According to the Food and Drug Administration, your refrigerator should be 40 degrees Fahrenheit or cooler. Chilling foods to proper temperatures is one of the best ways to slow the growth of bacteria that cause foodborne illnesses. Here are some food storage tips from Statcare Urgent Care doctors.
Don’t Store Things In The Refrigerator
Here are 7 food items that you should not store in the refrigerator. You should always store these food items at room temperature.
- Tomatoes: They lose their flavor and texture when refrigerated. Cold temperature damages the membranes inside its walls, making them lose flavor and become mushy. Cold air also stops the ripening process. Ripe tomatoes are meant to be eaten within a couple of days, so buy them in small amounts as needed.
- Potatoes: Keeping a potato in the refrigerator will turn its starch into sugar more quickly and that will make them sweet and gritty in nature. This increases their sugar content.
- Onions: If you put onions in the refrigerator, the moisture will eventually turn them soft and moldy. Chopped or sliced onions can be stored in a sealed container in the refrigerator for a few days.
- Coffee: If you leave coffee in the refrigerator, it will lose its flavor and may take some of the odors in the refrigerator. Coffee beans are hygroscopic and they absorb moisture from the surrounding area. Larger quantities of coffee can be stored in the freezer.
- Honey: Keeping honey in the refrigerator can cause it to crystallize. Extreme cold temperatures can spoil its taste and texture.
- Avocados: Avocados sulk in the refrigerator. They ripen best at room temperature.
- Bread: Wheat flour, the primary ingredient in bread, is packed full of granules of starch. When exposed to moisture (in the refrigerator), the starch breaks down and becomes increasingly amorphous. This causes the bread to dry out quickly.
Following these food storage tips can help ensure that you stay well. If you believe that you may have food poisoning, visit your local urgent care.
