Foods that should not be refrigerated:

  • Potatoes (the cold transforms their starch into sugar and affects their flavor)
  • Onions (the cold softens them and makes them sprout)
  • Garlic (tends to mold quickly in humid environments)
  • Tomatoes (they lose flavor in the refrigerator)
  • Fruits like bananas, avocados, and mangoes when they are green

Tip: Don’t overload the refrigerator. Air needs to circulate to maintain a consistent temperature.

🧺 2. How to keep fruits and vegetables fresh

Tip 1: Separate fruits from vegetables.
Some fruits (like apples, pears, and bananas) emit ethylene, a natural gas that accelerates ripening. If they’re near vegetables, the vegetables will spoil faster .

Tip 2: Use perforated or cloth bags.

This allows the vegetables to breathe. Storing them in sealed plastic bags creates humidity and promotes decomposition.

Trick 3: Wrap leafy greens in paper.
Lettuce, spinach, or chard last longer if you wrap them in absorbent kitchen paper inside an airtight container.

Trick 4: Carrots and celery in water.
Cutting and storing them in jars with cold water in the refrigerator keeps them crisp for several days.

🥫 3. Preservation of dried foods