9 Foods You Refrigerate That You Don’t Have To

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What’s the best way to preserve an avocado? Should all of your fruits go in the fridge? How about bread?

The fridge is a funny thing. It might seem like a no-brainer to throw everything in there, just to be on the safe side, but a lot of the time it’s not necessary. The fridge does prevent your food from developing bacteria and it’s definitely the best way to keep cooked and prepared food from spoiling. That said, it’s not the rule for everything. Cold temperatures can stop fruits from reaching peak ripeness, depriving you of getting those key nutrients. Here are nine foods you’re refrigerating that you surprisingly don’t have to.

1. Hot Sauce

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If you go to any BBQ joint, chances are you’ll see bottles of hot sauce on the table, no refrigeration necessary. So, why do we feel the need to put our hot sauce in the fridge at home? If this is the case, maybe it’s a force of habit or maybe it’s what you were taught growing up. Either way, Frank’s RedHot (the queen of all things Buffalo) says it’s unnecessary to stick your hot sauce in the fridge. It might add to its freshness, but somehow it seems a little ironic to chill hot sauce.

2. Bananas

Buy a bundle of bananas and leave those babies on the counter. If you put them in the fridge, they won’t ripen properly and the cool temperature will end up turning the peels brown prematurely. Yes, the flesh of the banana will still be edible, but it’s a waste of space in your fridge.

3. Butter

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Yeah, that’s right! Butter doesn’t actually need to be refrigerated if the room is under 70 degrees Fahrenheit. If you keep it in an airtight container on the counter, it could last from a couple of days to a week or so. Butter is mostly fat, which makes it less attractive to bacteria than products with a higher water content. Salted butter is even less susceptible to bacterial growth and will last even longer when it’s out on the counter. You should only keep an amount of butter out that you think you’ll use up. This way it’ll be perfectly soft for all of your toast and mashed potato needs.

4. Bread

Maybe if you live in a tropical climate, you should be on the safe side and keep your bread in the fridge, but for most people, bread can stay out on the counter as long as it’s in a cool, dry place. Only keep out the amount of bread you can eat within the week and slice off pieces as you go. You can also store it in an airtight container and freeze the bread and thaw out pieces as you go. Slices of bread actually get moldy faster than whole loaves, so take that into consideration. Bottom line, wrapping your bread in plastic and storing it in the fridge is possibly the worst technique and just speeds along the inevitable.

5. Basil

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It might be your first instinct to put fresh herbs in the fridge with the hopes of preserving them as long as possible. The truth is, they seem to hold up on their own just fine without the cold, so instead of wrapping it up and throwing it in the veggie drawer, you should just trim off the ends and put the basil, stem-and-all, in a glass of water until you’re ready to use it. When you keep basil in the fridge, it tends to wilt faster and turn a darkish color. You probably want to avoid that.

6. Coffee

Caffeine addicts, here’s the 411 on your morning ritual. The best way to store ground coffee is on a shelf in the pantry in some kind of an airtight container away from any heat, light or moisture. When you put coffee in the fridge, the moisture that’s created could strip your favorite brew of its flavor, aroma and freshness. If you have a bag that you know you won’t finish within a week or two, freeze the rest and take out small portions as you go.

7. Honey

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You can leave the honey in your pantry as long as the lid is on tight. If you put honey in the fridge, it will speed up the inevitable crystallization process and your honey might become grainy over time. The same goes for maple syrup, except you can put this natural sweetener in the freezer if you plan on keeping it for a while.

8. Avocados

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Avocados should be kept at room temperature during the ripening process for the best and creamiest results. Once they reach peak ripeness you should make some avocado toast or guac and enjoy them in all of their glory. The fridge won’t do you any favors in this case.

9. Soy Sauce And High-Acid Condiments

Good news for sushi fans, soy sauce and other salty Asian ingredients like fish sauce can be kept in the cabinet. The salt content will prevent bacteria growth and other variables that might cause your sauce to spoil. It definitely can’t hurt to put them in the fridge, but it’s not necessary.