30+ Foods That You Shouldn’t Be Freezing — #17 Will Surprise You

While they taste better and keep longer at room temperature, cucumbers are much more refreshing when kept cold. However, the refrigerator may damage their skin, hastening their deterioration. Cucumbers can be kept crisp in the fridge for a few hours if you prepare a salad.

Store them on the counter for extended periods. The amount of time they stay fresh will astound you! The next time you buy cucumbers, try keeping them at room temperature to get the most taste and shelf life.

100s of types of apples are grown in the United States alone out of the 7,500 varieties of apples that exist worldwide. Whether they’re Fuji, Gala, Granny Smith, Red Delicious, or Braeburn apples, they all taste better when cool and juicy, but they shouldn’t be stored in the refrigerator.

If refrigerated, apples may ripen too rapidly and lose their crispness and sweet flavor. Apples look best in your fruit bowl on the counter, where their vibrant hues enhance the kitchen’s visual appeal and prolong their freshness.

Onions must be stored in warmer areas to stay fresh, whether chopped for salads or fried for stir-fries. Did you know that potatoes can hasten the aging process of onions? Therefore, keep them away from one another, out of the refrigerator, and store them separately.

Cut onions should be refrigerated and will last about a week. Whole onions, however, should be stored in a cool, dry place to maintain freshness. This method preserves their flavor and texture, ensuring they stay delicious and ready for your next meal. Proper storage is vital to quality onions.

Strawberries, blueberries, blackberries, and raspberries are all too delicious for us. Berries taste great in pies and porridge and are a summertime staple, but are you preserving them properly? If left on the counter, they spoil within days. Storing them in the refrigerator can cause them to become mushy, moldy, and lose their flavor.

Fresh berries spoil quickly, so it’s best to get frozen berries for extended shelf life if you don’t use them in a few days. In this manner, you can always savor their delectable flavor and nutritious advantages.

Did you know there are 40,000 bean varieties in the world? Wow! Whether you’re enjoying kidney, fava, pinto, green beans, chickpeas, or black beans, they should be stored in an airtight container in the pantry or cupboard to keep pests and moisture away.

Dried beans can last for years, but for the best flavor, they’re best eaten within one to two years. Once cooked, store them in the fridge in an airtight container, and they’ll last three to five days. Proper storage ensures you enjoy its full flavor and nutritional benefits.

We adore potatoes in all forms — french fries, mashed potatoes, tater tots, potato wedges, etc. Sweet potatoes and potatoes should be kept dry and cool, not in the refrigerator. Their starches convert to sugars in the fridge, altering their flavor and texture.

To keep potatoes fresh and tasty, store raw ones in a pantry or cupboard. Only refrigerate them after cooking. This method preserves their flavor and texture for longer periods, ensuring they remain delicious and ready for your next meal. Proper storage is key to maintaining the quality of your potatoes.

Have you kept garlic in the refrigerator? If so, you have been keeping it in the wrong place. Store fresh, whole garlic bulbs in a cold, dry place like your pantry. With proper storage, this superfood can last for months.

Use the garlic clove within ten days of opening its head. Garlic begins to rot inside the refrigerator — a process invisible to the naked eye. Leave it out to prevent this. If you need to utilize extra garlic, try producing garlic oil.

Do you detest the sloppy, watery ketchup residue on your fries or burger when you first squeeze it out of the bottle? This issue can be avoided; storing ketchup in the pantry will improve its flavor.

Ketchup is naturally acidic, so it doesn’t really go bad. Store it in the refrigerator to keep it fresher for longer, especially if you live in a hot climate or use it infrequently. Savor your ketchup without any clutter!

While we’ve discussed several vegetables that don’t need refrigeration, what about salad dressings? Depending on their type, oil-based dressings, like vinaigrettes, typically do not require refrigeration; they can thicken and develop clumps of fat when stored in the refrigerator.

Creamy dressings such as Thousand Island or Ranch should be refrigerated after opening. Similarly, salads, particularly those with dressing, need to be kept in the refrigerator. Proper storage ensures the best flavor and texture.

Jerky is supposed to be dry. Love it or hate it, jerky is just dried meat, so there’s no reason to keep it in the refrigerator. Because refrigeration counteracts the drying effects of the components, it has a shorter shelf life.

Jerky should be stored in an airtight container in a pantry or cupboard. This way, it remains fresh for an extended period, and you don’t have to be concerned about spoilage. Savor your jerky the way it should be enjoyed: crispy and flavorful!

