatures could either discolor them or accelerate the spoilage process. We’ve compiled a list of some of the food products that you shouldn’t store in your refrigerator.
Bananas
Cold temperatures can halt the ripening process of fruits, and that's the reason why you'd want to leave your raw fruits out so that they could ripen up. The low temperatures also affect the fruit's cell walls causing the skin to blacken. It also makes the fruit turn to a mushy consistency or even rot because of their lowered defense against the conditions. While most people naturally turn to bananas as a pre-workout snack, it’s important to note that they are quite calorie-dense. Just one average-sized banana packs as much as 105 calories.
Basil
You’d think that storing most types of leafy plants in the fridge would help keep their leaves supple. However, when you make that mistake with most herbs—including basil, you’ll end up with wilted and blackened leaves. It’s best to keep basil out or in temperatures of at least 40 degrees Fahrenheit and submerged in some water. Remember to change the water every other day. Covering them loosely using a plastic bag also helps maintain their moisture. Did you know that the basil leaves can help remove body toxins? It's said to be beneficial in the prevention of acne and pimples.
Potatoes
Potatoes are best stored in their plastic bag or sack in a cool, dark corner of your kitchen. When you keep them in your refrigerator, potatoes quickly convert their starch into sugar and this affects their texture, flavor, and how they cook. If you must store them in a bag, go for a paper-made option because of their breathability. Also, don’t wash the potatoes before storing to avoid having the dampness accelerate its spoilage. Worth noting is that this rule is applicable for all kinds of potatoes. Contrary to popular belief, potatoes aren’t necessarily bad for your diet and weight loss plan as long as you have them in moderate quantities.
Onions
To keep their freshness, onions should be stored in conditions that allow for proper air circulation. You could possibly store them in paper bags that have adequate holes allowing the onions to breathe. Onions and potatoes also shouldn’t be stored together because onions release a gas that’s known to accelerate the aging process in potatoes. The only exceptions are chives and scallions which have higher water content and, therefore, are more likely to bruise easily. Also, owing to their shorter shelf life, you would want to store them in the fridge. Onions contain a flavonoid known as quercetin which prevents fat accumulation and boosts metabolism. These properties make the bulbs effective natural weight loss products.
Tomatoes
Most of us are guilty of storing tomatoes in the fridge. After all, the chilled ones make the perfect addition to a sandwich or salad. The best place to store your tomatoes is out on the counter but away from direct sunlight. However, if you prefer them chilled, you would want to turn up your fridge temperature to keep them from forming crystals within, which give them a grainy and nasty texture. Tomatoes also come highly recommended as natural fat burner food. They are full of antioxidants that help reduce water retention and inflammation.
Avocados
Every avocado lover knows that you want to buy the single-seeded berry when it’s still unripe. You then want to leave it out on your counter to allow it to ripen before tossing it in the fridge to chill it for your cold salads. However, don’t store your unripe avocados in the fridge because the cold temperature impedes their ripening process. You also do want to store avocadoes near your bananas to help them ripen up quickly. To obtain optimum nutrition when following a low carb diet, consider including avocados as a healthy source of fat.
Coffee
You don’t have to be a coffee connoisseur to know that you should never store it in any form in your fridge. Whether in bean or pulverized fine powder form; coffee requires dry air circulation to keep it fresh for longer. The best way to store your coffee is in an airtight container and away from moisture or direct sunlight. Coffee can actually help you slim down because it’s caffeine content is known to boost metabolism; subsequently increasing your fat burning rate. It’s also known to blunt your appetite, helping you to eat significantly less food.
Garlic
Unless you want your garlic to sprout, you shouldn’t store the bulb in your fridge. Storing garlic in your fridge can also subject it to mold growth within its layers and on the skin of the bulb. It also doesn’t do any justice in terms of helping you figure out if the bulb is rotten because the cold temperatures help to conceal visible signs of spoilage. Garlic is a great natural detox agent which can help to flush out toxins from your body, keeping your digestive system in check. A Journal of Nutrition study also found that the compounds found within the bulb stimulate the fat burning process.
