There is an opinion that food is stored better at low temperatures, and accordingly the refrigerator is considered the most suitable place for this. In most cases, this approach is correct, however, for a number of products, low temperature is the main cause of premature spoilage. In the refrigerator, they quickly rot, mold appears on them, and all this is accompanied by a loss of vitamins and taste. What products to remove from the shelves of the refrigerator to keep longer? Let's consider some of them.

A fact proven by experience: bread and bakery products at a temperature of 0-2 ºС lose their freshness several times faster than at room temperature (18-20 ºС). This is explained by the intensive process of moisture evaporation, due to which such products in the upper chambers of the refrigerator instantly become stale and dry. Optimal conditions for bread - in a tightly closed bread box with a handful of salt that protects against mold. If necessary, store bakery products for a long time, it is better to put them in the freezer, after wrapping them in a plastic bag - then they retain their properties for up to 4-6 months. Bread can be reheated before serving. microwave oven or oven. Just remember that thawed bread goes stale faster than freshly baked bread.

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The vast majority of exotic fruits cannot stand low temperatures, reacting to them with rapid decay with the release of toxic gases. Bananas, kiwi, lemons, tangerines are best stored at room temperature, wrapped not in a plastic bag, but in paper so that they can "breathe". High humidity (in or out of the refrigerator) can lead to the formation of dark spots, mold on the surface of the fruit and contribute to their premature deterioration, so it is better not to wash the fruit before storage, only immediately before use.

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Apples, pears and others

Apples, pears, peaches, plums, apricots and nectarines are saturated with ethylene, a gas that contributes to the ripening not only of themselves, but also of other fruits and vegetables stored with them. Sometimes this property of apples is used to speed up the ripening of other fruits (for example, bananas, tomatoes, oranges), placing them with a broken shell in a refrigerator in the immediate vicinity of the latter. In all other cases, keeping apples, etc. on the same shelf with other vegetables and fruits is not worth it.

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The vast majority of vegetables retain their freshness longer not in the refrigerator, but in a cool, ventilated place protected from sunlight, for example, in a cellar. So, the starch contained in the potato, at a temperature of +7º C and below, begins to turn into sugar, which changes both the consistency of the tuber and the taste.

Other hard vegetables are not suitable for storage in the refrigerator: carrots, beets, radishes. In conditions of high humidity, they quickly germinate and become moldy. Vegetables with a high water content (cucumbers, tomatoes, eggplant, etc.) in a poorly ventilated place begin to become covered with dark spots and rot. To prevent premature spoilage, it is better to store them at room temperature, folding them into a small basket.

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Low temperatures also do not work well for vegetables such as garlic and onions. The main disadvantage of the refrigerating chamber is the lack of air circulation necessary for high-quality storage of products. In a poorly ventilated place, the structure of onions and garlic is quickly broken, they become softer and lose their beneficial properties.

When placing odorous vegetables in the refrigerator, especially when cut, it is worth remembering that a pungent smell, penetrating into other products, significantly spoils their taste. The optimal conditions for garlic and onions are a dark, dry, often ventilated place with a temperature of 18-20º C. Linen bags, boxes with holes can be used for storage, but it is better to weave these vegetables into braids and hang them on the walls.

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It makes no sense to keep basil, parsley, dill and other herbs in the refrigerator for a long time - plants quickly lose moisture from thin leaves, which leads to their withering, loss of vitamins and taste. If there is a need to ensure their safety longer, put the greens with petioles in a glass of water, like a bouquet of flowers, and keep in a dark place. However, this measure is also not optimal: for long-term storage of green herbs, it is more expedient to use a freezer - there, plants cut and placed in a plastic container will fully retain their beneficial properties for as long as necessary.


There is an opinion that the refrigerator is the best way to store food. In some cases, this rule really works. But there are also products that, when stored in the refrigerator, change their taste for the worse, appearance and even lose useful properties. In this review, we have collected products that almost everyone has in the house, and which should not be put in the refrigerator.

