Education logo

Don’t Refrigerator This Foods

10 Food avoid the Refrigerator

By Ataullah Published 2 years ago 5 min read

1. Tomatoes

Tomatoes can take longer to ripen because of the cold air in your refrigerator. Texture and flavor may be lost as a result of this. You wouldn't want this to happen to your tomatoes, right? Keeping your tomatoes out of the refrigerator is ideal. If you store them in a fruit bowl, for example, they will stay fresh for a lot longer. In addition to adding some color and variation to your counter, you will preserve the texture and flavour in this manner.

2. Basil

You may be wondering, "Why is it on this list?" when we frequently find fresh basil leaves in the supermarket's chilled department. In reality, basil wilts easily in cold weather and is not cold-resistant. Furthermore, the aroma of the other foods kept in your refrigerator will be absorbed by the plant. The easiest way to preserve your basil is to treat it like any other flower in a vase or plant: place the stem in a glass of water. This will keep it fresher for longer. Your basil will keep fresh for months if you do this and you can harvest leaves as needed.Should you gather more leaves than you need, you can blanch them for ten seconds in boiling water, allow them to cool, and then freeze them for use in meals even months down the road!

3. Potatoes

Your potatoes' skins become rubbery and spoil more quickly in your refrigerator because of the low temperature. In actuality, storing them outside of the refrigerator slows down the rate at which the starch turns into sugar. Potatoes that are kept in the refrigerator for extended periods of time may start to grow drier, sweeter, and even a bit gritty. Store these in a pantry or basement, somewhere not too cold, rather than in the refrigerator. To keep them tasting fresher for longer, they can also be kept in a paper bag that allows for some air circulation.

4. Olive Oil and Sunflower Oil

Unstable mono- and polyunsaturated fats, such as these healthful oils, begin to coagulate when stored in the refrigerator, and they may become thick, opaque, and lumpy. On the other hand, heat denatures these molecules over time and alters their formation, making them less beneficial. Over time, the sunshine could also turn these oils rancid. Use dark glass or metal bottles to store your oil, and keep these in a cool, dark spot like your pantry. Oils will last up to 18 months with this help.

5. Onions

If onions are stored properly, they can last for a very long time.Similar to how potatoes are best kept, onions should also be kept in cold, dry locations—ideally in the pantry. But take caution: DO NOT keep onions and potatoes on the same shelf. In just a few weeks, onions in an enclosed pantry will go bad due to the fumes released from potatoes. To fix this, keep potatoes and onions on different shelves.

6. Bread

If bread is kept in the refrigerator for more than a week, it will start to lose its flavor and develop mold. You can extend the shelf life of your bread by slicing it into pieces and freezing it in bags with foil sealing. The best method for defrosting bread is to preheat your oven to 300 degrees, completely cover your bread with foil, and heat it for 15 to 30 minutes, depending on how big your loaf or slices are. By doing this, the bread will remain as fresh as the day it was purchased. Sliced and pita bread should be stored in a zippered bag in a dark, cool place, such as a bread box.

7. Avocados

When avocados are ripe but not soft, they are creamy and full of taste without becoming stringy or stale. The ripening process will be slowed down if they are kept in the refrigerator. Store avocados only in the refrigerator if you buy them already ripe or if you cut them open. If the avocado is sliced, store it in a zipped ziplock bag with all air removed, keeping the seed intact in the reserved half. The avocado will stay fresh this way for up to a day. Lime juice applied to the open cut will preserve the avocado for up to two days.

8. Coffee

There are others who argue that coffee will last considerably longer if it is kept shut in the refrigerator, but that is just untrue. Like basil, fresh coffee grounds and beans take on the aromas of other items in your fridge and develop their own unique flavors. The ideal way to keep your coffee grounds and beans is in an airtight, dark or opaque glass container. If you consider yourself to be a coffee connoisseur, you should know that if you store your beans and grinds in plastic containers, the plastic will smell like coffee. As a result, coffee that has been stored in a plastic container will eventually lose its flavor. You get it? Keep out of plastic storage. At all.

9. Eggs

The majority of us always keep a few eggs in the refrigerator. These are highly useful proteins that are simple to prepare for any meal. If your eggs are fresh from the outside hens and you know you'll use them within a week or so, save them in dark, room temperature cartons and don't wash them until you're ready to use them. They need to be refrigerated after washing since the natural oils that once sealed the egg shell and shielded the egg within have vanished. Eggs that you don't use right away can be kept in the refrigerator as long as you don't put them on the door. The constant changes in temperature from opening the door will make the eggs go bad faster. Try to keep your eggs in the back of the fridge. They'll last longer.

10. Condiments

A lot of folks keep their Katsup, soy sauce, and mayo in the refrigerator. In reality, "refrigerate after opening" is printed on a lot of condiment bottles. It is not, however, at all required to do so. Many condiments can be kept in a cool, dark environment. That might be your cabinet, but it might also be the refrigerator. You can store mayonnaise and Kats up outside of the refrigerator. However, if you manufacture your own condiments, be aware that they need always be kept refrigerated. Homemade goods will definitely go bad faster if they are not refrigerated because they frequently don't include nearly as many preservatives as store-bought meals.

degreeteacherhigh school

About the Creator

Reader insights

Be the first to share your insights about this piece.

How does it work?

Add your insights

Comments

There are no comments for this story

Be the first to respond and start the conversation.

Sign in to comment

    Find us on social media

    Miscellaneous links

    • Explore
    • Contact
    • Privacy Policy
    • Terms of Use
    • Support

    © 2026 Creatd, Inc. All Rights Reserved.