Chill Factor

Ah the fridge; that glorious place where all delicious food exists… sometimes. Tempting though it may be to shove the entire contents of your weekly shop into your fridge, there are some foods that don’t do well in the fridge at all.

 

Tomatoes

Tomatoes actually start to break down in the fridge. The cold air breaks down their cell structure and causes them to become mushy and a bit fluffy. The best way to store your tomatoes is in a cool dry place in your kitchen, away from the steam of the kettle or the warmth of the oven.

Citrus Fruits

The cold air of a fridge causes citrus fruits to harden and dry out inside. The best way to store citrus fruits is at room temperature in a darkened spot in the kitchen, or if you’re lucky enough to have one, a pantry.

Bread

Bread turns stale in a fridge; or at least seem to. The cold air causes crystals to form on the bread’s surface, and appear stale. Freezing it has the opposite effect, so if you want to keep your bread frozen until you use it, then worry not, friends.

Basil

Basil goes black and mushy in the fridge, unlike its woody friends rosemary and thyme. This is because the damp air releases gasses in the basil’s leaf structure. Store it in a pot on your window sill instead.

Coffee

Condensation in a fridge can cause coffee to go off quicker than in an airtight container. Invest in a good kilner jar and keep your coffee on your counter top instead.

Main image credit: Samsung four door refrigerator (€3499) @ Harvey Norman.