These Are the Foods That You Should Refrigerate

To refrigerate or not to refrigerate, that is the question.

Okay, so maybe Hamlet didn’t say those exact words, but it’s certainly a topic many have pondered.

The FDA recommends refrigerating or freezing perishable foods right away. Meat, poultry, seafood, eggs, and certain kinds of produce should never be kept at room temperature for more than two hours, or not more than one hour if the temperature is above 90 degrees Fahrenheit. But what about bread, or tomatoes, or honey?

Fear no more: We’ve put together a list of all the items you should or should not store in the fridge, so you’ll never have to wonder again.

(Note: This is not intended as a substitute for public-health recommendations.)

Eggs: Yes

You should always refrigerate eggs in the U.S. to prevent the risk of infection from salmonella bacteria, according to the USDA. But the U.K. and other European countries don’t refrigerate eggs, because the eggs are processed differently.

Some people say you can keep certain organic eggs at room temperature, but when in doubt, it’s probably safest to keep ’em in the fridge.

Butter: Optional

The USDA recommends refrigerating butter, and freezing butter if you’re not going to use it within one to two days. But many people keep butter in a covered dish outside the fridge. Since it’s made from pasteurized milk, it’s less likely to grow bacteria, according to the blog Care2.

Tomatoes: No

If tomatoes are kept in the fridge, they lose their flavor. That’s because the cold air stops them from ripening and breaks down their cell membranes, giving the fruit that characteristic mealy taste.

Cheese: Yes

Some kinds of cheese, especially soft cheeses such as brie or ricotta, should always be refrigerated. Others, such as pasteurized or aged cheeses like Parmesan or Romano, may not need to be refrigerated (but consult package instructions).

Soy Milk: After opening

Soy milk does not need to be refrigerated before opening, and it will last at least a year on the shelf. (The reason it’s in the refrigerator aisle at the supermarket is primarily for marketing!)

Once opened, soy milk should be refrigerated and consumed within five days.

Onions: No

Keeping onions in the fridge makes them go soft and eventually turn moldy, due to the moist environment. Store them in a cool, dry place (but separate from potatoes, because storing them together makes them both go bad faster).

Bread: No

Keeping bread in the fridge will dry it out. If you plan to eat it within four days, keep it on the counter (or in the pantry). Otherwise, wrap it up and stick it in the freezer.

Coffee: No

Keep coffee in a cool, dark place, but not in the fridge, because it will lose its flavor and take on the smells of food nearby. You can store large quantities of coffee in the freezer, however.

Basil: No

Basil will wilt and absorb the smells of the food around it if it’s kept in the fridge. Better to keep it in a glass of water, like a bunch of flowers. Or you can blanch it and freeze it, according to Martha Stewart.

Honey: No

Honey stays good pretty much indefinitely, so there’s no need to keep it in the fridge. Besides, the cold will cause it to crystalize.

Jam/Condiments: After opening

Jams, condiments, salad dressings, and similar foods can usually be kept in the pantry until opening, but, as most of these say on the package, “refrigerate after opening.” Pretty straightforward.

Avocados: Not unless they’re ripe

If you want to ripen an avocado, do not put it in the fridge. Store it in a dry, dark place like a paper bag. If it’s already ripe though, you can keep it in the fridge to prevent it from overripening.

Apples: Optional

Apples keep for about a week at room temperature, or longer if you put them in the fridge.

Some kinds of apples can be stored for much longer (several months) when wrapped individually, kept in an insulated container, and stored in a cool place.

Bananas: Optional

Most people store bananas at room temperature. You can store them in a paper bag with an apple or tomato to make them ripen faster.

Storing them in the fridge will make them turn brown, but they will still be good.

Olive Oil: No

Don’t keep olive oil in the fridge because it will solidify, like butter. Ideally you should keep it in a cool, dark place outside the fridge.

Garlic: No

Don’t keep garlic in the fridge, because the moisture will make it grow moldy and start to sprout. You should keep it in a cool, dry place.

Potatoes: No

Storing potatoes in the fridge turns their starch into sugar, giving the spuds a sweet but gritty taste. Instead, you should store them in a cool, dark place, like in a paper bag in the pantry.

Milk: Yes

It goes without saying that you should refrigerate milk to slow the growth of harmful bacteria.

The FDA recommends that you never keep milk out of the fridge for more than two hours. Pasteurization (heating milk to kill bacteria) does not mean you don’t need to refrigerate it.

Fresh Meat/Fish: Yes

Like milk, you should always refrigerate raw (or cooked) meat and separate it from other foods to prevent cross-contamination.

Here’s how long meat is good for in the fridge: Raw ground meats, all poultry, seafood, and variety meats: one to two days; raw roasts, steaks, and chops (beef, veal, lamb, and pork): three to five days; and cooked meat, poultry, and seafood: three to four days.

Meat will last several months or more in the freezer.

This article originally appeared on Business Insider

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