The surprising foods that you DON'T have to keep in the fridge, from aubergines and apples to avocados and JAM
- FEMAIL has compiled ultimate guide to foods that don't need to be kept chilled
- Bananas will get a black skin if kept in the fridge, and tomatoes lose their texture
- Avocados ripen quicker out of the fridge, and jam lasts for up to six months
It's vital we keep fresh food such as meat, fish and dairy products chilled in the fridge, or they could make us ill.
But when it comes to other grocery items, many of us are keeping far more foods than we need to in the refrigerator.
FEMAIL has put together the ultimate guide to the products you never need to keep chilled - which includes avocados, aubergines and butter.
Aubergines will last longer if they are kept on the kitchen counter at room temperature rather than in the fridge
Some of the items on the list can be refrigerated - but they don't need to be. This includes butter, though many people are divided over where it should be stored.
But the definitive answer is that butter can be kept at room temperature - though it will only last for a few days.
A good tip is to have a small portion of butter in a dish on the side for when you need a soft spread instantly, and leave the rest of the packet in the fridge.
For other items on the list, keeping them chilled will affect the texture or taste quite significantly.
Apples have a long shelf life and will stay fresh in your fruit bowl. Jam contains so much sugar that it will stay fresh for six months at room temperature after opening, according to experts
Avocados do not need to be kept in the fridge and will ripen much more quickly if they are ot stored there. Butter also doesn't need to be refrigerated - though it will last longer if it is
Bananas for example will get a black skin if they are put in the fridge, and could cause other fruits to ripen more quickly than they would do otherwise.
Bread and cake will also go stale much more quickly if kept chilled, while fresh herbs may cause other items in the fridge to ripen too fast.
Honey will harden if kept in the fridge.
The list is based on research by University of California (UC) Davis, and the Food and Drug Administration.
Other foods can be kept in the fridge or in the pantry, but don't have to be kept chilled.
These include fruits such as apples, pears and grapes, which may last longer if chilled but can be kept in the fruit bowl. Refrigerating will stop the ripening process so if you fruit is slightly hard, it's best to leave on the counter.
Tomatoes' texture and taste will be slightly affected if they are kept chilled.
Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/food/article-4375440/The-foods-DON-T-fridge.html#ixzz4dO9Dwvtp
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