When you get home from your weekly or monthly shop, chances are you know what needs to go in the cupboards, the freezer, and the fridge.
For most people, eggs, prepped or fresh meat go in the fridge, ketchups go in the cupboard and, of course, frozen foods go in the freezer, unless you are planning to eat them that same day.
Interestingly, there are many foods that are placed in cupboards that actually should be placed in the fridge. This will not only keep the items of food fresh for longer but, it will also save you some money on your weekly shop. Great stuff!
So, this article will run you through 18 of the most commonly purchased items which you should keep in your fridge. Enjoy.
Peanut Butter
Does peanut butter really need to be kept in a fridge? The standard type that you may buy in your local supermarket can be kept at room temperature and usually lasts a few months. However, this type of peanut butter usually has preservatives mixed in with it, ensuring it has a longer life span.
If you have opted for peanut butter without preservatives, which is common in health shops and for certain brands, you will need to store it in the fridge. According to Simply Recipes, this will ensure that it doesn’t separate, which is common for natural peanut butter and will also make sure that the creamy mixture doesn’t go off prematurely.
Maple Syrup
Who doesn’t like maple syrup with their pancakes on a Sunday? Derived from the sap of the maple tree, maple syrup is tasty, sweet and is often the preferred choice of food sweetener for vegans, due to the fact that there are no bees involved in its creation.
However, once you have opened your jug of the sweet stuff, you need to put it in your fridge. Yes, it is loaded with natural sugars but it can quickly develop mold if kept at room temperature.
Ketchup
Most homes will have a bottle of ketchup to hand, usually tomato ketchup. Do you need to store the store bought brand in the fridge? Well, no, but if you opt for a ketchup brand that is natural and preservative free, as soon as you open it, you need to store it in the fridge to keep it fresh. Or, it will quickly develop fluffy, gray mold, rendering it inedible.
Mustard
Another condiment that you will need to keep in the fridge once it is opened is mustard. It is chemically quite similar to ketchup and has quite a high acidic and sugar content, irrespective of whether it is American or British mustard. However, the official Martha Stewart website states that keeping any brand of mustard in the fridge will extend its lifespan and will prevent spoilage. This will save you some money, if you have bought an expensive brand. Even though honey mustard has higher sugar content than regular mustard, you should still store it in the fridge.
Soy Sauce
It is a must-have condiment for any family who loves Chinese food, but does it need to be kept in the fridge? Soy sauce is naturally loaded with salts, which means it is exceedingly sensitive to light and temperature in a similar way to olive oil and vinegar. So if you have a bottle of soy sauce in your cupboard, please move it to the fridge as this will help it to keep its taste for longer and will also prevent it from separating, which is common in some of the preservative-free options.
Nuts
If you are a fan of cashews, peanuts or walnuts, you may think it is fine to simply keep them in a tub in your cupboard. However, non-preserved nuts are loaded with natural oils which, if exposed to warm temperatures, can quickly turn these tasty snacks rancid. So, it’s best to move any opened packets of nuts to the fridge to keep them fresh for longer.
Apples
In an episode of Hell’s Kitchen, Gordon Ramsay critiqued the chefs for not keeping apples in the fridge. This was met with some confusion by viewers, but generally speaking, if you want to preserve the longevity of any apple (which you would need to in a restaurant or professional kitchen), you should keep it in the refrigerator. This will keep the skin fresh and crisp and will also prevent bacterial growth which can occur in warmer environments. It will also save you money on your shop!
Citrus Fruits
Citrus fruits like oranges, lemons and limes also need to be kept in a fridge. This will protect them from the ever irritating fruit flies in warmer climates, which seem to be magnetically drawn to these fruits! It will also ensure that the outer skin remains moist and hard. Warmer temperatures can cause the skin of citrus fruits to soften, making them impermeable to bacteria, thereby ruining the fruit.
Tortillas
If you love nothing more than a tortilla wrap on a warm day, once the packet you have purchased has been opened, you should keep it in your fridge. Generally speaking, it’s wise to keep any tortilla wraps in the fridge, as this will help them to retain their taste. It will also ensure that they do not become moldy, in a similar way that bread does in warmer weather. It’s all about yeast!
Flour (whole grain)
Unlike other flours, whole grain flours do not have the preservatives added in, making them more susceptible to mold growth, due to the natural oils. So, once you have opened your whole grain flour, put it in a dark spot in your fridge to keep it cool!
Dried Fruit
Have you ever found an old box of raisins in the back of your cupboard and opened it to find them covered in a blue-looking mold? You aren’t alone, and if you are a fan of dried fruit, it is a common problem due to incorrect storage. Not only can you refrigerate dried fruits, such as raisins, but you should if you want them to last and to retain their squishy texture. It also prevents them from drying out and becoming hard.
Probiotics and Fermented Foods or Sauces
Foods that have been fermented, as well as sauces like miso paste should be put in the fridge as soon as you get them home. This will help to maintain the beneficial bacteria that these foods have and will also slow down mold growth. Given the current cost of miso paste, that’s not a bad thing! Much like the flour, try to keep them in a dark spot for maximum freshness.
Rice and Quinoa
No, you don’t need to put the bag of rice you just bought into the fridge. However, if you cook too much rice or quinoa, you need to box it up and put it in the fridge. Aim to consume it in 24 hours, as rice and quinoa are susceptible to bacillus cereus according to Very Well Health,which can cause food poisoning, due to bacterial growth and the high sugar.
Ripe Avocados
It has happened to every person who has purchased avocados at least once. You will get them home and find that they are soft and ripe or ready to eat, but you simply don’t want to consume them yet. In this instance, you should transfer them to the fridge. This will keep them fresh, as well as slow down the ripening process. Just don’t forget about them, or you may end up with avocado sludge in the back of your fridge!
Coconut Oil
It is a plant based alternative, it is a suitable substitute for many cooking oils and can be added to cookies and cakes to add freshness and taste. However, coconut oil, once purchased, should be kept in a fridge to ensure that it stays fresh for longer. Yes, it will solidify due to the colder temperature, but this will also halt bacterial growth.
Red Wine (once opened)
Red wine is already known for having a strong and potent taste, even when the cork has only just been removed. So, if you have a bottle of the red stuff to hand, and you want to ensure it retains its taste without going sour, put it in the fridge. This will preserve the flavor and prevent oxidation.
Fresh Herbs
For many people, freshly cut herbs taste better than the dried variety. However, they have an irritating habit of wilting and simply going off very quickly. Herbs are susceptible to bacterial growth, especially in hot weather. So, to keep your rosemary sprigs fresh, put them in a small bag or container, and pop them in the fridge.
Corn on the Cob
Corn on the cob is known for its sweet and moorish taste. However, that is due to the high sugar content which, at warmer temperatures, converts the sugar to starch, spoiling the taste. To keep corn on the cob fresh, put it in a clear, plastic bag and place it in your fridge, to ensure freshness and that creamy, sweet taste that everyone loves!
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