Stashing every food item in your fridge? Stop right there!

It is a common belief that a colder environment may be safer and more hygienic for most food items. While stashing food away in a refrigerator might seem to be the best way to keep it fresh, not all food items require refrigeration. In fact, the cold temperature could have an adverse effect on some food items and lower their nutritional value.

We've rounded up a list of foods that you shouldn't refrigerate but rather keep at room temperature instead. Take a look!

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Tomatoes

Refrigerating tomatoes damages the membrane inside the fruit, altering its taste and texture.
To prevent them from becoming tasteless, watery and unripe, tomatoes should be kept out of the fridge.

Honey

The best thing about honey is that it can be kept for years, thanks to the natural sugar it contains. Keeping it inside the fridge will only crystallise it and make it inedible. Instead of lovely, runny honey, you'll be left with gloopy lumps of this sweet delight, so it's best to keep it at room temperature.

Bread

Cold temperatures tend to have a drying effect on many foods including bread. Unless you prefer stale, dried-out slices on your favorite sandwich, stash loaves of bread in the pantry but remember to consume it within 2-3 days of purchasing.

Avocado

There's nothing more delicious than a ripe avocado. Keeping them in the fridge will slow the ripening process, hence, it's best to store them in a dry place on the counter.

Stone fruits

Peaches, apricots, nectarines, plums and cherries could lose their nutrients if refrigerated. In addition to preserving antioxidants, storing them outside also allows them to ripen nicely while remaining less acidic and becoming much sweeter.

Apart from these, watermelons, eggplants, garlic, basil, strawberries, cucumber, oranges and ketchup should never be refrigerated. Also, assessing your food storage pattern can help free up precious refrigerator shelf space for the things that really need to chill.

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