Top 8+ foods you shouldn’t keep in the fridge but probably do

1) Tomatoes, 2) Bread, 3) Potatoes, 4) Onions, 5) Garlic, 6) Honey, 7) Olive oil, 8) Chocolate

As we all know, certain food and drink must always be refrigerated - such as dairy items, fresh produce including fish and meat, leafy greens and leftovers. But the jury remains out on whether certain items need to take up valuable space in your already stuffed fridge, and there are some which a social media expert maintains you don't need to refrigerate at all. Read on for seven common food items which, according to TikToker Lora McLaughlin (aka LORAfied), can be safely stored elsewhere...(Picture: Getty Images)

1) Tomatoes

1) Tomatoes, 2) Bread, 3) Potatoes, 4) Onions, 5) Garlic, 6) Honey, 7) Olive oil, 8) Chocolate

It might seem an obvious place to store your tomatoes but they really don't need to be in the fridge according to Lora, who says they are likely to go off more quickly if stored there. Martha Stewart agrees with this, saying they 'contain an enzyme that reacts to cold temperatures'. Opinions vary with some experts suggesting that they will do just fine in the fridge, as they will already have been chilled on their journey to the supermarket. However the majority seem say that room temperature is best (Picture: Getty Images)

2) Bread

1) Tomatoes, 2) Bread, 3) Potatoes, 4) Onions, 5) Garlic, 6) Honey, 7) Olive oil, 8) Chocolate

It might be tempting to stick your sliced loaf or sourdough in the fridge, but you really shouldn't as it can compromise the quality of the product. Lora points out that bread can 'go stale twice as fast' if refrigerated, although Good Housekeeping offers a more scientific explanation, saying: 'The starch molecules in bread recrystallize very quickly at cool temperatures, and cause the bread to stale much faster.' You're better off keeping it in an airtight plastic bag and leaving it at room temperature. Or, if you really want it to keep for longer then stick it in the freezer (Picture: Getty Images)

3) Potatoes

1) Tomatoes, 2) Bread, 3) Potatoes, 4) Onions, 5) Garlic, 6) Honey, 7) Olive oil, 8) Chocolate

This one is more complicated. Lora explains that storing potatoes in the fridge can impact their taste, as the cold temperatures can result in them becoming 'gritty' and 'sweet'. In 2022, the Food Standards Agency stated that storing potatoes in the fridge could be dangerous as the cold temperatures cause the starch to turn to sugar, which produces a chemical during cooking which could be a cancer risk. However, they have since revised the advice, saying that the levels caused are not as harmful as they first thought - and that storing in the fridge is OK if you want to avoid food waste. However a cool dark place works just as well (Picture: Getty Images)

4) Onions

1) Tomatoes, 2) Bread, 3) Potatoes, 4) Onions, 5) Garlic, 6) Honey, 7) Olive oil, 8) Chocolate

This one largely depends on the state of the onion. Whole unpeeled onions shouldn't really be stored in the fridge for the same reason as potatoes - that the cold temperatures can turn the starch in the onion to sugar, which can compromise the condition of the onion. Lora says that they can become 'mouldy' if refrigerated. You can keep chopped or sliced onion in your fridge, but you should always keep it in a tightly sealed container to avoid bacterial growth, and use within one week (Picture: Getty Images)

5) Garlic

1) Tomatoes, 2) Bread, 3) Potatoes, 4) Onions, 5) Garlic, 6) Honey, 7) Olive oil, 8) Chocolate

Another item which can be compromised at cold temperatures, garlic can become rubbery when kept in the fridge, according to Lora. Your best bet is to keep fresh garlic at room temperature, with Good Housekeeping recommending a storage container with 'good airflow' such as a mesh bag or woven basket. You can keep sliced or minced garlic in the fridge but once again you should put this in an airtight container and, in this case, use within two or three days (Picture: Getty Images)

6) Honey

1) Tomatoes, 2) Bread, 3) Potatoes, 4) Onions, 5) Garlic, 6) Honey, 7) Olive oil, 8) Chocolate

This one's a no -brainer. putting honey in the fridge will cause it to crystallize and harden as a result of the cold temperatures. If you do accidentally stick a jar in the fridge and this happens, don't panic. You can still save it by placing the sealed jar in a pan of boiling water to return it to liquid form. But ideally this is best stored at room temperature to prevent it happening in the first place (Picture: Getty Images)

7) Olive oil

1) Tomatoes, 2) Bread, 3) Potatoes, 4) Onions, 5) Garlic, 6) Honey, 7) Olive oil, 8) Chocolate

As with honey, olive oil will start to solidify and crystallize if you store it in the fridge - and could potentially lose its flavour. The North American Olive Oil Association also states that storing it in the fridge between uses doesn't extend the shelf life of the product and since it needs to be room temperature for cooking, creates inconvenience if it's kept in a cold place. Once again, room temperature is the way to go (Picture: Getty Images)

8) Chocolate

1) Tomatoes, 2) Bread, 3) Potatoes, 4) Onions, 5) Garlic, 6) Honey, 7) Olive oil, 8) Chocolate

While this isn't mentioned in Lora's video, the debate continues to rage over whether or not chocolate belongs in the fridge. The short answer is that it doesn't - and in fact Cadbury even went so far in 2020 as to say that storing it in the fridge could compromise the flavour. ''Chocolate should always be stored in a slightly cool, dry, dark place such as a cupboard or pantry at temperatures less than 21C (69.8F) to ensure the quality isn’t compromised,' they said. That said it's not harmful to keep chocolate in the fridge, should you be one of those people who prefers it that way. Just make sure if you do, you keep it wrapped and - according to The Kitchn - allow it to 'come to room temperature in the wrapping' to prevent moisture from forming on it (Picture: Getty Images) This article was originally published in February 2024

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