Opinions on whether or not to refrigerate eggs are divided. Which side are you on? Eggs are virtually always refrigerated in the United States, although they are frequently left out on the counter in Europe. There are reasons to explain this difference.

After manufacturing, eggs are sterilized in the United States to eradicate bacteria, which weakens the shell and necessitates cold storage. The shells aren’t sterilized in Europe, so they don’t require refrigeration. Knowing these variations will enable you to choose the appropriate egg storage method for your location.

Rice is an essential ingredient in many delectable recipes and a pantry staple. Think poke bowls, sushi, burritos, and tacos. Uncooked rice should not be refrigerated but cooked rice must be stored in the refrigerator in an airtight container. Cooked rice must be used within three to six days because it degrades quickly.

Throw it out if the texture is odd or if it smells strange. To prevent bugs from getting into uncooked rice, store it in an airtight container in the cupboard or pantry. Proper storage ensures freshness and security.

Like peanut butter and jelly, ketchup and mustard cannot be discussed without the other. You’ve probably been keeping your mustard and ketchup in the refrigerator, but they can also be stored at room temperature for a while. Enjoy them however you prefer!

Mustard’s strong acidity keeps it from going bad, just like ketchup. When did you last see a restaurant keep its ketchup and mustard in the refrigerator? They are kept on the table at restaurants so patrons don’t have to ask the server for them. Store them in your pantry for taste and convenience.

Nothing tastes better than warm, freshly-made donuts right out of the oven. Just picturing them makes our mouths water. However, if you purchase too many, how can you store them? To be honest, that sounds like an issue that anyone would want to have.

Avoid putting them in the refrigerator at all costs, as they will become stale and soggy. Cover and leave at room temperature. They only endure, at most, two days, so be warned. This storage technique gives you even more excuse to savor that second doughnut!

Never refrigerate cooked hot dogs, as the low temperature might make them tough and unappetizing. Refrigeration also causes moisture loss, which can dry out and reduce flavor. For brief storage, it’s safer to keep cooked hot dogs at room temperature; however, freezing is a preferable alternative for extended preservation.

Freezing preserves their texture, flavor, and quality, ensuring they consistently reheat. Store them properly to keep them fresh and avoid spoiling. Enjoy your best-ever hot dogs by savoring their delicious taste and perfect texture every time! Proper storage will ensure your hot dogs remain tasty and enjoyable.

Where do you store chocolate? You might be tempted to store it in the refrigerator or freezer if you don’t want it to melt, but doing so might ruin its texture, color, and flavor. Chocolate is made by heating and cooling cocoa beans, powder, and milk.

So, cooling the mixture again will destroy the ingredients within the chocolate. If you’re concerned it will melt, store it in a dry, cool area, such as your pantry or cupboard. The next time you reach for your treat, a little piece of heaven will greet you.

Pizza that has been refrigerated may lose some of its flavor and texture, becoming chewy and mushy as the toppings’ moisture seeps through. This unequal distribution of moisture dilutes the initial crunchiness and reduces the efficiency of reheating.

Pizza should not be refrigerated per se; nonetheless, incorrect storage might encourage the growth of bacteria like Staphylococcus aureus, which can result in foodborne diseases. Leftover pizza should be refrigerated within two hours of cooking or stored at room temperature in an airtight container for maximum taste and safety.

It is usually advised to refrigerate watermelon to preserve its crisp texture and freshness. Cut watermelon may lose flavor and texture if kept in the refrigerator over time. The fruit’s cellular structure may change due to the cold, leaving it less juicy and possibly gritty.

Despite these modifications, watermelon can have a longer shelf life via refrigeration than by being kept at room temperature. Cut watermelon should be consumed within a few days to maximize freshness and flavor, and it should be kept in an airtight container to prevent moisture loss.

The age-old question: Do you prefer peanut butter to be smooth or crunchy? We can all agree that peanut butter belongs in your pantry, stored at room temperature. Spreading peanut butter on bread should not cause anyone to break it.

Peanut butter dries out and goes bad in the refrigerator, making it impossible to spread. The exception is natural peanut butter, which should be refrigerated after opening according to most labels. If left out, the peanut oil will quickly go bad, and its constituents will separate.

While most cheeses should be kept chilled, there is one that you should never do — primarily due to legal reasons. Prepared exclusively on the island of Sardinia, Casu Marza is prepared from sheep’s milk and contains live cheese skipper fly maggots.

