7 Foods You Should Never Keep in the Refrigerator

What type of foods do you keep in your refrigerator? Do you know that there are some food that should not be stored in the fridge? I know many are fond of keeping any leftover or unused item in the fridge. Storing some food items in the fridge can zap or change their flavor, or make them go completely moldy fast. Do not risk losing flavor of food when all you need to do is store them properly and correctly.


Chances are you have been storing some of these foods in your fridge mistakenly when you should ordinarily keep them out on your counter or in your cupboard. Here are 7 foods you should never store in your fridge;

1 Tomatoes

Tomatoes tend to lose all their flavor when stored in the fridge. The bigger reason here is that the freezing air in the fridge halts the ripening process, and ripening is what enhances the flavor of tomatoes. The fridge also alters the texture of the tomato. According to Harold McGee’s ‘On Food and Cooking,’ the cold temperature breaks down the membranes inside the fruit walls, turning it mealy. Keep tomatoes out in a bowl or basket on the counter.

2 Potatoes

Storing your potato in the cold temperature of your fridge will convert its starch into sugar fast, so in the end- you are left with a sweet, gritty potato. Instead of storing potatoes in the refrigerator, put them in a paper bag and place in a cool -not cold- area. The best place of for potatoes to be stored is a dry dark place, like inside your pantry. Paper bags are more effective than plastic because they are more breathable and the potato won't rot quickly, compared to plastic. Store potatoes at a temperature very close to 45 degrees. This applies to sweet potatoes too.

3 Onions

Onions will get moistened and eventually become moldy if stored in the fridge. Store them in a cool, dry place. However, do not store your potatoes with onions; because when kept together, both will deteriorate at a faster rate. 

4 Garlic

Your garlic will gradually sprout in the refrigerator, and it may also get moldy and rubbery. Keep garlic in a cool, dry place too.

5 Bread

Your fridge will dry out your bread quickly. Unless if your bread is sliced and you plan on using them in a few days, keep bread in the freezer or out on the counter. If you are going to eat bread in four days, then keep them out and you should slice when you are ready to eat it, but if there are any leftover- freeze the rest to thaw and eat later. Wrap your bread in the freezer so that it retains its moisture, and when you take out from the freezer, you should allow it thaw slowly and fully before consuming.

6 Coffee

Coffee will lose its flavor and deposit odor if stored in the refrigerator. Store coffee in a cool, dark place where it will retain its flavor and stay fresh. However, you can store larger quantities of coffee in the freezer. 

7 Honey

Why the need to store honey in the fridge? If honey is well and tightly sealed in a container or jar, it will basically remain the same forever. Honey can crystallize if store in the fridge.

All these are foods you should store out in a cool, dry and dark place, but not in the fridge.

Stay healthy!