7 Things You Should Never Store in Your Fridge (But Probably Are)

Ever wonder why onions get really brown and squishy when left in the fridge? That’s because they thrive best when stored in dark, dry, ventilated spots. For optimal onions, place them in hole-punched paper bags or purchase an onion storage container to help keep them fresh. Learn more about these popular foods that grow in very surprising ways.

Although keeping sliced bread in the fridge can help delay the onset of mold, it also rapidly dries out your loaf leaving it stale and tasteless. Although there are a few genius hacks for stale bread, it’s usually a nuisance – not to mention a waste of money. If you don’t want to spend extra dough on a bread bag, simply store it in the freezer and bring it to room temperature when you’re ready to eat it.

As a natural preservative, there’s no need for honey to be stashed away in your fridge where it will ultimately harden and crystallize due to the chilly environs. Stock it in your pantry at room temperature instead.

When stored in the fridge, whole avocados – that most finicky of fruits – will skip the ripening stage entirely and go straight from green and rock hard to brown mush. Instead, place it on your countertop at room temperature or in a ventilated brown paper bag. The one exception to the “no fridge” rule comes if you’ve only used one half of your ripe avocado and want to preserve the second piece for the next day.

Check out these 40 Creative Ways to Eat Avocado (That Don’t Involve Toast!)

Stone fruits, such as peaches, plums and cherries, are best kept at room temperature, thus allowing them to fully ripen properly. Much like the avocado, storing them in the fridge can be a bit of a gamble and result in the skipping of the ripening process – going straight from hard to soft and brown.

Get the recipes for 50 Sweet and Savoury Peach Recipes

Storing eggplant in the fridge is a surefire way to dull its flavour. Leave it on your countertop to mellow out at room temperatures. Much like an avocado, though, eggplants also have a short shelf life so be sure to eat it within days of purchase.

Get the recipes for 20 Easy Eggplant Dishes Everyone Will Enjoy

This condiment should be stored in a dark, cool place far away from the chilly recesses of the fridge. Storing it in a cold location will ultimately lead to a harder, buttery consistency that no blossoming chef would want to encounter.

Find a little inspiration with these 5 Simple Olive Oil Pasta Sauces