List Of 10 Foods That Benefit from Refrigeration

Foods That Benefit from Refrigeration

Foods like milk, meat, and eggs belong in the fridge. What about other food items? There are several food items that are not being stored in the refrigerator but you should. One motivating reason is, refrigerate food to increase the shelf life. Here is a list of foods that benefit from refrigeration.

1. Tortillas- flour or soft corn tortillas are made without adding preservatives and are prone to molding if left out on the countertop at room temperature. There is a fine print on the tortilla package which says keep in the refrigerator after opening. Refrigeration fastens the moisture loss and helps them to stay fresh and prevents bacterial growth. Keeping them in cool temperature increases the shelf life.
2. Salami- cured meats like salami don’t harbor bacteria like cooked meats, but they are not always 100% safe. Refrigeration steady bacterial growth but people who are at risk of food-borne illness, like older adults, pregnant women, and people with weak immune systems should always reheat deli meats and ready-to-eat foods. You can store unused salami in the refrigerator for up to two weeks. Once opened you should consume it within 3-5 days.
3. Ripe Bananas- you can keep the ripe banana on the countertop at room temperature but the problem is that they keep ripening. Once the banana is ripe enough and ready to eat keep it in the refrigerator and it can be stored for 3 days. The outer skin may turn brown but inside they will still be fresh.
4. Nuts- nuts and seeds are loaded with unsaturated fatty acids that turn bad over time when exposed to warm temperatures. Rancid nuts may not be bad for health but they definitely taste bad. To maintain the fresh flavor store nuts like almonds, flax seeds and cashews in cool temperatures sealed in glass or plastic containers. Nuts will stay fresh for up to 6 months. Do you not have enough fridge space? Well, you can store nuts in the freezer and they will stay fresh for up to a year.
5. Maple Syrup- Maple syrup has a sort shelf life. Natural maple syrup is not like corn syrup-based substitutes, as they do not contain preservatives and spoil really fast after you open it. If unopened it can last for as long as 4 years depending on the packaging. If it is sitting in your pantry refrigerate maple syrup right away and it will stay fresh for several months. If you notice mold growth in the future chuck it away immediately.
6. Dried Fruit– dried fruits have less moisture and therefore do not spoil as quickly as fresh fruits. Store dried fruits and vegetables in cold temperatures to maintain freshness for a long time. If you will store them in the main compartment of the refrigerator these can last for 6 months.
7. Ketchup- Ketchup has very high salt content and acidity that helps in keeping the bacterial growth at bay. But every time you open the bottle you expose it to the molds present in the air and bacteria which can cause the ketchup to separate and turn brown. Keeping the ketchup in the refrigerator will increase the shelf life and maintain its flavor and it will taste great for 6 months.
8. Fresh Corn- corn starts to lose the sugar content really fast at room temperature. To maintain the sweet flavor of the corn keep in the refrigerator immediately if you are not planning to cook it any time soon. One corn on the cob can lose around 50% of the sugar content in a single day after it is harvested. This is why they are kept in cold storage as soon as they are harvested. The cool temperature in the refrigerator prevents the sugar from turning into starch and preserves the delicious sweet flavor of the corn. Store it with the husk on.
9. Natural peanut butter- when natural peanut butter is stored in cold temperatures it maintains its flavor and does not turn rancid. The peanut butter will not turn into thin liquid consistency which helps in avoiding any over the jar spillover. A quick hack:- Put the jar upside down when you keep it in the fridge. This will bring all the solid pieces on top and emulsify with oil.
10. Pumpkin Pies and Pecan– Food made with eggs attract bacteria and molds. Fresh out of the oven they are good to eat at room temperature for up to 2 hours. After that, they should be stored in the refrigerator and can be eaten for 3 days.