We usually tend to buy groceries and other food items and tend to store them in our refrigerator in order to retain their shelf life. However, doing so is doing more harm than good for us. Here are 7 food items you should never store in a refrigerator.
PAY ATTENTION TO THESE 7 FOODS IN THE FRIDGE: BREAD
Putting food in the refrigerator is a common action that we carry out in good faith, convinced that this way it will last longer and not deteriorate. However, for certain foods in particular, the refrigerator is not necessary , as it risks causing our food to deteriorate sooner than expected.
Bread is a typical bread. Putting it in the refrigerator may seem like a good idea if you plan to keep it for several days, but the reality is that it changes the flavor and texture . Keeping it in the refrigerator speeds up the maturation of the bread, which dries sooner and appears more “rubbery”.
In addition, bread has the ability to absorb odors from other foods stored in the refrigerator, which is why it may also taste different . However, if we really can’t help but store bread in the refrigerator, there are a few precautions we can take .
For example, it makes more sense to opt for freezing : we cut our bread into slices and place them individually in freezer bags. At this point, simply defrost it and reheat it in the oven to enjoy it as if it had just been taken out of the oven.
Onions and Garlic
Onions, in particular, should preferably be stored in a cool, dry place when they are whole, for example in the cellar or in a pantry . The ideal temperature for their conservation is around 7-13° and they do not like humidity . Putting them in the refrigerator is therefore not the best solution.
Different situation for cut onions. In this case, they risk deteriorating more easily . For this reason, it is advisable to store them in the refrigerator , possibly in an airtight container so that they are exposed to air as little as possible. This way you will also prevent the smell of cut onion from spreading throughout the refrigerator.
And garlic ? Its bulbs , like the onion, prefer to be stored in a dry, cool and well-ventilated environment , such as a pantry . Pay particular attention to direct sunlight : it is absolutely not recommended for whole garlic bulbs.
However, if we have to store already cut garlic cloves , the refrigerator is the best option to preserve their freshness . As with onions , however, it is advisable to store garlic in an airtight container to protect it and prevent other foods from absorbing its odor .
We can store garlic cloves in the refrigerator for up to 2 weeks on average. However, it must be considered that by remaining in the refrigerator, the flavor of the garlic changes slightly, becoming more delicate.
Avoid These 7 Fridge Foods: Avocados and Potatoes
Can you store avocado in the refrigerator ? Yes, but it depends on the level of maturity it is at when we store it . An unripe avocado should preferably be kept out of the refrigerator until it fully ripens. Otherwise, we would slow down its maturation , which would force us to wait a long time before being able to consume it .
A ripe avocado, however, can be stored in the refrigerator if we intend to wait a few days before consuming it. This way its freshness will persist longer.
To best store it in the refrigerator, it would be a good idea to wrap the avocado in a towel or paper bag . By doing so, excess moisture will be absorbed and we will prevent our avocado from ripening too quickly.
The refrigerator is also suitable for an already opened avocado , which can be kept cool after rubbing the lemon pulp or olive oil, to prevent it from oxidizing .
And the potatoes? These are vegetables that require a different preservation method from other vegetables. In fact, it’s best to store whole potatoes in a dark, cool environment with good ventilation . If placed in the refrigerator , the starch in potatoes can turn to sugar more quickly, changing their flavor .
If, due to the heat, there is no cool place to store them, you can opt for the refrigerator , but be careful not to leave the potatoes in the refrigerator for more than a week.
Tomatoes and Olive Oil
We come to a food whose conservation is often debated: tomatoes . Generally, it is not recommended to store tomatoes in the refrigerator unless they have reached a high level of maturity and we want to keep them for a few more days.
Why is the refrigerator not suitable for tomatoes ? Mainly a matter of taste : low temperature can change the consistency and flavor of tomatoes, making them less flavorful and stringy . To keep our tomatoes in perfect condition , the ideal is to store them at room temperature , protecting them from direct sunlight.
However, if the tomatoes are really very ripe and we need to keep them a little longer , we can put them in the refrigerator . Little tip: before consuming them once they have been removed from the refrigerator, let the tomatoes warm up to room temperature . This way the flavor will be better .
And olive oil ? the olive oil must be kept cool and in a dark place. The cold of the refrigerator, in fact, can make the oil denser and cloudier , or lead to the formation of condensation inside the bottle, which would compromise the quality of our oil due to humidity .
As a general rule, olive oil should be stored at a temperature of 20-25° in an airtight container and away from direct sunlight.
