Refrigerators can extend a food’s lifespan from a few hours to a few weeks. They can aid many foods, but some are better left outside of the fridge. Even certain fruits and vegetables last longer outside of the refrigerator.
For instance, onions spoil more quickly in low temperatures. Herbs such as basil will not survive in the fridge. Even condiments, such as ketchup, are sometimes better left in the pantry. Here’s why you should keep all of these foods out of the fridge and some short-term fridge-preserving hacks when the right time calls for them.
Cold Bread Is Dry Bread
Placing bread in the refrigerator is the worst thing you can do for the product. As soon as bread comes out of the oven, it starts going bad from the “retrogradation and recrystallization of starch.” Essentially, the starch slowly transforms back into crystals, which makes bread become hard and stale.
If you put bread in the fridge, it will become hard. Keep bread away from moisture. Store it in a bread box or plastic bag, and it will last for a week or more.
