5 Foods You Don’t Know Belong In The Fridge And 5 That Don’t

If you've had problems identifying the food items that are best suited to the fridge and those that aren't, then this is for you.

First, we have outlined five food items that are not commonly refrigerated when they should be.

These foods should be in a refrigerator:

1. Nuts and Seeds

Nuts and seeds contain natural oils which may run rancid if they are kept at room temperature. Although rancid nuts and seeds may not pose any harm to your health, they lose their natural flavors and become rather unappealing. To keep yours fresher for longer, keep them in an airtight container and then place in the fridge. This way, your nuts and seeds can last for up to one year!

2. Eggs

The subject of refrigerating eggs remains widely debated and considerably so too. In countries like tbe United States, Australia, Japan, and Scandinavian countries, where eggs are washed before packaging, they should be kept in the fridge. While other countries that don't have such washing regulations can store eggs at room temperature. This is because eggs are thought to have self-protective layer that naturally prevents contamination. When they are washed, this layer is removed which poses the risk of contamination if they are not refrigerated immediately.

Bottomline: check your country's regulations regarding washing eggs and promptly decide if your eggs should be in the fridge or otherwise.

3. Syrups and Jams

Syrups and jams should be stored in a fridge once they have been opened. Refrigerated syrup can last up to one year and if you are concerned about eating cold syrup, simply warm the amount you want in a microwave before spreading on pancake or toast. On the other hand, jellies and jams usually have a shelf life of about a month and even less, if they contain little to no sugar.

Note: all store-bought spreads must be refrigerated after opening.

4. Cheeses

The proper way to keep your cheeses fresh and long-lasting for long periods is by wrapping them up in cheese paper or wax and parchment and then placing them in the fridge. Experts advise using this wrap method instead of a plastic container as the paper let's the cheese breath, preventing them from losing moisture. However, make sure to keep the cheese in the warmest section of your fridge.

5. Unprocessed Peanut Butter

Like nuts mentioned above, unprocessed natural butters should be stored in a refrigerator to prevent them from going rancid. Although rancid nut butter may not be harmful to consume, it will taste spoiled and lower the quality of any recipe they're used for.

NEXT, here are 5 food items that shouldn't be stored in the fridge:

Not every food item should be kept in the fridge — you can always do with more space in your fridge!

1. Bread

You may have gotten too many loaves of bread on your grocery run, but never let it make you refrigerate bread! When you place your bread in a fridge, it loses moisture and becomes stale quickly. To keep your bread fresh for longer, store it in a plastic bag at room temperature and slice as needed. If you want to store bread for even longer, wrap portions of it and then freeze.

2. Honey

Yes, honey can never spoil, so there's no need to go the extra length of keeping it in the fridge. According to experts, honey naturally has all the components of a long shelf life: acidity, low moisture, and hydrogen peroxide. In other words, you can keep it at room temperature for as long as you want!

3. Basil

Fresh herbs like basil can easily absorb the smells in your fridge, which makes it lose its delicious scent. Thus, the best storage methods for basil is to treat it like a bouquet of flowers and at room temp. All you have to do is trim the stems and place them in a glass with some water. Cover the bouquet loosely with a plastic bag and change the water every couple of days.

4. Coffee

The cold, moist air of the refrigerator and freezer naturally creates condensation, which adversely tampers with the delicious flavor of coffee. Whether you're dealing with ground or whole beans, your coffee will fare much better flavor-wise when you store it in an airtight container. Keep the container at room temperature and at the coolest part of your pantry away from direct sunlight.

5. Tomatoes

Storing fresh tomatoes at cold temperatures like in a refrigerator lowers the quality of its flavor and texture. Instead, keep your tomatoes at room temperature, and away from direct sunlight. They should also sit with the stem scar facing upward, which slows darkening and softening. In such proper storage conditions, your fresh tomatoes will last for two to five days.

However, if you want to slow the ripening of the tomatoes, keep them in the fridge. Just make sure to take them out and give them an hour to restore their natural flavor before use. Also, never keep them in the fridge for more than three days.

Knowledge is indeed power! Now you know how to lower food waste and how to increase the storage space in your fridge. Don't forget to share!