1. Potato



Potatoes do not tolerate cold well. Already at temperatures below 7 degrees Celsius, it becomes sweet in taste. In addition, if you store potatoes in the refrigerator, it accumulates carcinogenic acrylamide. The ideal way to store potatoes is in a cool but not frosty place.

2. String beans



Due to the cold, bean pods lose their attractive appearance and their useful qualities. Therefore, in order to keep green beans it is recommended to freeze it.

3. Coffee


Coffee should never be stored in the refrigerator, unless your goal, of course, is to absorb unpleasant odors from other products with it. From cold and moisture, the grains will instantly lose their aroma, and also absorb all extraneous odors. It is best to keep coffee in a dark, dry and cool place, or if you need to keep it until better times, put it in the freezer.

4. Tomatoes



Tomatoes in the refrigerator lose their taste due to the fact that cold air slows down the ripening process. In addition, humid and cold air adversely affects the texture of this product.

5. Bananas



It is enough to put bananas of any variety in the refrigerator, and they will instantly darken. Their appearance will become very unattractive. Therefore, if the store sells dark-colored bananas, it means that they were not stored correctly during transportation.

6. Avocado



Many people believe that if you put an avocado in the refrigerator, the fruit will ripen. The fruit will actually become softer, but the point is not at all in ripening, but in the moisture that it absorbs through the peel. Therefore, you need to store avocados not in the refrigerator, but in a fruit bowl on the table.

7. Bread



Bread is another food that should not be stored in the refrigerator. If suddenly there are surpluses of bread in the house, it is better to make crackers out of it. Bread becomes stale very quickly in the refrigerator.

8. Honey



Due to the low temperature and high humidity in the refrigerator, honey crystallizes and loses not only its taste and texture, but also its beneficial properties. If honey is stored correctly - in a jar in a dark place at room temperature under a lid - then its shelf life is practically unlimited.

9. Bow



Onions in the refrigerator lose their freshness, become unusable and soft. When stored in the refrigerator, this vegetable spoils quickly. In addition, high humidity in the refrigerator contributes to the appearance of mold.

10. Basil



Basil is best placed in water, like flowers. In the refrigerator, the greens wither, lose their aroma and absorb foreign odors.

11. Exotic fruits



Tropical fruits, falling into low temperatures, begin to rot and release harmful substances. If you need to keep them for a long time, then you need to wrap them in a few papers, put them in a cupboard and store at room temperature.

By the way, sunflower oil Also, do not store in the refrigerator. And especially for our readers.

Olga Nikitina is a housewife with 25 years of experience, she loves to cook and bring comfort to the house.

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All products that have a shelf life, we used to hide in the refrigerator. Starting from sausages and butter, ending with fruits, vegetables, etc. And, it seems, low temperatures should help preserve our stocks, but there are also such products for which a refrigerator is “contraindicated”.

What can not be stored in the refrigerator, and why?

