7 Foods You Should Never Store In Your Refrigerator

It can be pretty tempting to head to the grocery store, get what you need, and place them all where many of us assume where they’re meant to be at home. However, there could be a twist: what if some food doesn’t belong in the refrigerator after all?

That’s right; plenty of common food that ends up in the refrigerator might be better off stored somewhere else in the kitchen. From keeping things fresher for longer to making sure they don’t affect everything else you’re trying to store, there are plenty of reasons that some food should never be stored in the refrigerator.

1. Eggplant

It turns out that eating eggplants might be more of a time-focused activity than we realized. Eggplants tend to lose their flavor in the refrigerator, meaning you’ll get the most taste out of the vegetable if it’s stored on the counter. However, it only lasts a couple of days, so be sure to act fast. 

2. Tomatoes

Tomatoes are great for so many reasons, including the fact they are so simple to grow at home, making them a favorite for keen gardeners. However, you might want to avoid storing them in the refrigerator from now on, as tomatoes keep their juiciness and flavor when they’re stored at room temperature.

3. Ketchup

Whether or not to keep ketchup in the refrigerator has been debated for years. Now, it seems there could be an answer. If you plan on eating your ketchup within a month, then it can be kept in the cupboard as the acidity in the condiment means it will stay fresh. However, it’s best to keep it chilled if you think you need longer than a few weeks to finish the bottle. 

4. Avocados

Avocados have taken over our lives in the last few years. So, where do you keep them? The answer should be on the counter. That is if you want them to ripen evenly and quick enough to enjoy.

5. Aged cheese

Ah, cheese - the midnight snack that many of us can’t get enough of. That doesn’t mean we have been storing it correctly all these years. Aged cheese is one of the foods you should never store in your refrigerator as it lasts in a cool, dark place for at least two months. 

6. Berries

There’s nothing like a bowl of fresh berries to get us going. Did you know they’re one of the foods you should never keep in your refrigerator? That’s right; the moisture in the refrigerator will typically ruin the flavors and textures of berries. Keeping them on the counter will ensure they are fresher for longer, but only wash them once you’re ready to eat.

7. Apples

Many of us love nothing more than a cold, crisp apple on a hot day. However, keeping them in the refrigerator might not be necessary. While it might not necessarily do anything bad to the fruit, apples typically last at least one if not two weeks on the counter. Meaning we can save space in our refrigerator for everything else.

There are so many ways to enjoy food, but only if it’s been stored correctly in the build-up to the big meal. These are just seven foods you should never keep in your refrigerator if you want things to be as fresh and full of flavor as possible with each meal.