Hot Sauce
The best place to store your favorite hot sauce bottle is on your kitchen counter but away from the sun. Keeping it in your fridge won’t spoil it, but the cold temperatures dampen its sharp and spicy taste. In fact, hot sauce can last for up to three years without any refrigeration. The only exception is if the bottle expressly calls for refrigeration or you choose to do so for aesthetic purposes. For instance, Tabasco can change its color with time if left out in the open, but that doesn’t necessarily mean that the sauce is spoilt. The Capsaicin found in peppers can possibly help with losing weight because it’s known to burn energy.
Bread
Most of us are yet again guilty of tossing the occasional loaf of bread in the fridge. The cold air can dry out the bread and makes it stale quicker. You only want to refrigerate your bread if it’s in a sandwich form. Even then, you do want to have the sandwich sealed in plastic or within a container to protect the bread from becoming stale. If you are on a weight loss journey, you can possibly skip the tummy tuck by incorporating whole wheat bread into your diet. Consuming the whole wheat bread coupled with a lower-calorie diet is known to help dieters lose more belly fat.
Oils
Especially in cold weather, oils are known to solidify when left out in the open. The same thing happens when they are refrigerated, and it's especially the case with olive oil and coconut oil. While you can easily restore the oil back to its liquid state by microwaving for a few seconds, you can save yourself the hassle by storing it in a cool, dark place. Nut-based oils are the exception and you can store them in your fridge without much incident. There are lists of oils that are known to help lower cholesterol including lemongrass, clove, lavender, and cinnamon essential oils.
Honey
When left in airtight jars, honey can last for as much as thousands of years. It isn’t the best idea to keep the jar in your fridge because the cold temperature leads to crystallization. It gives the natural sweetener a doughy texture, making it hard to scoop out. Honey is also amongst the most recommended natural skin care products because of its antibacterial, moisturizing, clarifying, and antioxidant properties. You don’t need much other than to apply it directly your skin and leave it on for a few minutes before washing it off.
Pumpkin
Pumpkin loses its texture, flavor, and color when stored inside the fridge. The best place to store your pumpkin is out in a cool, dry, and dark environment. However, once you have cut up your pumpkin, you can refrigerate it. Just make sure to place it inside an airtight container or wrap it in cling film. Also, it really doesn’t make a difference whether or not you store your cut-up pumpkin with or without its seeds. Pumpkins are rich in vitamin C, fiber, and potassium. All of which combined are good in supporting heart health.
Peanut Butter
Much like liquid oils, most processed peanut butter will solidify and harden when stored inside the fridge. The sweet and salty spread is best stored on your countertop or inside a kitchen cabinet. In moderate amounts, peanut butter, as well as whole peanuts, fit right into a weight loss diet. Half of the fat found in peanut butter is oleic acid which is a healthy monosaturated fat. The same type of fat is also found in greater amounts in olive oil. Worth pointing out is that peanuts are susceptible to fungus and molds. One of which is the Aspergillus flavus, which is known to produce twenty times the amount of carcinogen found in DDT.
Flour
While your flour won’t really sustain too much damage when stored in the fridge, it’s just better to keep it elsewhere. Flour is best stored inside an airtight container out on your kitchen counter. On the flip side, it may prove beneficial to freeze your flour up to 48 hours to kill any insect eggs or weevils. Once removed from the fridge, transfer it into an airtight food-grade container. Also, avoid mixing up old and new packages of flour because it shortens the new flour’s shelf life. Some nutrition advice: flours, in general, are calorie-dense and it’s best to limit their intake if you are trying to shed the pounds.
Pickles
Much like hot sauce, pickles come brined in vinegar, which acts as a natural preservative. That means that you don’t really need to store that jar of pickles inside your fridge because it will be perfectly fine in your kitchen cabinet. However, if you prefer your pickles cold for sandwiches and other snacks, place a couple in the fridge for a few minutes before serving. It has become a trend to drink pickle juice for the touted benefits it offers related to diabetes, weight loss, muscle cramp relief, and more. It’s particularly become a favorite for people on a ketogenic diet.
Soy Sauce
Perhaps the only exception to storing soy sauce in your fridge is if you have the low-sodium kind. The ingredients used to formulate soy sauce include natural antibacterial properties helping to extend its shelf life without refrigeration. As revealed by a Journal of Bioscience and Bioengineering review in 2005, soy sauce can prove beneficial as part of an allergy treatment because of its anti-allergenic properties. The same study also revealed that soy sauce has antioxidant properties owing to its high shoyuflavones content. On top of that, it also has antimicrobial properties that prove effective in offering protection to the body against certain types of bacteria.
