Storing These Food Items in Your Fridge May Actually Be Bad For You

Way of LifeJanuary 10, 2024

People have a tendency to just stash a lot of things inside their refrigerators. Oftentimes, you don’t even remember what’s inside your fridge. However, you should probably check and see if you have these items inside. Because if you do, then you better get those out because not everything should be refrigerated. You might just save yourself from having to spend more.

Oil

It is likely a given fact that oil solidifies in cold temperatures. Aside from that, the low temperature can also cause it to lose its flavor. Never pop that bottle of oil inside your fridge and just leave it in a cool, dark area like your pantry. Also, make sure not to store it somewhere that is too hot as the high temperature can make it go rancid quickly.

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Condiments

Most condiments are much better stored outside the refrigerator. This is because condiments like ketchup and mustard already have high contents of sugar, salt, and vinegar, which could act as preservatives. Storing hot sauce, soy sauce, fish sauce, jams and salad dressings in kitchen cabinets or someplace cool and dry is also fine.

Onions and Garlic

If you want to preserve the moisture, texture, and flavors of onions and garlic, then you probably should just leave it in a well-ventilated and dry place in your kitchen. The ventilation would also help keep it from getting moldy.

If you already sliced them and want to save them for your next cooking session, you can keep it inside an airtight container and pop it in the fridge. Although, jarred or processed variants may have a suggested storage option indicated on the label.

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Tomatoes

If you pop tomatoes inside your refrigerator before it even ripens, then don’t expect that it will fully ripen properly. Aside from that, putting it inside the fridge will make it lose its flavor and turn soft and mushy.

It’s recommended to store it at room temperature and away from direct sunlight. If you sliced half of it for a salad and want to store the other half for the next day, then refrigerating tomatoes are okay.

Tropical Fruits

With these fruits coming from warm environments, storing them in cold temperatures isn’t ideal. Tropical fruits like pineapples and mangoes should be stored at room temperature. However, it’s the opposite for when you slice it open. The juices inside the exposed fruit can promote the growth of bacteria when left outside in warm temperature. So, seal it inside a food container and refrigerate it.

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Citrus

For citrus, it really depends on what you prefer. If you want them nice and cold, then you can store it inside the fridge. With the citrus’ thick skin, you can also leave it out in the kitchen or dining room as it won’t go bad that easily. Like tropical fruits, it’s also best to place it inside the fridge once it’s cut.

Bananas

If you’re not going to use it to make banana bread, then avoid storing bananas inside the refrigerator. Doing so can negatively affect its ripening process and make it soft and mushy. However, if you notice that it’s starting to turn brownish, then you can peel it and store it in your freezer for when you feel like making a smoothie.