Every Indian household has one rule, “Saara khana yaad se fridge mein rakh dena”! The temperate and tropical climate in most parts of India makes it almost mandatory for every household to have a refrigerator for food storage. Some households even have two refrigerators since there is so much food that needs to be saved for a later date. Although refrigeration extends the shelf life and preserves the freshness of many food items, there are some food items that should never see the inside of a refrigerator.
Most households store their coffee in the fridge, thinking that this will elongate the shelf life of the coffee and keep it fresh. This could not be farther away from the truth. Coffee does not need cooling from the fridge to stay fresh. On the contrary, the humidity from the refrigerator can adversely affect the aroma and taste of the coffee.
Did you know that honey is one food item that never goes bad? Even though storage and external factors might cause the appearance of honey to change, the presence of high sugar content prevents the growth of bacteria. Storing honey in a refrigerator is a bad idea because the quality of honey deteriorates in the cold temperature of the refrigerator. The sugar present in honey crystallizes in the fridge, totally ruining not only the appearance but also the flavour and benefits of honey.
Potatoes are best stored at room temperature. Keeping them in the fridge converts the starch into sugar and makes them taste sweet. Raw potatoes will last in the fridge for 3-4 weeks but during this time, there will be considerable chemical changes in them. Raw potatoes in the fridge may also absorb odours from other foods in the fridge, affecting their flavour. Although keeping raw potatoes in the fridge is not recommended, you can use the fridge to store cut potatoes.
Eggs are an item that is always found in the fridge. In fact, refrigerators have slots specially designed for storing eggs. However, recent research has proven that keeping eggs in the fridge can make them unfit for consumption. The moisture formed on the eggshell due to condensation in the refrigerator can lead to the growth of bacteria. This bacteria can also possibly enter the egg and cause health hazards.