Buzz
Storing honey in the fridge can lead to nutrient loss. The excessively low temperature also accelerates cucumber spoilage.
1. Refrigerating Foods: Do's and Don'ts
Storing honey in the fridge can lead to nutrient loss. The excessively low temperature also accelerates cucumber spoilage.
Eggs, flour, various grains, etc., should be refrigerated.
Storing honey in the fridge can lead to nutrient loss. The excessively low temperature also accelerates cucumber spoilage.
Most of us are used to keeping food in the refrigerator, from fruits, vegetables to candies, and bread. Some even refrigerate sauces. While the fridge can extend the shelf life of food, it can also be detrimental to them.
Here's how to store different types of food, as recommended by Bright Side:
Items that should be refrigerated, stored in a pantry, and kept away from direct sunlight:
Bánh mì:
It's best kept in a sealed box with a sprinkle of salt to prevent mold. Leaving the bread from the store in its bag may make it soft, but it's likely to be covered in mold after a few days. However, storing bread in the fridge compartment is not the best idea because here, the bread will quickly become hard and spoil. On the contrary, if you place it in the freezer compartment, you can keep bread for 4-6 months.
Chocolate:
Very easy to store. Just leave chocolate in a dark, cool place, but avoid putting it in the fridge. When chocolate is stored in the fridge, after a while, a cloudy white layer may appear on its surface due to condensed moisture. This doesn't affect the taste but makes chocolate look less appealing.
Honey:
It has no specific expiration date and can last for years if stored correctly. Just keep honey in a dark, cool place, but avoid the fridge. In the fridge, honey can crystallize and lose some nutrients.
Olive oil:
Should be stored at room temperature, away from direct sunlight. Don't put olive oil in the fridge because the low temperature leads to the formation of white particles in the oil, which is condensed water.
Onions, garlic:
The best way to store onions and garlic is to put them in a small box and place them in a cool, dry place in the kitchen. If you have many onions, you can tie them together and hang them. Storing them in the fridge, onions, and garlic will spoil faster, mainly because they are surrounded by moisture.
Things that can be left on the kitchen shelf or dining table:
Oranges and various citrus fruits:
You can leave them right on the kitchen shelf, and they won't spoil too quickly.
If you've peeled them and haven't finished eating, wrap the peel back and store it in a sealed bag. No need to use the fridge for storage, as the cold temperature may diminish the taste and nutritional value of the fruits.
Avocado:
Storing avocados poses a challenge. If the fruit is ripe, you can keep it in the fridge as the low temperature will prevent it from spoiling.
However, if the avocado isn't fully ripe, refrain from putting it in the fridge, as the cold will slow down the ripening process, potentially preventing it from ripening.
Cucumbers:
They can be stored in the fridge but remain fresh for only a day or two. In reality, the low temperature causes cucumbers to spoil quickly. To keep cucumbers fresh for a more extended period, store them outside the fridge in a cool, dark place.
Eggplant:
This fruit cannot withstand low temperatures. In the fridge, eggplant becomes soft and loses flavor rapidly. Best kept at room temperature (25°C) away from direct sunlight.
Tomatoes:
Refrigeration robs tomatoes of their natural flavor, making them taste bland. The cold air slows down their natural ripening process and disrupts the thin layers inside the tomato.
For flavorful tomatoes, store them in a basket or a breathable container at room temperature.
Eggs:
Eggs can stay fresh whether stored in the fridge or at room temperature. However, avoid storing eggs in the fridge door as constant temperature changes significantly reduce their lifespan.
Experts also discourage taking eggs out of the carton when purchased to maintain freshness longer.
Flour:
Storing flour seems easy but isn't. High humidity and temperature can lead to the appearance of bugs and mold, rendering the flour inedible.
It's best to place flour in a sealed container, then store it in the fridge or kitchen pantry. The ideal temperature for flour is 10-18°C.
Nuts:
Many people keep various nuts at room temperature, but this isn't the best choice. For example, almonds and walnuts can only remain good for 1-2 weeks at room temperature, after which they spoil.
It's better to keep nuts away from direct sunlight, humidity, and high temperatures. If stored in the fridge, you can preserve some types of nuts for up to 9 months.
Celery:
Celery stays fresh longest when kept in the fridge, but avoid using nylon wrap. It quickly causes celery to rot. Instead, use aluminum foil.