Eggs
This one is still a major debate amongst most people on whether or not eggs belong in the fridge. On the one hand, you want to leave your eggs out in room temperature to preserve their texture and flavors. However, storing them in your fridge significantly prolongs their shelf life. You also want to avoid keeping them at the door because the constant temperature change when opening the fridge could make them spoil quicker. To debunk a myth, eggs don’t give you high cholesterol. Instead, your levels may rise up from consuming too much trans and saturated fats.
Beef Jerky
Jerky is a slice of tasty nutrient-dense meat that is made lightweight by drying. Drying is one of the most common and oldest food preservation methods. A favorite for hikers, campers, and survivalists, the meat becomes shelf stable because it lacks most of its moisture and has salt that acts as a preservative. In fact, refrigerating the jerky will only alter its taste and texture because it will get some moisture. You can store unopened home-dried jerky for up to two months while the commercially packaged version can last for a year without going bad. Anyone on a low carb diet, like keto, would be happy to know that beef jerky comes highly recommended.
Salad
Salads are tasty and appealing to the eye when all the ingredients look fresh and crisp. The contents may, however, begin to wilt after putting out the salad at room temperature for a while. It’s not the time to put it in the refrigerator thinking that it will regain its former glory. It is advisable to make enough salad for one meal to avoid the disappointments of a frail-looking salad that will not be as tasty. If your salad has tomato, it can become mushy and lose its flavor when it is inside the fridge. Salads also fit right into a healthy diet; making them highly recommended for everyone.
Peppers
Whether these are yellow, red, or green bell peppers—or even chili peppers, these will do great without refrigeration. Just put them in a paper bag and store them in a cool dry place to retain their flavor and snappiness. If peppers stay in a cold place with moisture, they rot easily. This is why you should store the peppers without washing first. The shelf life for yellow peppers is about 4-5 days while the greens ones can last a week; thus, there is no need to buy a whole load if you will not be using them ASAP. Peppers fit right into a weight loss eating plan because of their low caloric content.
Ketchup
Don’t give into the hype. America’s number one condiment, Ketchup, does not belong in the fridge after you open it. You can store it in your kitchen cupboard without having to worry about anything. All this is thanks to its high acidity levels together with sugar and salt content. This means that keeping ketchup at room temperature still keeps it microbiologically safe. Additionally, it will also get rid of that annoying ketchup water. Just be sure to consume the bottle within 30 days to enjoy its quality taste without any deterioration. Science suggests that ketchup might just be a great cholesterol medication because, in some studies, it's been known to help lower LDL levels.
Pears
A sweet and versatile fruit, it is advisable to always store pears at room temperature. This is especially if you have a mature pear that is not yet ripe because the temperature is ideal for the ripening process. You can even speed this up by placing the fruits in a brown bag so that you can enjoy your pears sooner. Pears do not do well in the fridge because all the cold air will turn its natural crunchiness into a slush that you would not like your taste buds to experience. Pears are loaded in vitamins—eating just one provides 12% of the required daily vitamin C and 10% of the daily vitamin K needs.
Spices
Spices make our food flavorful, savory, and exotic. Storing these in your fridge is not the best way to bring out the best flavor of your favorite spice. To best preserve the spices, store them in a dark, dry space because the biggest enemies for these flavor agents are light, heat, moisture, and air. When you store spices in the fridge, be assured that they will trap humidity as well as other aromas in the fridge as soon as you open them. Spices make the best diet supplements because they add flavor to food without necessarily piling on the calories you would get from compounds like sugar.
Cucumber
Don't stuff your cucumbers in the fridge if you want to enjoy the healthy crisp snack for longer. When they are in the refrigerator, they are bound to get a cold injury—faster decay, pitting, and wateriness—because they are sensitive to temperatures that are below 50°F. You will definitely not like their appearance after about 3 days. Additionally, it is important to note that cucumbers are sensitive to ethylene, a gas that causes some foods to ripen. Even as you store the cucumbers at room temperature, keep them separately from melons, tomatoes, and bananas. Cucumbers work well for your natural skin care regime because of their anti-inflammatory compound that prevents irritations.
