So you went to the grocery and you got everything you need for all of your meals this week. Now you need to plan out all of your meals. You’re going to make spaghetti on Monday and burgers on Tuesday. You want to save your tortillas for later in the week, but you’re not sure where to store them so they’ll stay fresh and ready to eat later in the week.
You’ve seen some people put bread products in the refrigerator since refrigeration helps a lot of foods stay fresher longer. However, many foods are better left at room-temperature for best taste and preservation results. Here are six foods that don’t require refrigeration for best results:
1. Bananas
Bananas are a great fruit to have as a snack or for breakfast. They are nutritious and can keep you fueled with energy for your busy day. They are best kept at room temperature because the refrigerator will cause them to break down more quickly. Since they’re tropical fruits, they’re not built for the cold weather. Once they encounter the cold temperature of the refrigerator, they will break down and go bad rather quickly, hence brown spots.
2. Coffee
Coffee is a favorite morning beverage. A lot of people love waking up to the great taste of a delicious latte or a nice shot of espresso. However, most people don’t know that the beans are meant to be kept at room temperature. This is because the beans are very prone to moisture absorption. They quickly absorb moisture from their surrounding areas. When kept in the fridge the flavor will actually be impacted due to the moisture in the fridge. For best results, keep your beans at room temperature.
3. Peanut butter
The world’s favorite spread is found throughout the world and used on toast, sandwiches, for baking, and even consumed via spoon straight out of the jar. However, peanut butter and other spreads are best stored at room temperature. Contrary to popular belief, the fridge will not extend the life of this popular food. The only thing the fridge will do is make it more difficult to spread on your PB&J sammie.
4. Bread
So many popular dishes include bread…from paninis to hoagies to stuffing. However, you’ll want to store your bread at room temperature and not in the fridge. This is because when it is kept at refrigerator temperatures it becomes stale much more quickly.
5. Hot sauce or chili pepper sauces
Whether you’re having chicken wings or tacos, hot sauce helps enhance any meal while adding some spice. Some people even use hot sauce on breakfast items like eggs. Because hot sauce has a high concentration of salt and vinegar, this condiment is best stored at room temperature even after opening. The salts and vinegar helps preserve the sauce and keep it fresh. This means the refrigerator doesn’t aid in preservation and for best taste, it’s best to leave it in a cupboard at room temperature.
6. Avocados
Avocados are incredibly delicious and super versatile. Many people enjoy them on tacos and burritos. They’re also a great side dish to supplement your meal with a healthy side dish. However, they can be very tricky as their timetable for ripening is very quick. For best results, you should leave them at room temperature. Placing them in the fridge will cause them to ripen quickly and they’ll never reach maximum deliciousness.