Foods That You Should Never Put In The Refrigerator
Written by Sneh Chaudhry on November 10, 2021
1. Avocados
Avocados can be tricky fruits to manage. Keeping them in the refrigerator halts the ripening process so never keep them refrigerated. Just store your avocados on the counter at room temperature. If they are already ripe then use them immediately.
To ripen avocados, we suggest placing them in a brown paper bag along with an apple or banana for a few days (usually around two or three) until ripe. The apple (or banana) releases ethylene gas which causes the avocados to ripen more quickly.
2. Donuts
There is nothing more delicious than a freshly baked donut. But what do you do when you have too many? Firstly, that sounds like an amazing problem. Secondly, don’t fret, and whatever you do, don’t put them in the fridge.
The fridge will make your donuts stale and soggy so it’s best to just keep them at room temperature and make sure that they are covered. They won’t last long, though. Freshly-baked donuts should only be kept for around two days maximum.
3. Aged Cheese
If you’re a cheese aficionado then you probably already know this, but hard cheeses should never go in the fridge. It may sound odd as cheese is a dairy product but it’s true! If hard cheese is left in the fridge then it turns from hard to rock hard.
Hard cheese goes through a curing process that takes around six months to complete. After its cured, there is no need to keep it chilled. Just store it in a cool, dark place like your pantry or cupboard. Other cheeses need to be refrigerated, so make sure to check if it has been aged or not.
4. Potatoes
Do you want sweet and gritty potatoes? No, we didn’t think so either. Putting your potatoes in the fridge quickly turns the vegetable’s starches into gooey sugar. Yuck! Just keep them in the pantry away from extreme temperatures.
Once a potato has been cooked make sure that you keep it in the fridge. Baked potatoes wrapped in aluminum foil should never be left to sit out at room temperature, as they can form deadly strains of botulism.
5. Sealed Tuna
Some people think that unopened canned tuna should go in the refrigerator but that isn’t the case at all. Yes, it is fish, but it comes in a can from an unrefrigerated section of the grocery store for a reason.
Keep your cans of tuna at room temperature stored in the pantry or cupboard. After the can has been opened then you can store it in the fridge. Just put the tuna in a sealed container (don’t keep it in the tin can!) and it will keep for around three to four days.
6. Chocolate-Hazelnut Spread
It might surprise you to hear that chocolate-hazelnut spreads such as Nutella do not need to go in the refrigerator. It even says so on the label. In the cold of refrigeration temperatures, the spread actually becomes a solid and will no longer spread.
The sugar content of the spread serves as a preservative and prevents bacteria growth. Spreads like Nutella harden when refrigerated due to the high-fat content from the hazelnuts. So, if you want a smooth and creamy spread, keep it out of the fridge!
7. Garlic
Full bulbs of garlic should be stored in a cool, dry place, such as your pantry. Keep them in a ventilated container. If you keep them in an airtight container they will mold quite rapidly. If you store your garlic properly it will stay good for months.
Once the head of the garlic clove is broken you should use all the cloves without around 10 days. Garlic is a superfood, so make sure that you keep your garlic good for as long as possible and avoid wastage.
8. Onions
Whole, uncut, onion bulbs should never be kept in the fridge. If you do, they will quickly become moldy and mushy from the humidity in the refrigerator. When onions are chilled the starches inside the bulb are converted to sugars.
If they are left long enough in the fridge, the onion will liquefy completely. And nobody wants that. Onions should be kept in a cool dry place in a ventilated container or easier, just keep them in the mesh bag they already come in.
9. Eggs
This is a controversial food to keep out of the refrigerator for sure. But it actually is fine to keep eggs at room temperature. As a general rule though, if you buy eggs in the refrigerated section, keep on refrigerating them.
If you buy eggs at room temperature, then it’s fine to keep doing so or put them in the fridge, should you wish. According to Tim Hayward, presenter for the Food Programme on BBC Radio 4, “A fresh, free-range egg should last beautifully at room temperature for at least a week.”
10. Coffee
Never ever keep your coffee or coffee beans in the fridge or freezer. That’s what all the experts say, including Starbucks. The fridge and freezer are far too humid and will make your coffee tasteless and less aromatic.
The only reasons why you should even think about putting coffee in the freezer is if you have either bought in bulk and won’t be using it right away or if you are not a daily coffee drinker and just keep it around for guests.
11. Honey
If you put honey in the refrigerator it will begin to crystallize and turn into a clumpy sugary mess. Not recommended. Experts say that the best storage for honey is in your pantry, away from extreme temperatures. Honey can also be dangerous due to botulism and should NEVER be fed to children under 12 months old.
It might surprise you to hear that technically, honey never goes bad. The color and consistency will change over time but the properties of honey and its high sugar content protect it from growing bacteria as long as it’s stored properly.
12. Butter
This next one is going to be a tad controversial. But butter can actually be left out of the fridge. And once you try it you will understand. Room-temperature butter spreads like heaven on earth. Who wouldn’t want that?
13. Melon
Melons are sweetest and juiciest at room temperature. That goes for all melons, whether watermelon, cantaloupe or honeydew. The USDA actually did research on the topic and found that this was indeed the case and that being at room temperature helps to keep antioxidants intact.
Not only will the melon have more antioxidants, they retain more nutrients at room temperature and are tastier. Once you have cut the melon, then you should wrap it in cling wrap and store the remaining pieces in the fridge. The cut melon should last for at least three days.
14. Basil
Keeping basil in the refrigerator is one thing you for sure don’t want to do. When in the fridge, you will find that basil very rapidly turns into a wilted brown mess. Yuck. Some herbs do well in the refrigerator, like parsley and cilantro but it’s best to keep basil at room temperature.
The best thing to do in order to keep your basil fresh, aromatic, and full of flavor is to just trim the stems and place them in a glass of water like you would do with flowers. This way your glass of basil can also be used as a decorative piece in your kitchen and add some color to the room. It’s a win-win situation.
15. Eggplant
If you plan on using your eggplant within about two days of purchasing it, it’s best to keep it out of the refrigerator. Just place it in a cool, dry place away from direct sunlight. Eggplants are best kept at room temperature.
If you don’t plan on using your eggplants right away then they can be kept in the crisper of your refrigerator to increase their longevity. Eggplants are quite sensitive to ethylene gases produced by bananas, tomatoes, and melons, so it’s best to keep them away from those fruits.
