10 Things You Shouldn’t Refrigerate (Courtesy of Relish)
10 Things You Shouldn’t Refrigerate
Refrigeration can zap the favor of certain foods. Here’s a list of items that should skip the fridge: 1. Tomatoes: The chill of the icebox makes tomatoes dull and mealy. Store on the counter and keep your eye on them because when they hit their prime it’s time to get after it!
2. Potatoes: Cold temps will break down the starches in potatoes, making them unpleasantly sweet and gritty. Cool and dry darkness is a spud’s best bud.
3. Bread: The refrigerator dries it out fast. Instead, keep what you’ll eat within four days at room temperature and freeze the rest.
4. Onions: They like their original mesh bag (or any bag that allows for air circulation) in the pantry or in a vegetable bowl on the counter. Keep them away potatoes since potatoes emit gases that make them rot quickly.
5. Garlic: No need to refrigerate, it lasts forever in the pantry.
6. Coffee: The fridge and freezer create condensation, which can affect the flavor of ground coffee and beans. Coffee does best in original packaging in the pantry.
7. Melon: Keep whole melons like watermelon, cantaloupe and honeydew on the counter for best flavor. USDA research found that storage at room temp may even help keep the antioxidants better intact. Once cut, store in the refrigerator for 3 to 4 days.
8. Stone Fruit: Allow peaches, apricots, nectarines and plums to ripen at room temperature. If you can’t gobble ’em up right away, place in the fruit bin of the refrigerator for a few extra days.
9. Hot Sauce: The flavor is better at room temperature.
10. Honey: Placing honey in the refrigerator will thicken and crystallize the honey. Honey is all-natural and can stay good almost indefinitely in the pantry.