Forgo the Fridge: Foods That Should Not Be Refrigerated

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fridge food

Forgo, omit or go without using the fridge with certain foods!?! Indeed. All of these foods listed in Oxygen’s April issue (2015) are kitchen-approved and tested without a refrigerator in my personal kitchen (Litsa’s)—however, sometimes I’ll let an avocado sit in the crisper drawer just so that I can enjoy the cool, smooth nutty flavor. The refrigerator doesn’t alter the taste of an avocado but the coolness does enhance it’s texture in my opinion. But all the rest of these foods maintain their quality without modern technology, the refrigerator! Give them a try if you haven’t already.

  • Avocados: Don’t store an under ripe avocado in the fridge, but an already ripe or cut avocado can be refrigerated.
  • Basil: This fresh herb wilts faster in the fridge.
  • Bread: Unless it’s sliced sandwich bread you’ll use in a few days, the fridge will dry out bread quickly.
  • Coffee: Whole or ground beans will lose flavor & absorb other odors from the fridge.
  • Garlic: Cloves & heads of garlic sprout & get rubbery in the refrigerator.
  • Honey: Refrigeration will cause honey to crystallize. Instead, store it tightly sealed in the cupboard.
  • Olive oil: This oil will condense & harden in the fridge.
  • Onions: The moisture of the fridge will turn onions soft & moldy.
  • Potatoes: The cold refrigerator will quickly convert a potato’s starch to sugar, giving it a gritty texture.
  • Tomatoes: Refrigeration causes tomatoes to lose the flavor & turn mealy.

Are there any other food items that you do not refrigerate that you can add to this list?

Thanks, Oxygen for your “Ditch the fridge!” List!

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Litsa is a stay at home mom to a beautiful little girl. She is a native of Greece and now resides in Tennessee. As a former teacher, Litsa wears many hats that it takes to make a home a functioning home!

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Comments

  1. Bananas, though that one might be a no-brainer… I also keep un-cut melons out of the fridge. They seem to taste better that way. Apples and any kind of pitted fruit (Peaches, apricots, nectarines, etc.) generally stay out of the fridge as well – especially if they are freshly picked. :)

  2. I didn’t realize there were so many things that didn’t need to be refrigerated. This is definitely good to know. I need to keep my tomatoes out of the fridge. This was really fun to read. Thanks for sharing.