Your Refrigerator, You’ve Been Doing it All Wrong

I'm guilty! What foods actually belong in the refrigerator, and which do not.

Grocery shopping is my favorite thing to do, putting away the groceries is always a task. I know where the frozen pizza goes but I'm not really sure where to put that avocado.

WIFR spoke with Chef Rachel Reuben about what we should and shouldn't put in the refrigerator.

Refrigerating fruits and vegetables may keep some of them from going bad, but they will lose their nutrients and flavor, specifically tomatoes and potatoes.

Things we should leave at room temperature are apples, bananas, onions, lemons, limes, oranges and avocados. Berries can be kept on the kitchen counter but make sure to eat them quickly. I know that from first hand as I once let a whole box of strawberries rot on the counter. Gross.

But surprisingly, do you know what is good to keep in the refrigerator? Nuts! Chef Reuben says they do better in the cold because they contain oil that can go bad over time.

One thing I never understood is why some people put batteries in the freezer. Does it really make them last longer? QuickandDirtytips.com did a great article that got down to the science of how batteries work and what happens when you put them in the refrigerator. The conclusion?

...Most battery manufacturers recommend against storing batteries in the freezer or refrigerator for several reasons. First, excess moisture can significantly degrade battery life by causing corrosion around the anode and cathode contacts. In addition, the extreme cold temperatures can cause seals in the battery to rupture, which greatly reduces battery performance. Finally, a cold battery has to be at room temperature before it can operate at maximum performance.

 

Please excuse me, I have to take the batteries out of the fridge and put the almonds in!