Apples
Apples have a longer shelf life than a majority of vegetables and fruits. If you do plan on eating your apples within a week or two, it is not necessary to refrigerate them. Keeping them in the fridge may damage the taste. They will still remain perfectly crisp and fresh when they are in the fruit basket. Store the apples whole without cutting them up because they will turn brown within no time. Note that apples do not thrive in warm environments. Thus, you should always store them in the coolest part of your kitchen. The phytonutrients found in apples can help reduce the likelihood of developing several diseases including cancer.
Carrots
Carrots are crunchy vegetables common in many households. Without refrigeration, you will enjoy smooth, firm, and brightly colored carrots. The vegetables do not do well when you expose them to cold air, something that causes them to rot faster and makes them not as crunchy as you like them. If you purchase carrots with green tops, cut this off before storing them. They cause the carrots to wilt prematurely by pulling out moisture from the vegetables. It is also advisable to avoid carrots that are excessively forked or cracked when grocery shopping. Carrots function as a natural eye specialist by improving your eye health.
Cereal
The reason cereals should not be in the fridge is that most of them are humid. This means that the cereals will fast absorb water, becoming soft and stale. Your cereal will be quite happy in the pantry for a long period as long as it is dry and cool. You can even transfer the content from the box into a sealed container as this helps to keep the cereals tasty and fresh. Consuming whole grain cereals in the right amount can help avert heart problems because they are filling and help you skip the fatty foods.
Yogurt
Surprisingly, you do not need to refrigerate your yogurt especially if you have the full-fat Greek variant. Its live bacterial cultures help in preservation, preventing mold from developing when you store it at room temperature. After opening the package, however, it is best that you finish the yogurt within three days. It is also suitable to use a clean spoon to scoop out the yogurt to avoid cross-contamination, which can make the product spoil faster. While at it, do not return any unfinished portion into the original pack. Instead of going for vitamins and supplements, go for yogurt because it provides calcium, potassium, zinc, and other beneficial minerals.
Cheese
Only refrigerate your fancy cheese if you want to ruin it. We know that this statement may appear counterintuitive seeing that cheese is dairy. Worth noting is that aged cheeses like gruyere, cheddar, or Gouda usually go through a curation process that goes on for a minimum period of 6 months. After this, the cheese does not require any refrigeration and it actually gets a firmer texture. Putting it in the fridge can make it harder and you will not be able to enjoy the sliceable feel you love. Cheese is known to prevent decay of the teeth and it's recommended to have it regularly as a meal or snack.
Citrus
Citrus is juicier and tastier when you leave them at room temperature. Just look for a dry and cool place to store them, away from direct sunlight and heat vents in your house. If you have plenty of citrus fruits, make sure they do not pile up when storing. Moisture accumulates when they touch each other, a process that will get the fungus to grow fast. The chances of your citrus losing their taste and skin becoming too hard are also accelerated when they stay in the fridge for a long time. Consuming citric fruits might just keep a heart attack at bay because they promote better organ health.
Chocolate
Humidity and chocolate do not pair well, meaning you should avoid storing this snack in the fridge. Chocolate will absorb the smell of everything else you have in the fridge easily. It will also “age” in the refrigerator, altering the appearance and taste. Simply look for a dark, cool place to store your chocolate where it will not melt so that it gets to maintain its texture and taste. Sugar bloom is another reason not to refrigerate your chocolate. It happens when you chill chocolate and then expose it to warmer air, dissolving the sugar due to condensation. Studies show that consuming dark chocolate may just reduce the risk of heart disease.
Nuts
Cold storage is not recommended for nuts because it can prevent the natural oil in nuts from spoiling. Refrigeration also stifles the nutty flavor, while shelled nuts are quick to absorb any other odor that is lurking in the cool environment. Store nuts in an airtight container inside the pantry. Make sure that these are dry and they should be good for at least 3 months. Ideally, it is best to store them in its shell because they will last longer. Unsalted nuts will also last longer than the salted version. Nuts are great for just about any diet plan because they are nutrient-dense and loaded with antioxidants.