10 things you shouldn’t store in the fridge
Your fridge is the go-to for storing all kinds of foods. From crisp vegetables to fresh fish, this appliance is brilliant for keeping your items at a chilled temperature, helping them to last longer.
However, your fridge isn’t the answer to all food storage. In fact, there are some items you should keep out of the fridge. Such things can actually degrade in the cold conditions, or impair other items, leading to more food waste. Interested to know more? We’ve listed 10 of them here.
1. Bread
You should never keep bread in the fridge. The starch molecules in bread crystallise very quickly at cool temperatures, which causes the bread to turn stale much faster when refrigerated.
Shop-bought loaves should be kept in an air-tight plastic bag at room temperature, rather than in the fridge. For bakery breads that are usually sold in a paper bag, remove them from the bag, wrap tightly in compostable clingfilm or a beeswax wrap and store at room temperature.
Bread boxes and Lakeland bread bags are also great if you want to keep a loaf for a couple of days.
2. Onions
You may think that because onions are a vegetable, they belong in the salad crisper drawer of your fridge. But actually, they’d be better off in dry, ventilated areas – plus, keeping them away from other food stops them spreading their strong smell where it isn’t wanted.
Make sure that you store them in a dark place, too, otherwise they’ll sprout. It’s also worth noting that if you only use half an onion, you can freeze the rest.
3. Garlic
There’s no problem with keeping garlic in the fridge per se, but if you’re pushed for space, garlic will live happily in a dry, ventilated area.
Once peeled or cut, it’s better to store your garlic in the fridge using an airtight container or a silicone pod.
If you want to avoid a smelly fridge when storing chopped garlic or onions, you could place an open ramekin of bicarbonate of soda at the back. This will actively deodorise for three months before it needs changing. If you want to save your bicarb, there are also generic fridge deodorisers you can buy.
4. Avocado
Any avocado lover knows that there’s only a short window between them being rock-hard and turning to mush. Even the ready-to-eat ones can be pretty firm when you bring them home, so keep them in open brown paper bags at room temperature and, if you want to speed the ripening process up further, cosy them up with a banana.
Only move them to the fridge once ripe if you don’t plan to eat them immediately; once cut, avocados are best stored in the fridge in a food container with a lid, or protected with a silicone avocado hugger.
5. Tomatoes
These taste better at room temperature and of very little if they’re too cold, so whip them out and keep them on the kitchen countertop away from direct sunlight.
6. Honey
Honey is a natural preservative and doesn’t require refrigeration. Plus, it becomes hard and difficult to spread when it’s too cold. Put it back in the cupboard!
7. Cake
Unless your cake has a real cream or cream cheese filling or icing, it’s fine to store it in an airtight container for around three days (if it hangs around that long!).
8. Melon
If the melon is whole, keep it in the bowl! By that, we mean the fruit bowl.
Once you’ve cut into it, wrap it tightly in cling film, a beeswax wrap or place it in a large food storage container and store it in the fridge. The same goes for mangoes and peppers.
9. Coffee
Whether it’s in bean or ground form, coffee should never be stored in the fridge, as it easily absorbs the smells of other foods. Keep it in an airtight container instead.
10. Anything hot
Whether you’re dealing with takeaway leftovers or something you’ve freshly cooked, it’s never a good idea to put items that are hot straight in the fridge. Doing so can increase the temperature of your refrigerator as well as any nearby items, which promotes bacterial growth and makes the appliance work harder.
Likewise, you don’t want to leave items sitting on the side for too long either, as bacteria can quickly multiply here while the temperature is in the “danger zone”. It’s best to let the items cool first and move them into the fridge as soon as they’re at room temperature.
GHI Tip: To help make the most of your fridge space, check the food packet instructions to ensure that foods that are suitable can go in the freezer.
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