10 Things You Should Not Refrigerate

By Real Simple
March 15, 2018
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Certain items are at their prime when stored at room temperature.
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Hot Sauce

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It can live happily in the pantry for up to three years.

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Potatoes

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Refrigeration adversely affects their flavor, so store in the pantry in paper bags (plastic bags trap moisture and speed decay). Most varieties should last three weeks.

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Bread

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The refrigerator dries it out fast. Instead, keep what you’ll eat within four days at room temperature and freeze the rest.

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Onions

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They like their original mesh bag (or any bag that allows for air circulation) in the pantry. But keep them away from potatoes, which emit moisture and gases that can cause onions to rot.

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Batteries

Michele Gastl

Stash in a drawer at room temperature. Extreme cold (or heat) can diminish performance.

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Garlic

Davies & Starr

It will do well for two months in the pantry. Store loose, so air can move around it.

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Tomatoes

Keate

They can get mealy in the fridge, so leave them on a counter, out of plastic bags. To speed ripening, store in a paper bag. Once ripe, they’ll last for about three days.

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Coffee

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The fridge (and the freezer) create condensation, which can affect the flavor of both ground coffee and coffee beans. Coffee fares best in an airtight container in the pantry.

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Nail Polish

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Keeping it in the fridge can cause it to thicken. Store at room temperature, away from direct sunlight.

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Winter Squashes

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Varieties such as acorn, butternut, delicata, and spaghetti will last for about a month or more in the pantry.

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