Do you know what foods really need refrigeration?
We all have a little idea on the subject. But our behaviors are often dictated by what our parents taught us.
And it differs a lot from family to family. For some foods, it doesn't change much.
But for others it is a matter of quality or even health.
Here are 3 lists to help you see more clearly. First, the list of foods that do not need refrigeration.
Then, those that you can refrigerate but do not necessarily need. And finally those who always need to be refrigerated:
Potatoes: The cold temperatures in your fridge will turn the starch in the potato into crystals. Result, when you cook them, they will have a bad taste (sweet and sour flavor) not very pleasant. It is therefore best to store them at room temperature. And preferably next to an apple! If so, find out the trick here.
Tomatoes: If you've ever tried this, you probably know why tomatoes shouldn't be stored in the fridge. They get really soft and lose their taste. Leave them outside.
Honey: Many people put honey in the fridge, which makes it hard and difficult to handle. But honey doesn't need to be refrigerated to stay good. Unless you like hardened honey, you can leave it in the cupboard quietly.
Onions: Onions have a longer shelf life in the refrigerator, but this is not without consequences. Like tomatoes, your onions will soften if left in the fridge. And they won't be as crunchy. In addition, other foods will also smell like onions. Put them outside the fridge at room temperature and away from your potatoes. Because if you leave them nearby, your onions will spoil more quickly.
Bread: If you leave the bread in the fridge, its texture will change and become harder. That said, you can leave it in the fridge if you don't plan on eating it right away. This will prevent you from having stale bread. It's still better to have bread that's a little harder than to throw away half of it because it's stale, isn't it?
Bananas: Most people store bananas out of the fridge, which is fine. Best to hang them as shown here. If you put them in the fridge, the skin will darken but the inside will still be good.
Pastries and cakes: Like bread, refrigerating pastries and cakes will keep them fresh longer. But the flip side is that they will go stale and harden faster. Unless they contain cream that requires refrigeration, you don't need to put them in the fridge. The best is to leave them outside under a bell and put a piece of bread on top.
Oils: Oils become thick and cloudy if left in the refrigerator. Even though it goes away when you take them out, you don't need to refrigerate them. The only exception is walnut oil which should be kept refrigerated after opening.
Apples: Apples keep easily for 1 week at room temperature and more if you put them in newspaper. But you can keep them even longer in the fridge. The question is how quickly you eat them and whether you like cold apples.
Peanut butter: You can put it in the fridge but what's the point, other than making it harder to spread? You can keep the peanut butter in the cupboard by putting it upside down.
Meat: This is obvious. Meat spoils quickly if you don't put it in the fridge. Fresh meat (or meat packaged after opening) should be eaten within 3-5 days. Minced meat and fish between 1 and 2 days. If you want to keep it longer, consider freezing the meat.
Fresh milk: This too is quite obvious. Store fresh milk in the fridge but avoid putting it in the fridge door. Why ? Because the temperature is not stable enough and it can cause the milk to sour faster. We have already talked about it here. Respect the dates of consumption. If the milk smells bad, it's gone sour.
Eggs: It is always recommended to keep eggs in the refrigerator. The last thing you want to eat is an expired egg. Because you risk being very ill. Our advice is to keep them in the fridge, in their box and away from foods that smell strong (like cheese or cabbage). Do you have any doubts about an egg? To find out if it's expired, here's the trick.
The cheeses: It is always recommended to put the cheeses in the refrigerator and preferably under a bell. But don't forget to take them out at least 1/2 hour before eating them to keep the taste intact. To keep the cheese longer and prevent mould, you can also use butter. We explain how here.
Condiments, jams and dressings: All foods where it says on the box "keep refrigerated after opening" should be refrigerated. On the other hand, you can store them in a cupboard before opening them (yes, even mayonnaise). But once you open them, put them in the fridge. Maple syrup also falls into this category. And to prevent mold in the jam jar, use powdered sugar.
The butter: Although it is possible to store a small amount of butter outside the fridge in a covered butter dish, it is best to put the butter block in the fridge. Leave the butter wrapped in its original packaging, avoiding tearing it. To keep the butter longer, wrap it in another layer of aluminum foil or cling film. This avoids drying it out. To easily cut it, run your knife under hot water.