  • Exotic fruits. Reason: such products are under exposure to low temperatures they begin to rot, and the gases released during the process of decay also harm our health. The best option storage of such fruits - wrapped in paper, at room temperature.
  • "Native" domestic apples and pears. Reason: selection ethylene in storage, which leads to a reduction in the shelf life of both the apples / pears themselves and those fruits / vegetables that are stored next to them.
  • Zucchini and pumpkins, melons. Cause: cold temperatures and lack of air lead to softness of products, to the appearance of mold. And the incised melon in such conditions also begins to emit harmful substances (ethyl gas). It is recommended to store them (when the shell is intact) at room temperature. Packaging is also not required.
  • Tomatoes and eggplant. Storage of water-containing vegetables on the shelves of the refrigerator leads to the appearance of dark spots on them, indicating decay. The best way to store it is in a basket at room temperature, or in a dried form (cut into “medallions” and dried like mushrooms on a string).
  • Onion. Cause: structure violation in the refrigerator, the appearance of softness and the occurrence of mold. It is worth noting the onion "aroma", which by no means improves the taste of other products. And if potatoes lie nearby, then because of the gases and moisture they emit, the onion rots many times faster. the best way to store this product than a nylon stocking in the kitchen corner has not yet been invented.
  • Olive oil. Cause: deterioration of useful properties in and taste (begins to taste bitter), the appearance of a white precipitate (flakes). Store in a dark place at room temperature.
  • Honey. Similar to the previous point - the biochemical substances of the product in the refrigerator are subject to destruction. Such honey great benefit won't bring. Store the product in a dry and dark cabinet.
  • Potatoes and carrots , other hard vegetables. Cause: germination, rotting, mold formation. BUT potato starch at temperatures below 7 degrees, it tends to turn into sugar, which leads to a change in the taste of potatoes and consistency. The longest (and without health consequences) such vegetables are stored in a wooden ventilated box, on top of paper, in a pantry (dry and dark).
  • Chocolate. Cause: condensation on the surface of the product, its further crystallization, the appearance of "gray hair" (plaque), and with sealed packaging - the development of mold. There will be no particular harm to health, but the organoleptic properties are reduced, and the aesthetic appearance will be lost.
  • Bread. If you buy a lot of bread, and eat a little bit, then it is better to store it in the freezer, and not in the refrigerator. And even better - no more than 3 days and at room temperature. In the refrigerator, he immediately absorbs all food odors, and with high humidity it also “overgrown” with mold.
  • Garlic. A product that is categorically can't stand the cold. To prevent garlic from rotting and becoming moldy, store it in special ventilated containers in a dry place, out of the refrigerator.
  • Bananas. Moisture and cold on these fruits is detrimental - the decay process is much faster, taste is lost. The ideal storage method is hanging in the kitchen (like on a palm tree), in a dark corner.


Well and jam and canned meats, which feel great outside the refrigerator, it's just pointless to store in the refrigerator. They just take up valuable space.

If you liked our article and have thoughts about it, please share with us! It is very important for us to know your opinion!

There are also products for which the refrigerator is “contraindicated.” Exotic fruits. Reason: such products, under the influence of low temperatures, begin to rot, and the gases released during the process of decay also harm our health.

All products that have a shelf life, we used to hide in the refrigerator. Starting from sausages and butter, ending with fruits, vegetables, etc. And, it seems, low temperatures should help preserve our stocks, but there are also products for which a refrigerator is “contraindicated”. What can not be stored in the refrigerator, and why?

Exotic fruits. The reason: such products, under the influence of low temperatures, begin to rot, and the gases released during the process of decay also harm our health. The best option for storing such fruits is wrapped in paper at room temperature.

"Native" domestic apples and pears. The reason: the release of ethylene during storage, which leads to a reduction in the shelf life of both the apples / pears themselves and those fruits / vegetables that are stored next to them.

Zucchini and pumpkins, melons. Reason: Cold temperatures and lack of air lead to softness of products, to the appearance of mold. And the incised melon in such conditions also begins to emit harmful substances (ethyl gas). It is recommended to store them (when the shell is intact) at room temperature. Packaging is also not required.

Tomatoes and eggplant. Storing water-containing vegetables on the shelves of the refrigerator leads to the appearance of dark spots on them, indicating rotting. The best way to store it is in a basket at room temperature, or in a dried form (cut into “medallions” and dried like mushrooms on a string).

Onion. Cause: violation of the structure in the conditions of the refrigerator, the appearance of softness and the occurrence of mold. It is worth noting the onion "aroma", which by no means improves the taste of other products. And if potatoes lie nearby, then because of the gases and moisture they emit, the onion rots many times faster. The best way to store this product than a nylon stocking in the kitchen corner has not yet been invented.

Olive oil. Reason: deterioration useful properties and taste (begins to taste bitter), the appearance of a white precipitate (flakes). Store in a dark place at room temperature.

Honey. Similar to the previous point - the biochemical substances of the product in the refrigerator are subject to destruction. Such honey will not bring much benefit. Store the product in a dry and dark cabinet.

Potatoes and carrots, other hard vegetables. Reason: germination, rotting, mold formation. And potato starch at temperatures below 7 degrees tends to turn into sugar, which leads to a change in the taste of potatoes and consistency. The longest (and without health consequences) such vegetables are stored in a wooden ventilated box, on top of paper, in a pantry (dry and dark).

