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Top 10 items you should

not refrigerate

by Maria Gracia Join our newsletter to be notified when the newest Top Ten list is available. To chill or not to chill…that is the question!?! There are certain foods that should be kept cold in your refrigerator, and foods that definitely need to stay at room temperature. Keep reading to find out what NOT to put in your fridge, the answers may shock you! 1. Potatoes. Keeping potatoes cold causes the starches to turn into sugar, which will affect the potatoes flavor. Instead, keep taters in a paper bag in your pantry, they should last 2-3 weeks. 2. Tomatoes. Tomatoes don't like to be cold. It often leaves them soft and mushy. Like potatoes, keep them at room temperature and don't buy more than you need. 3. Bread. The chill of the fridge will dry out your bread, making it tougher to chew. A better solution is to take out the amount of bread you need for the next three days, and then freeze the rest. 4. Cakes. Like bread, cakes loose moisture quickly and become dried out. Keep your cake covered and leave it out on the counter. It will certainly get eaten faster that way. The exception to this is if it has icing made with butter, whipped cream, or cream cheese. In this case, keep it in the fridge. 5. Chocolate. When chocolate is chilled, then brought to room temperature, condensation occurs. This lifts the sugar to the top of the chocolate creating what is known as a sugar bloom. Keep your chocolate tightly wrapped in a cool cupboard. 6. Coffee. Never store coffee in the fridge because the cold causes condensation, disrupting your coffee flavor. Additionally, coffee tends to absorb the flavors from the other foods surrounding it. Instead, stash your coffee in an airtight container in the pantry or cupboard. 7. Garlic. Cold spoils the taste and texture of your garlic. Your best bet is to store it in a cool, dark, dry place in an airtight container. 8. Honey. When honey gets cold it thickens and crystallizes, therefore It's much more beneficial to keep honey at room temperature. But don't worry…if your honey has already crystallized, place it in a pan of hot water and it will return to its original texture. 9. Melons and Squashes. Cantaloupes, honey dew and squashes are better when left at room temperature. In fact, according to the USDA, storing melons at room temp will keep the antioxidants intact longer. 10. Basil. Basil likes the heat, so it's best stored at room temperature in a cup of water. (This should extend its shelf life.) Back to Top Ten Index