Usually consumed with cheese, these maggots add a potent Mediterranean flavor — if you can stand the idea of eating live maggots. This unusual treat is not for the faint-hearted and should be approached with caution and carefully stored.

Nothing compares to a refreshing Coke can. However, the beverage may be ruined if cans are kept in the refrigerator for an extended period of time. The cold causes the carbon dioxide gas to contract, creating a vacuum.

This forces the gas out of the soda and into the space at the top of the can. To keep your soda tasty and effervescent, store it in the refrigerator for about ten minutes before drinking. Proper storage ensures your soda retains flavor and fizz, enhancing your drinking experience.

Although we would prefer to use our reusable water bottles more frequently, there are situations when buying plastic ones is unavoidable. If you like cold water, you can store these in the refrigerator, but we don’t advise using them again.

Your water bottles have already begun to leak chemicals into your water if exposed to the heat and sun. It remains true that you are consuming dangerous chemicals even if you refrigerate them afterward. It is best to avoid reusing plastic bottles for your health.

Any fan of sandwiches or French fries understands the value of mayonnaise as a condiment. But preserving this smooth spread presents a dilemma: Should it be refrigerated? Keep your mayo in the pantry or another cool, dark spot until you’re ready to use it.

Foodies will love the looser texture and stronger flavor of unrefrigerated mayo. However, storing mayo in the fridge extends its shelf life, making it ideal for those who use it more slowly. Enjoy the best of both worlds by choosing the storage method that suits your consumption rate.

Unlike ordinary eggs, balut eggs should not be refrigerated. These eggs are a distinctive and well-liked street snack in the Philippines, Cambodia, and Vietnam because they are incubated between 40 and 42.5°C to develop into a partially developed embryo.

The embryo is allowed to develop just enough throughout the incubation period to give it a unique flavor and texture that many people find delicious. If you’re up for the challenge, you can sample one of these duck embryos right out of the shell and get a genuine flavor of Southeast Asian cooking.

Berries, melons, apples, and bananas don’t require refrigeration. But what about citrus fruits? Though it’s delightful to have an orange or grapefruit cold, keeping citrus fruits in the refrigerator might cause them to become dry and hard.

Citrus fruits ripen more readily in your kitchen because they are native to hot areas. But they’ll only hold out for about a week before going bad. Place them in the refrigerator to prolong their shelf life; they will keep for several weeks. For the finest flavor and texture, eat them fresh!

Cold chicken tastes great the day after cooking, but raw chicken shouldn’t be chilled before cooking. Because pathogenic bacteria like Salmonella and Campylobacter may live and reproduce in cold temperatures, refrigerating raw chicken might increase the risk of contracting a foodborne illness.

Moreover, cooking may firm up the chicken. To keep it safe, use the chicken within 1-2 days of purchase and store it in the coolest section of the refrigerator. You may also freeze the chicken to prolong its shelf life.

If you have been storing your oils in the refrigerator, remove them. Olive oil loses flavor when refrigerated; it becomes hazy and solidifies with time. Instead, store it in a cold, dark place away from stoves and the oven.

Olive oil has a two-year shelf life when unopened and a minimum of a year when opened. If you remove it from the refrigerator and notice a change in consistency, it will revert to normal at room temperature.

Fresh mint is essential in your kitchen, whether you’re preparing tea, mint chocolate chip ice cream, or mojitos. The same goes for basil: storing it in the refrigerator can lead to the growth of mold, which is unhealthy.

To extend its shelf life, store mint in an airtight jar or box in a pantry or cupboard. After harvesting, don’t expose mint to the sun to keep it fresh and tasty. Savor the zesty flavor of fresh mint in your cooking!

Similar to peanut butter, jam doesn’t require refrigeration. Jam doesn’t need to be refrigerated because it is high in sugar, a natural preservative that keeps food from going bad. Toast might become mushy from the moisture in the refrigerator, even though warm jam tastes great on it.

Store your jam in a cool, dark spot to prevent a soggy PB&J. When unopened, it has an eighteen-month shelf life, and when opened, it stays a month or so at room temperature. Enjoy your PB&J with properly textured toast!

Did you know that corn is a cereal grain and not a vegetable? Whatever the case, corn on the cob is a must-have for every BBQ. Its sweetness is the ideal, healthful garnish for burgers, hotdogs, wings, and ribs.

It’s uncommon to find corn absent from a Memorial Day, Labor Day, or Fourth of July barbecue. Store corn outside of the refrigerator to keep it juicy and sweet. It adds a delicious flavor to any BBQ spread. Savor some freshly fresh corn with your next BBQ!

