Is your refrigerator bursting at its seams? Are the shelves completely cluttered? If that is the case, you’re going to be glad to know that some of the foods taking up valuable fridge space are among the groceries you’re storing all wrong. In fact, lots of things are better left on the counter or in the pantry. A good rule of thumb is to think about where the ingredients are displayed in the grocery store; whether they are frozen, refrigerated or kept at room temp, follow suit at home. Here are some foods that you shouldn’t refrigerate.
Microsoft and partners may be compensated if you purchase something through recommended links in this article.
Bread
Whether you make bread at home or buy a sliced loaf from the grocery store, putting it in the fridge will make it dry out and go stale faster.
Microsoft and partners may be compensated if you purchase something through recommended links in this article.
How to store bread
Grocery store loaves should be kept in their plastic loaf casing at room temperature. And bakery breads that are usually sold in brown paper bags should be removed from the bag and wrapped tightly in plastic cling wrap and also kept at room temperature. The absolute best way to store all your loaves is in a bread box right in your kitchen. And if you’re not going to get through your loaf within a few days, know how to freeze and thaw bread.
Microsoft and partners may be compensated if you purchase something through recommended links in this article.
Bananas
Bananas are great for a quick breakfast or as an ingredient in muffins or simple five-ingredient desserts. Refrigerating bananas will make the peels get brown much faster, and you don’t want that unless you’re trying to over-ripen them. The fridge can also change a banana’s texture.
Microsoft and partners may be compensated if you purchase something through recommended links in this article.
How to store bananas
The best place to store bananas is simply on the counter. If you have extra ripe bananas you don’t know what to do with, make banana bread or peel and freeze them for healthy smoothies.
Microsoft and partners may be compensated if you purchase something through recommended links in this article.
Basil
Certain herbs like cilantro and parsley do just fine in the fridge and shouldn’t be stored elsewhere, but basil does way better at room temperature. Basil leaves actually wilt quicker when kept in the fridge and the leaves can turn black a lot sooner, which means the herb will be no good for pizza night at home.
Microsoft and partners may be compensated if you purchase something through recommended links in this article.
How to store basil
To keep your basil fresh, trim the tips of the stems. Then repurpose a glass jar and place the basil in water just as you would cut flowers. Even if the basil stems aren’t long enough, you can still place them in a jar the same way. Put the jar on the windowsill or somewhere it can get sun but not overheat. You can also cover the basil loosely with a plastic bag to help the leaves stay fresh even longer. Change the water if it starts to get murky.
Microsoft and partners may be compensated if you purchase something through recommended links in this article.
Potatoes
If you’re storing your potatoes in the fridge, you’re doing it wrong. The cold air can affect the flavor and texture of spuds and ruin your favorite potato salad recipe.
Microsoft and partners may be compensated if you purchase something through recommended links in this article.
How to store potatoes
Potatoes are pretty low maintenance and last for weeks. They are best stored in a cool, dark and airy place in a paper bag. Keep away from onions, which can cause them to sprout faster and take on the flavor of onions. Remember, toss out any green potatoes you may find in the bunch before whipping up our all-time best potato recipes.
Microsoft and partners may be compensated if you purchase something through recommended links in this article.
Tomatoes
Fresh tomatoes are something you should never pop in the fridge. Otherwise, seasonal juicy tomatoes will lose their flavor and texture, turning mushy and bland. And that’s a crime of the worst degree against summer produce.
Microsoft and partners may be compensated if you purchase something through recommended links in this article.
How to store tomatoes
Leave tomatoes out on the counter in a glass bowl. Easy peasy.
Microsoft and partners may be compensated if you purchase something through recommended links in this article.
Onions
Onions are probably one of the grocery items you’re storing all wrong. If you want to keep your unpeeled onions fresh for as long as possible, keep them outside the fridge — but away from potatoes.
Microsoft and partners may be compensated if you purchase something through recommended links in this article.
How to store onions
If you have a straw basket laying around, use it to store your onions. Baskets are well-ventilated and make for an optimal environment for storing onions, garlic and potatoes. And when you need to chop your onions, make sure you know how to cut onions without crying. If you want to save part of a cut onion, that can go in the fridge in a sealed container.
Microsoft and partners may be compensated if you purchase something through recommended links in this article.
Garlic
Speaking of garlic, placing bulbs of garlic in the fridge will make them sprout faster. Refrigerated garlic can also become moldy, rubbery and less flavorful.
Microsoft and partners may be compensated if you purchase something through recommended links in this article.
How to store garlic
Store your unpeeled garlic bulbs on the counter for the best results. You can also keep them with your onions in a straw basket.
Microsoft and partners may be compensated if you purchase something through recommended links in this article.
Sweet potatoes
Like other potatoes, there really is no need to use up precious fridge space to store sweet potatoes. They might also take even longer than usual to cook after being in the cold.
Microsoft and partners may be compensated if you purchase something through recommended links in this article.
How to store sweet potatoes
Microsoft and partners may be compensated if you purchase something through recommended links in this article.
Chocolate
You could store chocolate in the fridge, but that will actually degrade its quality. If refrigerated, chocolate can absorb fridge odors, be affected by condensation and become chalky and splotchy.
Microsoft and partners may be compensated if you purchase something through recommended links in this article.
How to store chocolate
Ideally, chocolate should be stored in a dark, dry, cool place around 62F. Keep it in a resealable plastic bag or other airtight container to keep it as fresh as possible and ready to eat and use in the best chocolate recipes. If your home is hot and there really isn’t a cool spot then keep the chocolate in an airtight container and move it to the fridge.
Microsoft and partners may be compensated if you purchase something through recommended links in this article.
