There have certainly been a lot of revolutionary devices that make our homes more convenient in a number of ways. One of those devices is the refrigerator and I can’t think of anything else that is more convenient or that does its job better than this kitchen appliance.
Even though the refrigerator helps to keep foods at lower temperatures, it should not be used for every food you have in the home. For example, it may help to keep raw meat or milk from spoiling quickly but if you use it for the wrong foods, they may actually spoil faster at the lower temperature!
The following food should never be kept in a refrigerator. Keep them at room temperature instead.
Bread – Many people keep bread in the refrigerator, thinking it will make it last longer. The opposite is true, as it will dry the inside of the bread out faster than if you left it on the counter.
Garlic – Garlic also dries out when you keep it in the refrigerator. You may also have a problem with the odor of garlic seeping into other foods and ruining the flavor.
Potatoes – The starches inside the potato are turned into sugars at lower temperatures. Store your potatoes at room temperature and preferably a dark location.
Tomatoes – If you keep tomatoes in the refrigerator, they tend to turn to mush more quickly. The best place to keep a tomato is on the counter top if they are ripe or, if they are unripe, put them on the windowsill.
Onions – You can ruin the flavor of onions by keeping them in the refrigerator. The only time you should refrigerate an onion is if it is partially used.
Honey – Honey does not come with an expiration date but it does tend to crystallize as time goes by. Keeping your honey in the refrigerator speeds up the crystallization process.
Basal – The leaves of a basil plant will do quite well in warm weather but when you put them in the refrigerator, it will affect the flavor.
Melons – It is not necessary to store melons in the refrigerator, unless they have already been cut. They will last quite a long time on your counter. Storing melons in the refrigerator can also reduce their antioxidant level. After you have cut the melon, you should keep it in the refrigerator.
Apples – Many people store apples in the refrigerator but it doesn’t make them last any longer. They tend to lose their crispness and it will mute their flavor.
Spices – Spices will also lose their flavor when you store them in the refrigerator. Most spices can be stored at room temperature in a cupboard, as they are dry.
Ground Coffee – The best place to keep ground coffee is in a sealed container at room temperature. Coffee tends to pick up flavors from nearby food, so keeping it refrigerated with leftovers can ruin your cup of Java in the morning.
Baked Goods – Many people feel that they can preserve baked goods longer in the refrigerator but it actually causes them to dry out quickly.
Hot Sauce – Unless the bottle specifically says to do keep a hot sauce in the refrigerator, you can store it at room temperature. In the refrigerator, hot sauces tend to lose their flavor and viscosity.
Fruits with Stones – Peaches, nectarines, plums and other fruits with stones should be kept at room temperature on the counter rather than in the refrigerator. They will only reach their prime level of sweetness at room temperature.
Oil – The only types of oils that should be kept in the refrigerator are those derived from nuts.
Soy Sauce – The vast majority of soy sauce can be kept at room temperature as it has an incredibly long shelf life.
Via: Aunty Acid
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