We are inclined to put a lot of different types of foods in the fridge to keep them fresh. However, not all foods belong in a cool place like your refrigerator. These are some of the most common foods people put in their ice box that should never be kept there!
Berries
Berries don’t seem to last very long. They grow mold quickly and can get pretty soggy. However, if you keep them out of the fridge they will last longer and won’t lose their consistency.
Avocados
Avocados are a fragile fruit. They ripen quickly and only for a short period of time. Never put them in the fridge, though. They will ripen immediately and go bad quickly.
Donuts
Everyone loves to indulge in a good donut every once in a while. However, you should keep them out of the fridge and covered on the counter or they will get stale.
Aged Cheeses
Cheese can be tricky sometimes. While some cheeses do belong in the fridge, aged cheeses that are hard should never be put in the fridge. It’s okay to keep them out on the counter since they are cured and can stay at room temperature.
Potatoes
If you put potatoes in the fridge, they will become gritty and have a sweet flavor. In fact, they will hardly taste like a potato at all!
Canned Tuna
If a food is in a can, it’s generally okay to keep in a pantry. Canned tuna can be kept at room temperature. However, if you open the can and have leftover tuna, you should put it in the fridge.
Nutella
After we open a sealed package, we are inclined to put it in the fridge. However, when it comes to Nutella or hazelnut spread, you can keep it in your pantry. If you put it in the fridge it will get hard and tough to spread on your toast.
Garlic
Fresh garlic should always be kept in a pantry, unless you peel it and have cloves left over, then you should put them in the fridge to keep them fresh. Typically, garlic can last for months at room temperature.
Onions
If you put whole onions in the fridge then they will start to grow mold very quickly and go bad. IT’s best to keep them in a dark place that is close to room temperature.
Eggs
Depending on where you live, eggs can sometimes be kept out of the fridge. However, if you buy your eggs from a grocery store that chills them, it’s a good idea to keep them in the fridge. If you buy them from a farm, it’s okay to leave them out on the counter.
Coffee Beans or Grounds
Some people believe that keeping their coffee beans or grounds in the fridge will keep them fresher longer. That isn’t the case. Always keep your coffee at room temperature in a sealed container to keep the flavor.
Honey
A good thing to know is that honey will never go bad. So, there is no need to put it in the fridge. If you do, it will become hard and crystallized.
Butter
Believe it or not, butter doesn’t necessarily have to be refrigerated. There’s nothing better than room-temperature butter than spreads easily on a piece of bread.
Melons
Watermelon and cantaloupe can actually be kept out of the fridge. In fact, when it sits at room temperature, the antioxidants stay intact and the melons taste sweeter.
Basil
When cooking with fresh herbs, like basil, there is no need to put them in the fridge if you have any left over. Keeping it out on the counter will keep it fresh and flavorful.
Eggplant
When you put eggplant in the fridge it can get soggy and grow mold. When you keep them out on the counter, they stay firm and last longer.
Peanut Butter
Just like Nutella, you can keep your peanut butter in the pantry. When you put it in the fridge you’ll find that the peanut butter gets hard and difficult to spread.
Olive Oil
Never put your olive oil in the fridge. It will destroy the flavor and eventually become a solid if kept in the fridge for too long. It’s best to keep olive oil in your pantry or cupboard.
Pickles
If you buy pickles off the shelf at the grocery store, then there is no need to put them in the refrigerator before opening them. However if you open the jar and have leftover pickles, it isn’t a bad idea to put them in the fridge.
Vinegar
Vinegar is a natural preservative, so there is no need to keep it in the fridge. When kept in a dark place at room temperature, your vinegar will have no expiration date.
Ketchup
Have you noticed that restaurants keep their ketchup out on the tables and not in the fridge? That’s because the acids in ketchup naturally preserve it.
Mustard
Just like ketchup, mustard does not have to be kept in the fridge due to its high acid levels. Some people even claim that room temperature mustard tastes better than refrigerated.
Pitted Fruits
Fruits with pits in them like cherries and peaches don’t have to be refrigerated. IN fact, they ripen better and faster when they are kept out on the counter. Once they ripen, you can put them in the fridge to give them more longevity.
Tomatoes
Tomatoes are another fruit that can be kept at room temperature. In fact, when you put tomatoes in the fridge they lose their flavor! To ripen your tomatoes quicker, put them in sunlight.
Molasses
To keep your molasses smooth and gooey, keep it in a dark pantry. When you put it in the fridge it will solidify and will be hard to work with.
Dried Fruit and Nuts
Since the fruit is already dried, there are preservatives that will keep them fresh. Nuts also do not have to be put in the fridge. Instead, keep them in an airtight container or bag in the cabinet.
Bananas
When you keep bananas in the fridge, they will ripen extremely quickly and become brown. This is a good trick for when you need to make banana bread and don’t have ripened bananas, though.
Chocolate
There are some people who enjoy eating cold chocolate, but keeping it in the fridge is unnecessary. In fact, when it is kept in the fridge, the chocolate loses its flavor and texture.
Breads
Some people keep their bread in the fridge to prevent it from getting moldy quickly. However, when it is kept in the fridge it will quickly become stale. Although, if you have an excess amount of bread you can freeze it and thaw it out later.
Cucumbers
Cucumbers are tastier and juicier when kept at room temperature. Keeping cucumbers in temperatures less than 50 degrees can actually cause damage to the vegetable. They will also stay fresher longer out of the fridge.
Cereal
After opening a cereal box, there is no need to put it in the fridge. The cereal will stay fresh in the pantry if you make sure to close the lid. When kept in the fridge, the cereal will lose its crunch and become soggy.
Pumpkin
If you find yourself with a pumpkin during the fall, never put it in the fridge. It will quickly become soggy and grow mold due to the humidity. It’s best to keep pumpkins on the counter or in a pantry.
Spices
There is a reason people have spice cabinets and not spice fridges. When spices are kept in the fridge they will lose their flavor and can clump together. Most spices, especially ground spices, are fine in a pantry or on a spice rack.
Apples
Your first instinct is to put your apples in the fridge, right? Well, they don’t have to be kept there! In fact, since apples produce ethylene, they will make other fruits and veggies ripen quicker. So, to keep your other veggies and fruits fresh, don’t put them with your apples.
Hot Sauce
Hot sauce is not something to be messed with. Due to the high acidity and strong ingredients, hot sauce preserves itself, so there is no need to put it in the fridge. When kept in a cold place, it can get thick and clumpy.