Some food items we buy are clearly marked to refrigerate after opening, as an example foods like dairy products and meats among others.
There are some items we buy that are not marked as to how to store it once you have it at home in your kitchen.
These food items include the following.
Tomatoes
Storing tomatoes in the refrigerator can make tomatoes dull and mealy.
In his book, “Food and Cooking” – food scientist Harold McGee explains that ripe tomatoes, are especially sensitive to chilling at temperatures below 55ºF and suffer damage to their membranes that results in minimal flavor development, blotchy coloration, and a soft, mealy texture when they’re brought back to room temperature.
Store them on the counter (under-ripe ones can go on the windowsill).
If your tomato is a little overripe, putting it in the fridge will stop the ripening process preventing issues like mold.
Serious Eats tested over ripe tomatoes by storing them in the refrigerator, and the results showed that the flavor was not negatively impacted by the cold.
If they ripen to fast on the counter top, you could roast them and make them into tomato sauce.
Serious Eats is an award-winning food and drink website, visited by hungry readers every month to view rigorously tested recipes, science-driven cooking techniques, and robust equipment reviews.
Read more here about:
Indeterminate Or Determinate Tomatoes – Which Is Right For Your Garden?
Melon
Keep whole melons like watermelon, cantaloupe and honeydew on the counter for best flavor.
USDA research found that storage of melons at room temp may even help keep the antioxidants better intact.
Some supermarkets sell half melons, these should be stored in the refrigerator and used within 3 to 4 days.
What happens if you leave a cut melon out?
Dispose of any cut melon pieces left out for longer than 2 hours. Bacteria can begin to grow on the cut melon if it is not refrigerated.
This can lead to spoilage and food poisoning. Be sure to throw out any melon left out at room temperature for more than 2 hours instead of storing it.
As a general rule, you should not keep melon for more than a week unless you intend to freeze it.
With your bought melon why not try this recipe out: Watermelon Goat Cheese Salad
Avocado
Keeping avocados in the refrigerator halts the ripening process so never store them in the refrigerated. Just put them on the counter at room temperature.
If they are already ripe then use them immediately.
To ripen avocados, we suggest you put them in a brown paper bag along with an two to three apples or bananas for a few days until ripe.
The apple or banana releases ethylene gas which causes the avocados to ripen more quickly.
Once your avocados are ripe, try this recipe: Citrus Fennel and Avocado Salad
Potatoes
Cold temperatures will break down the starches in potatoes, making them unpleasantly sweet and gritty.
It is best to store them in the dark we’re it is cool and dry.
When your ready to use your potatoes try this recipe: Organic BBQ Hot Dogs and Potato Pack
Onions
Storing uncut onions in the refrigerator can make them moldy and mushy.
Without their exterior layers intact, cut onions are susceptible to bacteria and mold.
To reuse a cut onion, you’ll need to prepare it correctly, choose an appropriate container, and store it at the right temperature.
If you have half of an onion remaining or a few large wedges, then wrap them tightly in plastic wrap.
Plastic wrap will insulate the onion from the outside air while helping it retain moisture.
Store the cut wrapped onion in your refrigerator at or below 40 °F (4 °C).
Do not at room temperature. Keeping them at a low temperature inhibits the growth of bacteria and allows you to safely reuse them later.
Garlic
Preserve the powerful flavor of garlic by storing in a cool, dry and ventilated container.
Once the head has been broken open, use the cloves within 10 days.
You seriously need to try this delicious plate: Asparagus with Garlic and Smoked Bacon
Coffee
Never store ground coffee or coffee beans in the fridge or freezer.
Starbucks states that roasted coffee beans should be kept at room temperature. They go on to say when you store it in the freezer or refrigerator, moisture condenses on the coffee and can extract the flavor.
The fridge and freezer are far too humid and will make your coffee tasteless and less aromatic.
Read more here about Coffee-Grinding Tips and Facts
Hard Cheese
If you’re a cheese connoisseur then you probably already know this, but hard cheeses should never go in the fridge.
It may sound odd as cheese is a dairy product. But if hard cheese is left in the fridge then it turns from hard to rock hard.
Hard cheese goes through a curing process that takes about six months or more to complete (depending on the hard cheese being cured).
After its cured, there is no need to keep it chilled. Just store it in a cool, dark place like your pantry or cupboard.
Other cheeses not aged need to be refrigerated, so make sure to check if it has been aged or not.
Read more here about the Top Nine Varieties Of Cheese’s Enjoyed By Food Lovers
Apples
Freshly picked apples will do well on your counter or in a fruit bowl.
If they aren’t eaten after a week or two, make them last a little bit longer by then chilling them in the fridge.
If you love apple pie, you’ll like the flavor of Baked Apples Apple Pie
Berries
Fresh berries from your local farm taste amazing at room temperature so it’s the sooner the better for munching.
For long-term storage keep them in the fridge.
To avoid soggy or moldy berries, rinse just before eating.
After you rinse them, try the berries in this recipe: Berries and Vanilla Pudding Pie
Stone Fruit
Allow peaches, apricots, nectarines and plums to ripen at room temperature.
If you don’t use them right away, place them in the fruit bin of the refrigerator for a few extra days.
This recipe is wonderful with fresh peaches (can use frozen): Peach and Pecan Cake
