"Do Not Refrigerate"
@AbbyGreenhill (45494)
United States
December 16, 2015 7:21am CST
There are some foods that you should not refrigerate. You may know some of them, but just in case here is a reminder of a few items not to store in your fridge:
* Tomatoes - store them on the counter top to avoid changing their consistency.
* Melons - keep on the counter top until you slice them, then store in the fridge.
* Potatoes - store the in a cool dark place but not the fridge
* Apples - they keep for a week on your counter, after that stick them in the fridge.
When deciding what to store in the fridge, use your best judgement or google the information!
Photo belongs to me
24 people like this
20 responses
@LadyDuck (472078)
• Switzerland
16 Dec 15
@AbbyGreenhill So true, the cocoa butter comes to the surface and the chocolate turns white-ish. I always bring good chocolate to my Mom and she always put it in the refrigerator.
1 person likes this
@AbbyGreenhill (45494)
• United States
16 Dec 15
Definitely not, you're right - it does make it turn 'white-ish' also.
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@AbbyGreenhill (45494)
• United States
16 Dec 15
@marlina nd @Marilynda - I have about 6 or 7 of them, got them at yard sales...they are the best for microwaving.
@Marilynda1225 (83103)
• United States
16 Dec 15
@marlina I had the same dish for years and then it broke one day 
1 person likes this
@Marilynda1225 (83103)
• United States
17 Dec 15
@AbbyGreenhill I never thought to look for those corning ware dishes at a yard sale. They were the best for everything!
@Asylum (47893)
• Manchester, England
16 Dec 15
@AbbyGreenhill Onions on rare occasions but never Garlic. Dracula likes garlic more than I do.
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@AbbyGreenhill (45494)
• United States
16 Dec 15
Onions and garlic should not be refrigerated, do you use those?
2 people like this
@AbbyGreenhill (45494)
• United States
16 Dec 15
@Asylum Dracula is afraid of garlic - he just loves blood.
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@AbbyGreenhill (45494)
• United States
16 Dec 15
I don't even like the flavor of a tomato that has been in the fridge.
1 person likes this
@gudheart (12659)
•
16 Dec 15
@AbbyGreenhill I don't think I have ever tasted tomato that has not been in the fridge. What does it taste like?
@AbbyGreenhill (45494)
• United States
16 Dec 15
@gudheart Try one, you'll like it! It's hard to describe!
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@AbbyGreenhill (45494)
• United States
9 May 16
No fridge? How do you keep food?
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@AbbyGreenhill (45494)
• United States
9 May 16
@destry So is it safe to assume you don't drink cold drinks like juice or soda? I guess you don't eat meat since you can't pick it from the garden! I couldn't be w/o ice. Is it on the cool side where you live?
1 person likes this
@destry (2572)
• Kirkwall, Scotland
9 May 16
@AbbyGreenhill In the garden mostly. We have a small holding so we simply harvest our dinner that day. We cook what we need so have no left overs. To keep our home brew chilled we use a terracotta flowerpot filled with water.
I can honestly say that in the 1 year that we have been fridge free, there has only been 1 occasion when I thought a fridge would be useful - and that was to set a jelly (Jello for you lot across the pond) . . . and that wasn't for us.
1 person likes this
@DreadPirateRoberts (26)
• United States
17 Dec 15
Good tips. Tomatoes may not go in the fridge, but Ketchup...Catsup...tomato sauce...whatever you call it definitely does. Cold good. Warm bad.
And doesnt all the food on the counter attract R.O.U.S.es?
1 person likes this
@AbbyGreenhill (45494)
• United States
17 Dec 15
Ketchup does not need to be in fridge...restaurants keep ketchup out on the tables all the time.
Tomato sauce, yes, should be refrigerated or you could get very ill.
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@AbbyGreenhill (45494)
• United States
17 Dec 15
@VivaLaDani13 Canned Tomatoes
Canned tomatoes come in many styles, including whole, chopped, crushed, paste (a concentrate), puree (strained), sauce (slightly thinner than puree and usually more seasoned), and juice (most of the pulp removed).
Unopened canned tomatoes should be used within six months. Once opened, store canned tomatoes in a covered glass container in the refrigerator up to one week. Leftover tomato paste and sauce can be frozen for up to two months.
1 person likes this
@kaka135 (14931)
• Malaysia
16 Dec 15
I didn't know about the tomatoes. We have always been storing them in the fridge once we got them back from the market. I will definitely try it and taste the difference. I only tasted the tomatoes that I plant in my garden fresh without refrigerated. 
Thank you for sharing this helpful tip!
