The debates over refrigerators or closets have torn households apart for generations. From ketchup to chocolate, we’ve put together the definitive guide on where to keep your groceries.
Some foods have an obvious home. For example, we all know that cereal goes in the cupboard and meat goes in the refrigerator.
But where should you keep eggs – do they go in the refrigerator or in the cupboard? What about bread? And do we even dare ask where to keep tomato ketchup?
To help you become a culinary master – and to resolve some conflicts with roommates – we’ve listed all of the most controversial food items for a refrigerator or cupboard (and of course there’s nothing to stop you saying “cupboard”) with the kitchen counter or a fruit bowl instead). It is time to settle some arguments.
Here are some common foods that should be put in the refrigerator, as well as some others that should be put in the closet:
Tomato ketchup
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Should you keep tomato ketchup in the refrigerator or closet? – – fridge
As long as there was tomato ketchup, families had argued over whether the holy sauce should be kept in the refrigerator or in the cupboard. In fact, it may be the original source (excuse the pun) of the refrigerator-closet conflict.
Fortunately, as with all ketchup-based problems, the good people at Heinz have the answer.
According to them, you should safely store tomato ketchup’s natural acidity in the closet, but you should Keep it in the refrigerator once you open the bottle if you want to “keep the best product quality”.
And the same applies to mayonnaise – cupboard before opening, refrigerator afterwards.
Eggs

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Should you keep eggs in the refrigerator or cupboard? – – fridge
In the supermarket, eggs are kept on the shelf. But there is almost certainly an egg tray in your refrigerator. So where are you supposed to keep your eggs ?!
Well, if we turn down the advice of Egg Info, the official voice of the UK egg industry (as good a resource as any other if you ask us), you should be Keep your eggs in the refrigerator.
They recommend that you store your eggs at a constant temperature below 20 ° C. Since the room temperature can vary dramatically over the year (and sometimes even in a single day), the refrigerator is the best place in a household kitchen.
Interestingly, they also recommend that you remove the eggs from the refrigerator about 30 minutes before cooking to avoid sudden temperature changes that can damage the eggs. Every day is a school day.
loaf

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Should you keep bread in the fridge or cupboard? – – cabinet
Do you think the refrigerator always extends the life of your food? Think again
We’re not going to get into the science, but experts agree: bread comes off faster in the refrigerator, so you’re best off Leave it in the closet in an airtight bag (i.e. the bag it comes in, tightly closed with the small label).
That said, there is a way to keep it alive even longer. Bread can be frozen for months and each slice only takes an hour (if so) to thaw. As such, your freezer is the perfect place to store bread if you don’t think you can gobble up a whole seed (objectively the best variety) in a week.
Avocados
Should you keep avocados in the refrigerator or cupboard? – – It depends on
If they’re not scattered on your toast, smashed in one of our homemade beauty treatments, or generally discouraging young people everywhere from climbing residential ladders, where should your avocados be kept? The answer seems a little complicated – it all depends how ripe your avocado is.
To test the ripeness of your avocado, first squeeze it lightly. If it’s slightly mushy and has dark green / black bumpy skin, it’s ripe. Everything else, and it’s probably not ripe.
Now for storage. Ripe avocados should be kept in the refrigerator for two to three days to keep them fresh. If your avocado isn’t quite ripe, leave it on the counter for a few days and check it every day to see how it’s developing. Once it’s ripened, put your avocado in the fridge!
And if you’re looking for a way to keep your avocado fresh after you’ve sliced ​​it, we’ve got you covered.
Bananas
Should you keep bananas in the refrigerator or closet? – – cabinet
We all know frozen bananas are a great snack (ok we don’t everything you know that but now you do) but if they aren’t freezing cold should they be kept chilled instead? In a word: no.
As seems to be the case with most tropical fruits, bananas don’t taste as good in the cold. The enzymes that help them ripen are suppressed in the refrigerator. Therefore, keep them at room temperature if possible.
This is especially true if they are green (which we usually noticed when you received bananas in an online order) as it means they have not yet ripened.
And remember, it is a brown banana not a bad banana. They still have many uses even after they have bloomed!
chocolate

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Should you keep chocolate in the fridge or cupboard? – – It depends on you
Nothing and we mean Nothing, has ever shared the Save the Student office, much like the debate about where to store chocolate.
On the one hand, we have the scholars – the progressive thinkers who are not bound by social conventions. They believe that certain chocolates should be kept in the refrigerator as this will add some extra pressure to them and enhance the already euphoric chocolate experience.
On the other side of the debate are the purists – the devotees who are unwilling to change their behaviors even when faced with the sad reality of soft, half-melted chocolate.
Cadbury claims that chocolate should not be stored at temperatures below 21 ° C, but there are also studies to suggest that chocolate will last longer in the refrigerator with no loss of quality or taste as long as it is kept in an airtight container.
In an unprecedented step, we’re leaving it up to you to decide where to store your chocolate.
tomatoes
Should you keep tomatoes in the fridge or cupboard? – – It depends on
As a salad vegetable (yes, we know it’s actually a fruit …) you would expect tomatoes to go into the fridge. But it seems like this isn’t the best plan after all.
Like most fresh fruits and vegetables, tomatoes you buy in the supermarket are usually not yet ripe. This ensures that they will last in the store and in your kitchen for as long as possible. And in order for tomatoes to ripen properly, they must be stored at room temperature – in other words: not in your fridge.
Unripe tomatoes taste far less than their ripe red counterparts. So keep them for your taste buds in the cupboard or on the countertop. The only exception should be if they have already matured and you want them to stay that way for a few days.
And, of course, the best way to make sure you’re getting delicious, ripe tomatoes is to grow them yourself!
Potatoes

