Author: Umi Fatimah
The refrigerator is often considered the ideal storage place for all types of food. However, did you know that not all food needs to be stored in the refrigerator?
Storing some foods in the refrigerator can actually damage their texture, taste, and even quality. In this article, ResepKoki will provide information about 8 foods that should not be stored in the refrigerator, along with the reasons, and the correct way to store them.
By understanding which foods should not be stored in the refrigerator and following proper storage tips, you can maintain the quality of your food so you can ensure that the dishes you serve remain delicious and nutritious.
1. Banana
Bananas are tropical fruits that naturally thrive in warm climates. Therefore, they are best stored at room temperature, in a dry place, away from direct sunlight.
When bananas are exposed to cold temperatures, such as those in the refrigerator, the ripening process is not only slowed down, but also altered. Cold temperatures disrupt the activity of enzymes in the banana, causing the skin to turn black prematurely.
This blackening only occurs on the skin and does not affect the inside of the banana at first. However, it can make the banana look less appetizing.
Storing bananas in the refrigerator can also change the texture of the banana, resulting in a less sweet taste and a harder, grittier texture.
Read Also: 6 Ways to Keep Flour Dry and Free from Lice
2. Onion
Have you ever noticed onions getting soft and moldy in the fridge? This is caused by moisture. While you can refrigerate cut onions in a sealed container for two to three days, you should never store whole onions in the fridge.
This is because onions absorb moisture more easily due to the cold temperature produced by the refrigerator, so the onions become soft and mushy more quickly.
Plus, onions can make everything smell or taste like onions. This storage rule also applies to onions and garlic, of!
So, it is best to store onions in an airtight container to reduce oxidation and absorb moisture. As for onions and garlic, make sure you store them in paper or mesh bags that allow air to circulate.
3. Potatoes
The next food item that should not be stored in the refrigerator is potatoes. Potatoes stored in the refrigerator will have an unnatural taste and texture due to changes in their sugar content.
During cooling, enzymes in potatoes will convert their natural sugar (sucrose) into glucose and fructose. This chemical reaction will then change the taste and texture of the potatoes to sweet and gritty. Although this change is not harmful to your health, it can ruin the dishes you cook.
To keep them fresh, store potatoes in a cool, dry place with good air circulation, such as in a kitchen cupboard that is not exposed to direct sunlight.
4. Tomatoes
Storing tomatoes in the refrigerator will destroy the natural ripening process. Tomatoes contain enzymes that react to cold temperatures, which causes the ripening process to be disrupted. This will cause tomatoes to ripen unevenly, become mushy, start to develop holes, and even rot easily.
This fruit also absorbs odors from other foods in the refrigerator very quickly, which will reduce its quality and taste. So, although tomatoes can last longer by storing them in the refrigerator, they will not taste as good as you would hope. That is why tomatoes are best stored at room temperature, such as in a cupboard or on the kitchen counter.
5. Several Types of Herbal Spices
Fresh herbs, such as basil, parsley, mint, and cilantro are actually not suitable for refrigeration. If stored in the refrigerator, the leaves will wilt and become soft quickly.
Fresh leafy herbs are best treated, like cut flowers, by storing them in a glass of fresh water and keeping them out of direct sunlight.
6. Roti
Refrigerators keep food fresh longer, but storing fresh bread from the bakery or homemade bread in the refrigerator is best avoided. This is because the temperature and environment of the refrigerator can actually speed up the stale process in the bread and will not keep it fresh.
Storing bread in the refrigerator can cause the starch molecules in the bread to recrystallize and lose their moisture. The loss of moisture will cause the bread to become dry, hard, and give the bread a stale taste.
If you plan to use the bread right away, store it at room temperature in a cool, dry place. Bread stored at room temperature should be kept in its original packaging or wrapped tightly in plastic wrap. You can also freeze bread (store it in freezer) if you want the bread to last longer.
7. Honey
We may be used to storing opened jams, jellies, and sauces in the refrigerator to keep them fresh and ready to use after they are first opened. However, the same cannot be said for honey.
Storing honey in the refrigerator will cause it to crystallize more quickly and change its liquid texture to a thick, dough-like sludge.
Ideally, honey should be stored in a cool place, not a cold place, away from direct sunlight, in a tightly closed container, such as a packaged honey bottle.
8. Coffee
The refrigerator is not an ideal place to store coffee in any form, whether ground or whole beans, even in an airtight container.
The temperature inside the refrigerator often changes when the door is opened and closed. These temperature changes can affect the quality of the coffee and cause too much moisture to condense inside the container, which can damage the coffee beans/grounds or the final taste quality.
Coffee also tends to absorb the aromas around it, so it can pick up aromas from other ingredients in the fridge and change the taste of the coffee. Alternatively, store your coffee in an airtight container in a cool, dry place in your pantry, away from direct sunlight.
Read Also: 6 Types of Vegetables That Must Be Stored in the Refrigerator
Now you know, able to, what are some foods that should not be stored in the refrigerator? Understanding how to store food properly can help reduce food waste by making more space for items that do need to be refrigerated. Find more useful cooking tips and other delicious recipes at ResepKoki!
Read Also: 11 Simple Ways to Reduce Food Waste from Home
Atsarina Luthfiyyah (Senior Editor)
Having educational experience in Culinary Arts and Journalism. Hobbies are writing, traveling and cooking. Master of Communication Science, Gadjah Mada University
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