Thank you for sharing this helpful tip!1 person likes this
@AbbyGreenhill (45494)
• United States
17 Dec 15
You are welcome and thanks for the comment.
1 person likes this
@Rollo1 (16679)
• Boston, Massachusetts
16 Dec 15
I always put tomatoes and apples in the fridge right away, because I may not use them in time and I hate fruit fly infestations. I don't store potatoes in the fridge, but in the summer it's not easy to find a cool, dark place for them. I do put bananas in the fridge, because although the skin will turn brown, they will remain firm inside and again, no fruit fly hatchings.
1 person likes this
@AbbyGreenhill (45494)
• United States
16 Dec 15
I guess I don't leave food sitting around very long since I don't get fruit flies. I don't eat bananas so I don't worry about storing them.
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@zebra2222 (5268)
• United States
17 Dec 15
Good suggestions. There are other things that follow this as well.
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@AbbyGreenhill (45494)
• United States
16 Dec 15
I didn't know about melons either - but we don't eat them which is probably why I didn't know.
@softbabe44 (5816)
• Vancouver, Washington
17 Dec 15
Thats much needed information we all can use.
1 person likes this
@AbbyGreenhill (45494)
• United States
17 Dec 15
Thanks I appreciate the comment.
1 person likes this
@Marilynda1225 (83103)
• United States
16 Dec 15
Tomatoes are that one vegetable that I always put in the refrigerator and shouldn't
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@AbbyGreenhill (45494)
• United States
16 Dec 15
If you don't put them in the fridge you will taste the difference.
1 person likes this
@AbbyGreenhill (45494)
• United States
17 Dec 15
@Marilynda1225 Let me know if you notice a difference.
@Marilynda1225 (83103)
• United States
17 Dec 15
@AbbyGreenhill I'm definitely going to keep them on the counter next time I buy them and see the difference
@IrishGal1977 (14)
• Ireland
16 Dec 15
I store apples and tomatoes in the fridge purely because my kitchen gets very warm when I have the fire lit. It's a range, similar to a very large stove that I can also cook on. I find leaving the apples out makes them wilt; their skin turns all wrinkly. In the summer I'd leave them outside the fridge alright. I never store spuds in te fridge; in fact, I store them in the downstairs bathroom where it's usually cool.
1 person likes this
@AbbyGreenhill (45494)
• United States
16 Dec 15
If people special cases, like your hot kitchen, then you find ways to make it work. I find if I leave potatoes in the plastic bag they rot fast. I put them in a big bowl now and they last longer/better for me.
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@AbbyGreenhill (45494)
• United States
16 Dec 15
@IrishGal1977 The bag makes moisture, which makes rot. You're welcome.
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@celticeagle (168334)
• Boise, Idaho
16 Dec 15
I do actually refrigerate one of those. I wish I could buy things more close to use but cannot.
@celticeagle (168334)
• Boise, Idaho
16 Dec 15
@AbbyGreenhill ..Yeah, we usually put the 'maters' in the window and the rest are stored correctly. But the melon usually goes in the vegetable bin. I like things at room temp so maybe we can start leaving it out and eat it sooner.
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@AbbyGreenhill (45494)
• United States
16 Dec 15
@celticeagle Like Ice cream, some things taste more flavorful at room temperature.
@AbbyGreenhill (45494)
• United States
16 Dec 15
I think it's what we're used to. My father's life was agriculture and tomatoes were his specialty. I learned from him what not to do with 'maters.
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@Hatley (163776)
• Garden Grove, California
16 Dec 15
@AbbyGreenhill ugh no ruins the flavor ugh
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@AbbyGreenhill (45494)
• United States
16 Dec 15
@Hatley They repeat on me badly.
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@AbbyGreenhill (45494)
• United States
16 Dec 15
There was a commercial with a jingle - "Don't put bananas in the refrigerator"
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@sueznewz2 (10409)
• Alicante, Spain
17 Dec 15
I didn't know that about tomatoes...., we always put them in the fridge... but come to think of it.. they are not in the coolers in the supermarkets...they'rein the veggies section... ohhh well... you live and learn... 
@fishtiger58 (29820)
• Momence, Illinois
17 Dec 15
I have also heard recently not to put your bread in the refrigerator. I never do.
@AbbyGreenhill (45494)
• United States
17 Dec 15
@fishtiger58 LOL! What's worse is buying bread with an expiration date a week away and you open to find stale bread.
1 person likes this
@fishtiger58 (29820)
• Momence, Illinois
17 Dec 15
@AbbyGreenhill Nothing worse than dry cold bread.