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Should you keep potatoes in the refrigerator or in the cupboard? – – cabinet
Ah, potatoes. The most versatile vegetable that can be used for almost any healthy meal or any other meal. But where should you keep your perpetrators?
This one is pretty simple: Keep your potatoes in the closet. According to the Northern Irish government, putting potatoes in the refrigerator can ultimately lead to increased levels of a chemical called acrylamide.
Acrylamide causes cancer in animals and can also be harmful to human health. While it doesn’t seem possible to completely remove the chemical from your boiled potatoes, closet storage should help limit it.
It is worth noting that there is no official conclusion as to whether acrylamide is actually present or not does cause cancer in humans, but the general consensus in the scientific community seems to be that if you can reduce your intake of the chemical, then you should.
Since your potatoes taste just as good and still last quite a long time, you can also keep them in the cupboard.
butter

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Should you keep butter in the refrigerator or cupboard? – – fridge
Now there is no denying that the softer butter is, the easier it is to spread. But is that reason enough to keep it out of the fridge? Apparently not, according to Dairy UK.
The voice of the British dairy industry was thus quoted Butter should be kept in the refrigerator and nowhere else, otherwise it starts within a few days.
While it’s still safe to eat (hint: there is a chance it isn’t safe!), It’s unlikely to taste as good as butter in the date. Either keep your pad in the refrigerator or remove a slice and only warm up as much as you need every day or every other day.
Onions

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Should you keep onions in the refrigerator or cupboard? – – cabinet
Is there a more underrated food than onions? Seriously, think about how many dishes have onions in them – it’s almost harder to come up with a recipe for it Not use them. Our student menu used 15 of them (12 brown, three red) for a month’s worth of groceries, and we could easily have eaten more.
Anyway, enough praise on onions. If you want to keep this basic ingredient fresh longer, Keep it in the closet. Storing onions in the refrigerator can cause them to soften and moist much faster than usual, and that’s just a waste of a good onion.
And if you want your onions to last a long time even longerWe have some great tips here.
garlic

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Should you keep garlic in the refrigerator or cupboard? – – cabinet
Garlic, like onions, is a linchpin in so many of your favorite dishes – especially a good bowl of pasta. And again like onions, garlic is best kept in the closet, not the refrigerator.
Garlic is stored in a dry (and preferably dark) environment at room temperature and should be stable for a few months. But keep it in the refrigerator and it could mold or sprout within a few weeks.
Apples
Should you keep apples in the fridge or cupboard? – – fridge
There are few things in life bigger than the first bite into a crispy apple. So if you want to keep your Granny Smith, Pink Lady, or Golden Delicious in tip-top condition, it is your best course of action Keep them in the refrigerator.
Apples hold their moisture best when kept in a cold, dark environment, and you will most likely keep them fresher longer if you leave them in the plastic bag they came in (as long as there are a few holes in it). .
pepper

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Should you keep peppers in the refrigerator or cupboard? – – fridge
Whether it’s a Thai green curry (one of our dinner party recipes) or a range of enchiladas, paprika is a guaranteed way to add color and flavor to your dish.
So that these colorful comrades don’t lose any of their magic, Keep your peppers in the refrigerator. If they came in a plastic bag, do not throw them away. This will help regulate the moisture levels in your peppers, which will keep them fresh for as long as possible.
And, like so many fruits and vegetables, keep your peppers in the salad drawer at the bottom of your fridge, as this – which is fun – also helps to maintain the right moisture levels for your greens.
Lemons

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Should you keep lemons in the refrigerator or cupboard? – – fridge
When life gives you lemons, do everything possible to keep them ripe for as long as possible – which the experts believe it does Keep them in the refrigerator.
While lemons are still perfectly edible if you keep them in the closet, they will only stay that way for about a week. Put them in the refrigerator, however, and your lemons can last up to a month.
A month should be more than enough time to use your lemons in the recipe you plan to use. However, if you’re against the clock, know that you can also use lemon juice to keep avocados fresh.
cake

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Should you keep cakes in the fridge or cupboard? – – It depends on
When it comes to cake, there is no greater authority in the field than The Hummingbird Bakery. In all honesty, if you haven’t tried their cakes, get involved.
According to Hummingbird, whether or not your cake goes in the refrigerator depends entirely on what type it is. If your baked beauty has any type of cream, pudding, cream cheese, or fresh fruit in it, then you really should keep it in the refrigerator. This way, it will take a few days (assuming you don’t devour it on the first day).
On the flip side, cakes with sugar paste, fondant, or food coloring should be kept in the cupboard as the refrigerator can cause the colors to bleed.
And if you’ve been blessed with a saint’s willpower and don’t think you’ll finish your treats in a matter of days, remember that cake can even be frozen without losing much of what makes it great.
jam

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Should you keep jam in the fridge or cupboard? – – cabinet
You may instinctively feel that jams like ketchup and mayonnaise should be kept in the refrigerator after opening. Certainly feels right, but unfortunately it’s wrong – Jam should be kept in the closet, not the refrigerator.
The jam’s natural acidity means that as long as you plan to consume all of the jar within a few months, you should be more than okay to keep it in the closet. Save the refrigerator space for something that needs it!
Oranges

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Should you keep oranges in the fridge or cupboard? – – fridge
Speaking of things that take up space in the refrigerator – oranges.
Unlike most other fruits, oranges are usually perfectly ripe when purchased. While this is great news if you want to get some citrus in as soon as possible, it isn’t as good for the shelf life of your oranges.
Although oranges are a known source of vitamin C, levels of this essential compound begin to decrease after ripening. Placing your oranges in the refrigerator slows down this process and keeps them fresh, juicier and healthier for longer.
What better way to fill your fridge (or cupboard) than with all of the free groceries our tricks can to get you there?