Chocolate. The reason: the formation of condensate on the surface of the product, its further crystallization, the appearance of "gray hair" (plaque), and with sealed packaging - the development of mold. There will be no particular harm to health, but the organoleptic properties are reduced, and the aesthetic appearance will be lost.

Bread. If you buy a lot of bread, and eat a little bit, then it is better to store it in the freezer, and not in the refrigerator. And even better - no more than 3 days and at room temperature. In the refrigerator, it instantly absorbs all the smells of food, and at high humidity it also “acquires” mold.

Garlic. A product that categorically cannot stand the cold. To prevent garlic from rotting and becoming moldy, store it in special ventilated containers in a dry place, out of the refrigerator.

Bananas. Moisture and cold have a detrimental effect on these fruits - the process of decay goes much faster, taste qualities are lost. The ideal storage method is hanging in the kitchen (like on a palm tree), in a dark corner.

Civilized people cannot do without refrigerators and freezers now - where else to store perishable products? Housewives, saving time, are also accustomed to preparing more food in advance, so that later they can only take the pan out of the refrigerator and heat it up. But it turns out that not all products can be stored at low temperatures; some of them deteriorate in taste and appearance. Therefore, you need to know which products cannot be stored in the refrigerator, the list of which is quite impressive. Some products simply cannot be left in the refrigerator for a long time - they must be eaten immediately, so think a hundred times whether it is worth stocking up on these products.

  • Bread
  • Coffee
  • tropical fruits
  • Apples and pears
  • Vegetables
  • Garlic and onion
  • Greens
  • Chocolate
  • Vegetable oil
  • Pickles, sauces
  • Strong alcoholic drinks
  • What can't be stored in the freezer?

Bread

Perhaps it’s worth starting with why you can’t store bread in the refrigerator. Some housewives are convinced that it is better to keep this product in the cold, where it supposedly will not stale. But flour products easily absorb foreign odors, which are many in the refrigerator, so they start to smell not very good. In addition, there they can become moldy due to high humidity.

It is better to store bread at room temperature, putting it in a paper bag.

Coffee

Coffee is also among the foods that should not be refrigerated. The myth that coffee retains its specific aroma and taste longer in the refrigerator is completely wrong, on the contrary, the quality of coffee beans in the refrigerator deteriorates significantly.

tropical fruits

There is a myth that many tropical fruits: kiwi, mango, pineapple, banana cannot be stored in the refrigerator. When such fruits are prepared for a long journey by sea, they are treated with a preservative - ethylene, which does not allow them to deteriorate. In our country, when selling after opening the package, ethylene evaporates, and from that moment on, the fruits begin to actively ripen and deteriorate. Therefore, it would be more correct to say not why it is impossible to store bananas in the refrigerator, but that it is generally impossible to store tropical fruits for a long time.

But when stored in the cold, tropical fruits really lose their taste. In addition, “imported mold” accidentally brought on them can release dangerous mycotoxins that cause cancer.

Unripe tropical fruits are best conditioned by storing them in a cool, dry place (kitchen cabinet). Ripe fruits are better to eat quickly, otherwise there is a big risk of just throwing them away.

Apples and pears

In continuation of the topic of which fruits cannot be stored in the refrigerator, pears and apples, much more familiar and dear to us, should be mentioned. Even these more cold-hardy fruits lose vitamins in these storage conditions, and moisture causes them to spoil much faster. Special studies were carried out, which showed that on the shelves of refrigerators intended for storing vegetables and fruits, most of the microorganisms that cause diseases of the digestive system, including fungi, listeria, and salmonella, live and thrive.

It is best to store apples in a city apartment on a glazed loggia or balcony, and if there are none, then a box of apples can be placed in the hallway, in the pantry or on the windowsill near the ajar window.

Vegetables

It is also important to know which vegetables should not be refrigerated. There are even people who believe that no vegetables should be put in the refrigerator, but this is an exaggeration. Only potatoes, garlic, onions and tomatoes may behave unpredictably in a refrigerator. The refrigerator compartment is always high humidity, which provokes the growth of mold and rot.

