Do you often store most of the items from the grocery shopping you buy in the fridge? From spices to opened bags of chips, your fridge can sometimes end up looking like a dumping ground! But not all food is supposed to “chill” in the fridge (pun intended!). We tend to store all kinds of food, but there are some delicious foods that should be just kept outside, in room temperature. Confused?! Here’s the list of 5 delicious foods you should never refrigerate.
5 Common Foods We Refrigerate:
We refrigerate food for several reasons – to prevent bacterial growth and keep food safer for longer. The cold temperature of the fridge extends the shelf life of foods such as vegetables. Another reason we store food in the refrigerator is to reduce wastage (aka leftovers) and preserve the nutritional value and quality of perishable items. These are the common categories of food we should refrigerate:
1. Milk Products and Cheese.
2. Fruits and vegetables.
3. Meat, Poultry, and other Non-vegetarian items.
4. Salad dressings, sauces, ketchup, and other condiments.
5. Leftovers (so as to reduce food wastage).
5 Delicious Foods you Should Never Refrigerate:
1. Peanut Butter:
Have you ever noticed how the freshly-bought peanut butter comes out smooth and creamy, but once you keep it in the fridge, it becomes difficult to spread on to the bread and roti. The added oil in store-bought peanut butter would keep this delicious spread from spoiling for two to three months, according to the National Peanut. We tend to store opened up jars of everything in the fridge, but store-bought peanut butter can be stored outside; however, if it’s a homemade peanut butter, then it does need refrigeration to prevent it from spoiling.
2. Honey:
Pure honey can last for thousands of years without spoiling, as evidenced by archaeologists who discovered it in Egyptian tombs. So, it’s best to leave honey in your pantry because temperature lower than 10 degrees Celcius can cause honey to crystallize and that would change the texture and taste of honey. So, honey is one of those healthy foods you should never refrigerate!
Also Read: 5 Desi Foods Deepika Padukone Absolutely Loves
3. Chocolate:
Not only does chocolate absorb odors of other stuff from the fridge, they might also develop this white dusty layer which is called as “sugar bloom,” that is formed when moisture from the fridge comes in contact with the sugar in chocolate. This sugar bloom alters the texture and appearance of chocolate. Keep them outside if the weather is not too hot.
4. Raw Fruits:
Banana, avocado, pineapple, plum, papaya – these fruits when need warm temperature for the natural ripening process to happen. When you refrigerate raw fruits, the ripening process is delayed and you wouldn’t get the natural sweetness or texture from them. Keep them in a dry, dark place to facilitate the ripening process.
5. Pickles:
Pickling is a traditional method used to preserve vegetables and fruits, dating back thousands of years, long before refrigerators existed. Pickles typically contain a high amount of salt, vinegar, or oil, which ensures they remain unspoiled for a long time, eliminating the need for refrigeration.
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