Should all dairy products be kept in the refrigerator? False! Hard cheeses solidify into a rock and should never be refrigerated. These cheeses undergo a curing process, so they no longer need refrigeration once cured. Store them in a cool, dark place for the best texture and flavor.

Hard cheese is best in a dark, cool pantry or cupboard. Only old cheeses are affected by this; other cheeses must be refrigerated. To get the most out of your cheese, store it correctly and taste its entire flavor and texture!

Do you adore peanut butter and jelly sandwiches or BLTs? Refrigeration causes bread to become dry and stale; therefore, keeping it out of the fridge is the key to fresh bread. Trust us, there’s nothing worse than stale bread.

The ideal place for it is on the counter. If you don’t consume much of it and are concerned about it going bad, place bread in the freezer. This way, it will be ready to toast whenever you want it. Savor your sandwiches on consistently fresh bread!

Who doesn’t enjoy toast with avocados? It’s millennials’ favorite for good reason — it tastes great! Waiting for an avocado to mature can be annoying, but keeping it chilled makes it happen more slowly. When avocados are ripe, store them on the counter at room temperature and use them immediately.

To prevent wasting perfectly good avocados, try ripening them in brown paper bags with an apple or banana for a few days. This technique allows you to enjoy your avocados more quickly when they ripen. Savor your flawless avocado toast!

Are you a Nutella fan? You might be shocked that the chocolate hazelnut spread doesn’t need refrigeration. So stated on the label, in fact! It solidifies and spreads poorly if you’ve kept it in the refrigerator. It is preserved by the sugar content, which stops the growth of microorganisms.

Treat yourself to a Nutella peanut butter sandwich next time you’re craving something sweet and salty. It’s a fantastic treat. For the greatest flavor and texture, consume your Nutella at room temperature!

When you went to grab honey from the refrigerator, did you ever notice that it was a sticky, lumpy mess? We’ve experienced it, and it’s not a pleasant way to begin the day. Honey, as you may know, never truly goes bad.

Honey is safe to keep in your pantry because its sugar content inhibits the formation of bacteria. Even though its consistency and color could alter with time, it is still absolutely edible. Keep honey at room temperature to prevent crystallization, and enjoy its smooth, sweet sweetness whenever you need it.

Where do you store the coffee beans that you brew? Coffee requires dry air and movement to keep fresh, so it should never be stored in the refrigerator, whether ground or whole. Coffee flavor can be ruined by ambient scents that it naturally absorbs.

Keep it out of direct sunlight and in a dark, sealed container. You’ll be grateful when you brew your coffee in the morning and taste its full, rich flavor without any aftertaste. Proper storage ensures your coffee remains fresh and delicious, enhancing your morning routine with every cup.

Canned tuna can be used to cook many dishes, such as the traditional tuna salad, patties, pasta, and casserole. This pantry staple, which has a shelf life of three to five years and frequently much longer, doesn’t require refrigeration. It should only be refrigerated after it has been opened.

It can be kept in a sealed container for up to four days. This allows you to enjoy its convenience and adaptability in various meals without worrying about it going bad. Maintain a complete and prepared cupboard for delectable meals!

How do you keep your fresh herbs fresh? The herb determines the response. While cilantro and parsley store better in the refrigerator, basil wilts into a brown mess. Whether you use basil to top off your pizza or make pesto for pasta, it may enhance your Italian cuisine.

Basil, like flowers, may be kept fresh by trimming the stems and putting them in a glass of water. Parsley and cilantro are best kept in a jar with water in the refrigerator, with a plastic bag draped loosely over it. Savor the freshest possible herbs!

Do you adore roasted eggplant, baba ganoush, or eggplant parmesan? Store eggplants away from sunlight at room temperature to preserve their crispy, meaty texture. After purchasing, use your eggplant within two days.

If you are not going to use it in that period, put it in the crisper portion of your refrigerator. Keep it away from melons, apples, bananas, and tomatoes because eggplants are susceptible to ethylene gasses. In this manner, you can enjoy tasty, fresh eggplant in your favorite recipes!

Butter is another food item that seems to divide opinion on how best to store it. If you’ve ever struggled to spread butter on toast, you’ll see the appeal. Just be careful to cover and keep your butter out of direct sunlight.

However, if you live in a really hot region, keeping butter in the refrigerator could be preferable. We recommend taking out one stick of butter at a time to prevent waste, which can be kept on the counter for approximately a week.