15 Foods to Never Put in the Refrigerator

It is quite natural for all of us to want to preserve and protect the foods we purchase. With that in mind, we always think that the best way to do that is by putting them in our refrigerators. However, there are certain foods which should never be placed in the fridge. Below, we have put together a list containing 15 foods which to never put in the refrigerator. The results and certain entries, may surprise you.

1. Bananas:

Because they retain nutrients better outside the fridge, bananas 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.

2. 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.

3. 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.

4. 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.

5. Garlic:

Believe it or not, placing garlic in your refrigerator will actually cause it to sprout. The garlic will also get moldy and even rubbery. Moreover, inside your fridge, the look of the garlic will rarely change. This means you won’t be able to tell if it’s any good until you finally slice it open.

6. 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.

7. 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.

8. 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.

9. 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.

10. Melons

 

11. 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.

12. Fruits like: Apricots, Kiwi, Peaches, Plums and Mangoes:

Just like tomatoes and other foods placed in refrigerators have their ripening process stopped, the same goes for these fruits. Kiwi, apricots, mangoes, plums and peaches can also lose their nutrients if placed in a cooler. To avoid the cold temperatures of the fridge breaking down the membranes of the fruits, place them in a dry, cool place such as your counter.

13. 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.

14. Salad