Even food deteriorates more quickly these days due to the intense heat. Therefore, putting them all in the refrigerator is the first thought that comes to mind. However, is that truly the best course of action? You are doing something incorrectly if you regularly keep these 7 foods in the refrigerator, which may surprise you. Let us ascertain their nature.
Handle these seven foods in the refrigerator with caution:
Bread
We frequently put food in the refrigerator with the sincere belief that it would keep longer and not go bad. On the other hand, some meals do not need to be refrigerated; in fact, we run the risk of food rotting sooner than we think. This is the situation with bread, for instance. Although it can seem like a good idea to store it in the refrigerator if we plan to preserve it for a few days, doing so actually alters the texture and flavor of the food. In actuality, bread that is refrigerated ages more quickly because it dries out and becomes “softer” sooner.
Bread might also taste different because it can absorb the flavors of other meals that are kept in the refrigerator. Nonetheless, there are certain safety measures we may do if we absolutely can’t resist keeping bread in the refrigerator. For instance, freezing makes more sense. We slice the bread and place each slice in a freezer bag. To enjoy it as if it were freshly made, all that is needed at this point is to defrost and reheat it in the oven.
Garlic with Onions
Use caution when storing garlic and onions in the refrigerator. Specifically, it is best to keep entire onions in a pantry or basement or somewhere cool and dry. They prefer temperatures between 7 and 13 °C for storage, and they dislike dampness. Thus, it is not the best idea to store them in the refrigerator. When it comes to chopped onions, things are different. They are more likely to spoil more quickly in this situation. Because of this, it’s best to store them in the refrigerator, preferably in an airtight container, to minimize their exposure to air.
In this manner, you also prevent the refrigerator from smelling like chopped onions. And what about garlic? Similar to onions, these bulbs do best when kept in a pantry or other dry, cool, and well-ventilated space. Take extra care when exposed to direct sunlight; whole garlic bulbs should not be exposed to it at all.
However, the refrigerator is the ideal place to keep already-cut garlic cloves fresh if we must store them. To preserve it and stop other foods from absorbing the smell, it is advised to store the garlic, just like onions, in an airtight container. Garlic cloves can be stored in the fridge for up to two weeks on average. But keep in mind that the flavor of the garlic becomes more subtle and alters slightly when it’s refrigerated.
Avert these 7 refrigerated foods: potatoes and avocados
Can you keep avocados in the refrigerator? Absolutely, but it also relies on how ripe we store it. It is best to keep a green avocado unrefrigerated until it is completely ripe. If we didn’t, we would have to wait a long period before we could eat it since we would postpone its ripening. If we want to wait a few days to eat a ripe avocado, we can store it in the refrigerator. Its freshness will endure longer in this way.
It would be a good idea to wrap the avocado in a towel or paper bag to help it keep longer in the refrigerator. By doing this, we can absorb the extra moisture and stop the avocado from ripening too soon.
Once an avocado is opened, it should be refrigerated to maintain its freshness. The pulp can be prevented from oxidizing by rubbing it with lemon or olive oil. How about potatoes? Compared to other vegetables, these ones need a distinct kind of preservation. In actuality, it is preferable to keep whole potatoes in a cool, dark, and well-ventilated space. The potatoes’ starch can convert to sugar more quickly in the fridge, changing the potatoes’ flavor. We can put the potatoes in the refrigerator if there isn’t a cold location to keep them because of the heat, but we shouldn’t keep them there for longer than a week.
Olive Oil with Tomatoes
We now reach a food that is frequently disputed: tomatoes. Generally speaking, tomatoes should not be kept in the refrigerator unless they are quite ripe and we intend to retain them for a few more days. Why aren’t tomatoes suited for the refrigerator? Mostly a taste issue: the cool temperature can alter the tomatoes’ flavor and texture, making them less sticky and pleasant. The best way to preserve our tomatoes is to store them at room temperature and shield them from the sun.
Nonetheless, we can store the tomatoes in the refrigerator if they are extremely overripe and we need to keep them fresher for a little while longer. Advice: After removing them from the refrigerator, let the tomatoes to come to room temperature before eating. The flavor will be improved in this way. How about olive oil, too? In this instance, it is highly discouraged to store olive oil in the refrigerator; instead, it should be kept cool and dark.
In reality, the refrigerator’s cold can thicken and obscure the oil or cause condensation to collect within the bottle, which would lower the oil’s quality because of the moisture. Olive oil should generally be kept out of direct sunlight, in an airtight container, and at a temperature between 20 and 25°C.