Things You Should Never Store in the Fridge by Mistake
Especially Cut Onions, Garlic, and More
In today´s modern lifestyle, the refrigerator has become an essential part of daily life. It is a very helpful tool for keeping food fresh for longer. However, not everything is suitable to be stored in the fridge. There are certain items that lose their nutritional value, flavor, or even become harmful to health when kept in the refrigerator.
In this article, we’ll talk about some of the common items you should never put in the fridge, especially cut onions and garlic, along with several other daily kitchen items.
1. Cut Onions
Many people have the habit of storing leftover or cut onions in the fridge. It’s often done to prevent spoilage or save time, but storing cut onions in the fridge can actually be harmful to your health.
Why Shouldn’t You Store Cut Onions in the Fridge?
Absorbs Bacteria Easily: Onions naturally absorb bacteria from the surrounding environment. Once cut, the sulfuric compounds in onions react with air, creating a favorable environment for bacterial growth—even inside a cold fridge.
Spreads Strong Odor: The strong smell of onions can spread throughout the refrigerator and spoil the aroma and taste of other items like milk, fruits, or sweets.
Loss of Flavor and Nutrition: Cold temperature changes the texture of onions. They become soggy and lose their crispness, freshness, and even taste.
Can Become Toxic: Some studies suggest that cut onions can become toxic after a certain time. If stored too long, they can cause digestive issues such as bloating, indigestion, or even food poisoning.
What Should You Do?
If you’ve already cut an onion, try to use it immediately. If you must store it, place it in an airtight container and use it within 12–24 hours. Long-term storage in the fridge is not recommended.
2. Garlic
Garlic is another essential ingredient used frequently in cooking. Many people store peeled or chopped garlic in the fridge thinking it stays fresh longer. However, this is also a bad habit when it comes to health.
Why Shouldn’t You Store Garlic in the Fridge?
Sprouting in Cold Temperature: When garlic is kept in the fridge, it starts sprouting quickly due to the cold. Sprouted garlic loses its flavor and nutritional value.
Texture Change: Garlic becomes soft and watery in the fridge, making it unfit for cooking.
Risk of Dangerous Bacteria: When chopped or peeled garlic is stored in the fridge (especially in oil), it can develop Clostridium botulinum bacteria, which causes botulism, a life-threatening food poisoning.
What Should You Do?
Store garlic in a cool, dry, and well-ventilated place at room temperature. If you’ve made garlic paste, keep it in an airtight jar in the fridge and try to use it within a few days. Avoid long-term storage of peeled or chopped garlic.
3. Other Items You Shouldn’t Store in the Fridge
a) Potatoes:
The cold temperature in the fridge turns the starch in potatoes into sugar, which alters their taste and makes them unsuitable for cooking or frying.
b) Tomatoes:
Tomatoes lose their texture and flavor in the fridge. They become mushy and bland due to the cold.
c) Bread:
Bread tends to dry out faster in the fridge and may develop mold due to moisture.
d) Honey:
Fridge temperature causes honey to crystallize. It turns solid and becomes difficult to use.
e) Bananas:
Refrigerating bananas causes their skin to blacken and the fruit inside becomes overly soft and unpleasant.
f) Oils and Ghee:
Certain oils, especially coconut oil, and even ghee can solidify in the fridge, making them hard to use and altering their natural texture.
Conclusion:
In the desire to keep food safe, many of us have developed the habit of storing almost everything in the fridge. But scientifically and from a health perspective, not everything belongs there. Cut onions and garlic are two major examples. Storing such items in the refrigerator can affect not only their nutritional value, taste, and smell—but also your health.
Always remember: the purpose of using a refrigerator is not just to increase the shelf life of food but to preserve its safety and nutritional quality as well.
So, avoid storing cut onions, peeled garlic, tomatoes, potatoes, bananas, honey, and bread in the fridge. And if storage is absolutely necessary, make sure you do it the right way.
If you found this information useful, don’t forget to share it with others. let’s promote healthier kitchen habits together!
- Prakash Dahal
Editor and Publisher
Prakash Dahal Online Services.
Gothswarko Serophero Online Newspaper.
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