Starch in potatoes is converted into sugar under the influence of low temperature, so frozen potatoes taste sweetish. Tomatoes, on the other hand, lose their taste in cold conditions.

But eggplant, pumpkin and zucchini are better preserved in the refrigerator, although in the beds they are known as heat-loving plants.

It is better to store root crops in a cool (but not cold!) place in separate wooden boxes, for example, in a pantry or in a basement. Carrots and beets can be put in a box or box, pouring each layer onion peel or river sand.

Garlic and onion

Most people, in the full confidence that they are doing the right thing, put garlic and onions in a cell on the refrigerator door, and they are very wrong. Why? Yes, because you can not store any odorous products in the refrigerator. Being cut or in opened packaging, they share their strong aroma with other, less odorous products, which makes it unpleasant to eat the latter. Excess moisture and lack of air circulation in the refrigerator compartment leads to the rapid decay of the onion and the spread of a very unpleasant odor throughout the refrigerator. Garlic in such conditions begins to dry quickly.

It is better to store onions in a net or old tights in a dark pantry. Bunches of garlic are woven and hung in the kitchen, where they bring color to the interior. You can store a small amount of garlic in cloth bags, adding onion peel there.

Greens

It makes no sense to store various greens in the refrigerator for a long time - dill, parsley, basil, celery, lettuce, since the thin leaves of these plants quickly lose moisture - the plants wither and lose their taste and vitamins.

To keep herbs for a long time, they can be dried or frozen in freezer, having previously cut and folded into an airtight container - under these conditions, the greens will retain their useful qualities for months.

Chocolate

An interesting explanation is the reason why you can not store chocolate in the refrigerator. On its surface, under the influence of low temperature, water condensate can land, into which sugar will be drawn out of the mass of chocolate. When the moisture dries, a white sugar coating will remain on the surface of the tile. Such chocolate no longer looks so attractive, and it does not taste any better. If someone decides to wrap wet chocolate in plastic wrap, then you can grow a wonderful mold on it in this way.

Vegetable oil

Any food vegetable oil Best stored in a dark place out of direct sunlight. If you put unrefined oil in the refrigerator, then instead of increasing the shelf life, the hostess will receive a thick precipitate in the form of white flakes from residual moisture. Using thickened oil with such a suspension is not very pleasant, and many will prefer to simply throw it away.

Honey

It's not that honey can't be stored in the refrigerator, but it's just rather stupid, since this natural product does not spoil at all even at room temperature in an ordinary jar with a lid. If someone decides to put it in a cold place, then the fructose in honey crystallizes - that's why you can't store honey in the refrigerator.

Pickles, sauces

It makes no sense to store jars of pickles in the refrigerator, because home preservation uses vinegar, salt and spices to prevent the product from spoiling. Mustard, ketchup and many sauces can be added to pickles. An opened jar of pickled cucumbers can be kept on the balcony.

Strong alcoholic drinks

People are sometimes interested in what kind of strong drink can not be stored in the refrigerator. The answer is cognac.

In fact, it can be stored both in the refrigerator and in an ordinary bar, the main thing is that it gets to the table at room temperature - only from warm cognac you can feel its whole bouquet.

What can't be stored in the freezer?

  • If you send eggs to the freezer, then their taste becomes unpleasant, and if at the same time their shell is cracked, then the pathogenic microflora will certainly penetrate there, making the eggs completely inedible.
  • Juicy fruits such as melon, papaya, watermelon, after defrosting, will turn into a shapeless mass that has lost its aroma and taste.
  • Milk, cheese, yogurt, kefir. Milk from low temperatures can curdle, and other dairy products will lose their taste and nutritional properties.
  • Custard, mayonnaise, meringues can be thrown away immediately after freezing, as they become unsuitable for food.

So housewives who want to increase their food reserves should not overdo it, hoping to keep everything in the refrigerator. Otherwise, money will be wasted, and health will not improve from eating not too much quality products removed from the refrigerator.

Do you store these foods in the refrigerator? Did you know that it is impossible to do this and how do you feel about such prohibitions? Leave your opinion in the comments.