The first thing many of us do when we get home from shopping is put everything in the fridge, even if we can barely squeeze everything in.
Generally speaking, the best thing to do is to follow the example of the shops, which means that the food they do not put in the fridge should not be kept cold at home either. If these foods do end up in the fridge, be prepared for them to lose their taste and their quality.
1. Tomatoes
It is tempting to refrigerate tomatoes as soon as possible, because for some reason most people have the habit of thinking that this vitamin-rich vegetable is best when cold and retains its freshness longer at lower temperatures. This is plain wrong. When stored in the fridge, tomatoes lose a lot of their flavor, so much so that if they are left there for a long time they can become quite tasteless and watery.
2. Citrus
Oranges, lemons, mandarins and grapefruit are among the fruits we think are most delicious cold. It is true that they are even more refreshing at low temperatures, but there is one important thing to know: if you store them in the fridge for a few days, they can become bitter.
3. Bananas
The colder the banana is, the faster the skin will turn brown, without the fruit itself overripening. It is much better to store bananas at room temperature, in a fruit bowl.
4. Honey
This valuable food keeps its shelf life for a very long time, even if its structure changes, i.e. it crystallizes – a process that is affected by temperature, humidity and light. If kept in a dry and cool place (such as a cupboard or a shelf in the pantry), honey stays liquid for longer. Of course, its nutritional value does not decrease if it solidifies and then returns to its original consistency when placed in warm water.
5. Onions
This frequently used cooking ingredient is best kept in a cool, dark place, but the fridge is not the ideal place to store it. In the fridge, it may turn moldy and become unusable in a relatively short time. Sliced onions should of course be stored in the fridge, but they should be carefully wrapped first, both because their strong smell permeates the fridge and because the onions themselves can take on the aroma of other foods. You can store cut onions in the fridge for up to 2 days.
6. Fresh basil
Somehow it comes instinctively to most people to refrigerate fresh herbs. The problem is that at low temperatures herbs lose a lot of their special flavor and fragrance, the reason why we love it so much and what makes homemade basil pesto so delicious. It is best to add herbs to food fresh, cut straight from the plant. Otherwise, if you buy them from a store, soak the sprigs in water and use them as soon as possible.