A well-organized refrigerator not only makes preparing dinner easier, but also ensures that everything is as fresh as possible. But wait, there is news. several foods we’ve labeled as items you should never keep in the refrigerator should be there, according to nutritionists.
Here is what they had to say.
Foods to refrigerate
Whether you’re a skilled cook or just looking to cut down on food waste, trying new kitchen storage ideas and cleaning out the fridge regularly will help keep things under control.
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1. Peanut butter
As with condiments, where you choose to store your peanut butter and jelly often comes down to personal preference, but experts tell us that refrigerating peanut butter (and regular butter, for that matter) will help it go a long way.
“The best place to store natural peanut butter, nuts, oil, and butter is in the refrigerator, especially if you plan to keep them in your kitchen for more than a week or two,” says chef Corey Duffy. (opens in new tab).
“When refrigerating these products, wrap or wrap them as needed to preserve flavor,” he adds. If you’re running out of space in your fridge or find that things are hiding in the back, try clear fridge organizers. our favorites are below.
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Clear Fridge Condiment Organizer
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Corrie Duffy is a food expert who runs a website called Corrie Cooks, which is dedicated to Instant Pot recipes. She focuses on creating delicious and easy meals for readers to share with family and friends.
2. Potatoes
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Research has shown that refrigerating potatoes doesn’t actually produce the “cold sweetening” effect we thought, and that refrigerating them may even help them last longer. It used to be thought that storing potatoes in a frozen environment could cause potatoes to produce a harmful chemical compound called acrylamide after cooking, but advice on this has now changed.
3. Hot sauce
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Anyone who neglects hot sauce may want to consider refrigerating it to retain its heat and flavor. Apparently, this spice stays fresh much longer when stored in the refrigerator rather than on the counter or on our pantry shelves. It can also last longer if stored in an airtight container.
4. Ground chia seeds
If you want to sprinkle some ground chia seeds on your oatmeal or mix it into your juice in the morning, make sure you keep it in the fridge or the seeds may taste less fresh.
Teresa Tesoli (opens in new tab) Co-founder of RusticWise, a website that provides tips on how to be sustainable in the home and garden. Ground flax seeds, chia seeds and hemp hearts keep better in the fridge or even the freezer, she says.
“While keeping these foods in an airtight container in the pantry is fine, keeping them in the refrigerator helps extend shelf life by preserving volatile oils and preventing rancidity,” Teresa explains. “You’ll know it’s time to throw these things away when they take on a very bitter, unpleasant taste.
Teresa Tessolin co-founded Rustic Wise, a source of sustainable living advice, after years of working in the IT industry. He grew up with a grandmother who instilled in him a sense of frugality and a want-not-want spirit.
5. Coffee
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Opinions are divided when it comes to coffee, but according to Sean Martin (opens in new tab)home design expert with health sciences coffee grounds or beans for your best coffee maker should be refrigerated.
“Coffee grounds also contain natural oils that help preserve the taste and aroma of your coffee. “Keeping them in a closed container in the refrigerator will prevent them from going stale,” he says.
6. Beet
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“The shelf life of beets largely depends on how they are stored,” says Cynthia Hamilton at Our Good Living Formula. (opens in new tab), a beauty product testing company. “When you get home, remove the beet greens from the beets if you are not going to use them. Greens should be chopped and used immediately or added to your compost, as they will draw moisture from the beets if left attached for too long.
“Bazuk can be stored for four to six weeks in an airtight bag after picking the greens. To allow moisture to escape, make several small holes in the bag. Their skin can start to feel a little thin and mold can start to grow if the moisture is retained,” she explains.
7. Honey
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“Unlike other sweeteners, honey never goes bad,” says Sean Martin. “Keeping it refrigerated will help extend its shelf life and keep it from crystallizing too quickly.”
8. Some flour
We’ve always kept flour in the pantry with our baking supplies, but food expert Corey Duffy insists that whole wheat flour keeps better in the refrigerator. The same applies to gluten-free flour. these have a shorter shelf life than traditional flour, but you can extend their shelf life by three to six months by storing them in an airtight container in the refrigerator, says Celeste Noland, the gluten-free chef. Enthusiast there is life after wheat (opens in new tab).
“Before baking, just make sure to let the flour sit on the counter for about 30 minutes to bring it to room temperature,” she says.
FAQs
How can I avoid food waste?
Attaching Magnetic Paper, on Amazon (opens in new tab) to containers allows for efficient and quick inventory tracking, says Judy Kuttner (opens in new tab), home staging expert and real estate agent at Apartment Notes. “By doing this, you can avoid wasting valuable resources and keep track of where your products are at all times. Other food storage tips include using airtight containers, labeling boxes with expiration dates, and storing perishables in the refrigerator rather than on the shelves.
Following expert tips and tricks on where to store staples in your family’s diet will keep them fresh and flavorful, so you’ll always have what you need for a quick snack or bake.