Despite popular belief, refrigerating certain foods can actually change their flavor and intensity (not in a good way). It can even reduce their nutritional quality, or accelerate the spoiling process.
Guess what? The refrigerator is not the go-to storage unit for all your produce.
Below are just some of the foods that do NOT belong in your fridge.
7. Garlic
Refrigeration reduces the flavor of garlic and affects its lifespan as well. The refrigerated environment can actually cause mold to develop. Store garlic in a paper bag in a cool, dark spot.
6. Tomatoes
If you’ve ever grown tomatoes, then you know that they love the heat and hate the cold.
Turns out even after they’re plucked from the vine, they still hold their aversion to cold. The fridge is not the ideal place to store tomatoes.
Store them there and your perfect tomatoes turn into a mealy disappointment. They’ll still be good for cooking, but not the best for eating fresh.
Instead, store them on your counter (not in direct sunlight) and enjoy them when they’re ripe.
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5. Melons
I know it’s tempting to just put fruit in the fridge, but you should keep whole melons like watermelon, cantaloupe, and honeydew on the counter for the best flavor.
USDA research found that storage at room temp might even help keep the antioxidants more intact. Once they’re cut,