Apples
If you prefer your fruits cold, you can refrigerate them, but heart-healthy apples tend to do better at room temperature. The cold air of the fridge can break down the crisp texture of the fruit.
Microsoft and partners may be compensated if you purchase something through recommended links in this article.
How to store apples
When you bring home fresh apples from the apple orchard or grocery store, place them in a fruit basket or a big bowl on the counter.
Microsoft and partners may be compensated if you purchase something through recommended links in this article.
Watermelon
Uncut watermelons should never be refrigerated. Once in the cold, watermelons can lose their sweet flavor and bright color and become mushy.
Microsoft and partners may be compensated if you purchase something through recommended links in this article.
How to store watermelons
Keep watermelons and other melons like honeydew and cantaloupe on the counter for maximum flavor. In fact, watermelons will keep for seven to 10 days at room temperature just fine. But once you cut the melon, pop it in the fridge for a few days. And it’s important to know how long cut fruit and other foods last in the fridge.
Microsoft and partners may be compensated if you purchase something through recommended links in this article.
Honey
Never ever put honey in the fridge — there is just no reason to do so. The golden natural sweetener can crystalize and harden in cold temperatures, making it much more difficult to drizzle on some breakfast oatmeal.
Microsoft and partners may be compensated if you purchase something through recommended links in this article.
Microsoft and partners may be compensated if you purchase something through recommended links in this article.
Cereal
Not too sure who needs to hear this, but do not refrigerate your cereal. The cool and moist refrigerator air will mingle with the crunchy sweetened flakes and make them soggy and stale.
Microsoft and partners may be compensated if you purchase something through recommended links in this article.
How to store cereal
Store your cereal boxes in a dark pantry at room temperature. Or above your cabinets, or on top of the fridge — wherever you want. Just not in the fridge. Use a clip to keep the plastic bag closed so the cereal doesn’t get stale.
Microsoft and partners may be compensated if you purchase something through recommended links in this article.
Coffee beans
Coffee beans have no place in the fridge — unless you want to ruin your brew. The humidity in the fridge can cause condensation to form on the beans, which can put a damper on the flavor of both ground and whole beans.
Microsoft and partners may be compensated if you purchase something through recommended links in this article.
How to store coffee beans
Microsoft and partners may be compensated if you purchase something through recommended links in this article.
Hot sauce
You might be surprised to know that hot sauce, even after being opened, doesn’t have to be refrigerated. There is plenty of vinegar and preservatives in most commercially bottled hot sauces to keep them fresh for a few years — if they last, that is.
Microsoft and partners may be compensated if you purchase something through recommended links in this article.
How to store hot sauce
If hot sauce is a pantry staple at your house, simply stash your bottles right alongside your dried pastas and canned beans. Just make sure the hot sauce is vinegar-based before doing so.
Microsoft and partners may be compensated if you purchase something through recommended links in this article.
Peanut butter
Childhood favorites like peanut butter and jelly never seem to get old, and peanut butter can be kept out of the refrigerator for months without going bad. Putting peanut butter in the fridge can also cause it to harden, which won’t be fun when you’re trying to spread some on bread. However, you should note that all-natural peanut butter can be kept in the fridge.
Microsoft and partners may be compensated if you purchase something through recommended links in this article.
How to store peanut butter
The National Peanut Board suggests storing processed brands of peanut butter (Skippy, Jif) in a cool, dry place with limited light and heat. Peanut butter is one of those groceries with a surprisingly long shelf life thanks to the stabilizers like palm oil and hydrogenated oils.
Microsoft and partners may be compensated if you purchase something through recommended links in this article.
Microsoft and partners may be compensated if you purchase something through recommended links in this article.
How to store butternut squash
The robust vegetable will keep nicely for a month or more in a cool and dark place. But once cut, you can refrigerate it in airtight containers if you’re not using the whole thing to add into a hearty soup.
Microsoft and partners may be compensated if you purchase something through recommended links in this article.
Cucumber
No need to take up space in your vegetable drawer with cucumbers. The fridge can actually damage the skin of a cucumber, making it go bad much quicker.
Microsoft and partners may be compensated if you purchase something through recommended links in this article.
How to store cucumbers
Cucumbers stay cool as can be just sitting on the counter. Storing them at room temperature will keep the cucumbers fresh and crisp to put into your salad.
Microsoft and partners may be compensated if you purchase something through recommended links in this article.
Stone fruit
Peaches, plums, nectarines and apricots should not be refrigerated if they’re unripe — doing so will cause them to not ripen at all.
Microsoft and partners may be compensated if you purchase something through recommended links in this article.
Microsoft and partners may be compensated if you purchase something through recommended links in this article.
Avocados
For the ideal avocado ripeness, do not store them in the fridge. In fact, refrigerating them might actually put a damper on the ripening process. There are a few tricks to extend the life of cut avocados, plus a genius hack to make guacamole last longer.
Microsoft and partners may be compensated if you purchase something through recommended links in this article.
How to store avocados
The best way to store avocados is at room temperature until they’re fully ripened. However, if you want to save half a cut avocado for later, sprinkle it with some lemon juice, pop it in an airtight container and then put it in the fridge. And these tips can help other foods last longer, too.
Microsoft and partners may be compensated if you purchase something through recommended links in this article.
Olive oil
This one might go without saying, but in case you wanted to be sure — do not stash your olive oil in the fridge. Once olive oil is stored in the fridge, it will harden, condense and become impossible to use.
Microsoft and partners may be compensated if you purchase something through recommended links in this article.
Microsoft and partners may be compensated if you purchase something through recommended links in this article.
