Why Chilly Temps Aren't Always the Best
If you're like me, when you burst through the door with your bags of groceries, the first thing you do is make sure all the perishable items are safely stashed in the refrigerator. We're all accustomed to thinking that
colder is better. However, the experts say that's not necessarily so.
I've been in the habit of keeping the following common items chilled. However, I've noticed that textures and tastes can degrade rather quickly. I'm learning it's better to store these foods at room temperature away from the refrigerator, in a place like a pantry or kitchen cabinet.
1. Bananas
If your bananas are green, you'll definitely want to leave them out to ripen. If they're yellow, and you want them to last, you can refrigerate them to prevent over-ripening. (The fruit is still good, even though the banana skins turn black.)
I like to pop an entire bunch of unpeeled bananas in the freezer for smoothies. Ten seconds in the microwave thaws a banana just enough to peel it before use.
2. Melons
The rule of thumb with melons is to keep them at room temperature when they are whole. However, cut melon pieces should be stored in the refrigerator.
3. Bread
Bread goes stale more quickly, and becomes tough and chewy in cold temperatures. On the other hand, properly wrapped bread stored in the freezer retains its moisture and can easily be thawed in the microwave.
4. Potatoes
Potatoes become sweet and gritty in cold temperatures, thanks to the fact that the starch is breaking down and converting to sugar. It's better to store your potatoes in a breathable paper bag in a cool, dark place like a pantry.
5. Onions
When onions are left in the refrigerator too long, they tend to become soft or moldy. Also, cut onions tend to infuse everything nearby with their smell--including a well-used wooden chopping board!
5-Blade Herb Scissors
6. Honey
Did you know that honey is a naturally preserved food? Unseal a 100 year-old jar of honey, and it will be as fresh as the day it
was harvested. Putting honey into the refrigerator will cause sugar crystallization,
and makes the honey difficult to pour or scoop.
7. Tomatoes
When tomatoes have been stored in the refrigerator too long, ice crystals begin to form making their texture quite mealy. When you store tomatoes at room temperature (or pick them fresh off the vine), both their flavor and texture are superior.
8. Coffee
Whole bean or ground coffee is great for absorbing unwanted smells. (For example, have you ever been to a perfume counter and sniffed coffee beans between fragrance trials?) On the other hand, it's sponge-like property means that when it's stored in the refrigerator, coffee will absorb all the scents around it. Also, the cooler temperature causes coffee to dry out, taking the flavor right out of the beans. However, coffee can be safely stored in the freezer.
9. Garlic
Garlic can grow mold or go rubbery-soft when kept in the refrigerator. (Always a disappointing discovery when I'm cutting up veggies for Asian stir-fry!) It also has a tendency to contaminate other foods with its flavor. Better to store garlic in a dry environment and out of direct sunlight to prevent sprouting.
10. Avocado
The trick with avocados is to buy them just before use. That way, you can select them when they are perfectly ripe, and not worry about waiting for stone hard avocados to soften. If you are buying unripe fruit several days ahead of serving, refrigerating avocados is counter-productive, because you will arrest the ripening process.
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Photos: GmanViz, CarlosSottovia, Caro'sLines, Chiot'sRun, Chiot'sRun, Cokul, JennuineCaptures, MaplessInSeattle, mightykenny, photofarmer, realitysadream (
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