For decades, refrigerators have been the go-to solution for keeping food fresh and safe. But nutrition experts are now warning that not every food belongs in the cold.
According to nutritionists, refrigerating certain foods can actually alter their taste, texture, and nutritional value, or even make them spoil faster.
While refrigeration helps prevent microbial growth in perishable items like meat, dairy, and berries, staples such as tomatoes, potatoes, onions, garlic, and bread tend to fare better in ambient conditions.
Below are 10 common foods experts say should stay out of the fridge — and why:
- Tomatoes: Cold temperatures damage tomato cell walls, leading to a mealy texture and muted flavour. Store them at room temperature (18–22°C), away from sunlight.
- Potatoes: Refrigeration turns starch into sugar, giving potatoes a gritty taste and creating harmful compounds during frying. A dark, ventilated cupboard works best.
- Onions: Moisture in the fridge makes onions soft and prone to mould. Keep them in a dry, open-air area, separate from potatoes.
- Garlic: The fridge encourages sprouting and bitterness. Store whole bulbs in a dry, well-aired spot.
- Bread: Refrigeration accelerates staling by drying out the loaf. Keep it wrapped at room temperature or freeze for long-term storage.
- Avocados: Unripe avocados stop ripening in the fridge. Only refrigerate fully ripe ones to delay over-ripening.
- Honey: Cold causes crystallisation and cloudiness. Store in a sealed jar at room temperature.
- Coffee: Coffee easily absorbs fridge odours and moisture. Keep beans or grounds in airtight containers in a cool, dark place.
- Bananas: Cold temperatures darken the peel and interrupt ripening enzymes. Store at room temperature for best flavour.
- Olive oil: The fridge solidifies olive oil and dulls its taste. A cool, dark pantry preserves freshness and nutrients.
Experts say understanding which foods dislike cold can help households reduce waste and preserve natural flavour, while still keeping truly perishable foods chilled.