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As more people moved into cities and further away from food sources, household refrigerators became a necessity. So in 1834, the world got its first working vapor-compression refrigeration system. The first commercial ice-making machine was invented in 1854. And in 1913, refrigerators for home use were introduced.

But as we learned how to preserve our resources more efficiently, we got more and more creative with it, too. So when Reddit user Monk_Never_Dies asked everyone on the platform, "What is something commonly refrigerated, [but] actually doesn't need to be?" the replies came flying in. Here are some of the most popular ones.

#1

27 Things People Claim Do Not Need To Be Refrigerated People who put honey in the fridge should be charged as criminals

DuckingGolden , Arwin Neil Baichoo Report

#2

27 Things People Claim Do Not Need To Be Refrigerated Nutella in the fridge should be a major felony. Who tf wants rock hard Nutella?

BackHDLP , Victor Serban Report

#3

27 Things People Claim Do Not Need To Be Refrigerated Tomatoes. They'll stay edible longer in the fridge, but they'll instantly lose all their flavor when chilled.

My mother grew up relatively poor and so has it ingrained to never risk wasting food. She'll always refrigerate tomatoes (and even bananas!) despite my attempts to convince her otherwise.

Cybyss , Rodion Kutsaiev Report

#4

27 Things People Claim Do Not Need To Be Refrigerated Bread. We put it in the fridge bc my precious little douche bags (cats) like to take chomps out of the bag.

ChipTheOcelot , Charles Chen Report

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Cassi Lyris
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I'm beginning to think my cats are total outliers. None of them mess with my bread... Guess I'm just lucky. But yeah, chilling bread dries it out faster.

Ryan O
Community Member
2 years ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Dries it out instantaneously. If you want week-old bread on the same day it's baked, just put it in the fridge.

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Mystery Egg
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I have to put mine in the fridge because I live in a hot country. I don't want weevils! Same with dried pasta....anything with flour in really.

Heather Barnett
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Same. Just one cat, the other can't be bothered to jump so very far up to the counter. She'll run off with bread, rolls, buns, garlic toast, anything.

Pamela Blue
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Chase her hard if she runs off with garlic toast. With many cats, even a small amount of garlic can be toxic as hell.

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wowbagger
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Fridge makes it stale and hard. Freezer keeps it in perfect condition. It thaws quickly, too, when you need some.

Pursuing Peonies
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

For us, the counter makes it moldy, the fridge (in it's plastic bag twisted and clipped) keeps it fresh and soft, and the freezer is for extras. And oddly takes almost all day to thaw, too.

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Victoria Anderson
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Invest in a wooden bread box with a relatively heavy lid only a human can open.

Karl Peisker
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

That on the picture has nothing to do with bread. I always buy real bread in a health food store. If you keep it in a linen bag and not in the fridge, it will keep for a week. And tastes like bread.

Gini Sarver
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

i had to keep bread in my cupboard or microwave because of my dog lol

L Smith
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

We used to have something called a bread box. It was usually the size of your standard microwave and it sat on the counter. Bread does not need to be refrigerated at all.

Kian
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

My grandma has 10 packs of bread in her freezer. I guess she just thaws it out when when needs it?

Ann M Clinkscales
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Amen! My cats will take a bite out of every piece of bread! The only thing they love more is catnip!

Madam Puddyfoot
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I feel your pain. I have to keep all treats for my brats in the microwave as they've figured out how to open the cupboards and fridge.

Khara Mei
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Bread bin? Where my parents kept it as a cat defence shield, and it doesn't go stale then.

Justme
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I keep mine in the fridge because I don’t eat it all quickly enough before it molds. It goes stale in the fridge though.

Evelyn Haskins
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Soft soggy white bread is both an abomination of taste and an abomination of health.

Tessa Vosselman
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

In the fridge it'll get dry much faster. Put it in the freezer and get what you need every time.

Martha
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

It depends on the bread and how long I’m going to keep it for.

Icecream Sarang
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I have had this happen. She learned to open cabinets and could press the button on the microwave, too, so into the fridge it went.

Mine Truly
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

If I'm going to eat bread soon , but want to protect it from cats, I put it in the microwave.

MygrandsonscallmeNia
Community Member
2 years ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I had a fur baby, that would grab the bag, and get slices out. As she got older, I guess she decided, she wasn't going to take her time going in the bag. She would tear a hole in it, and get a few slices out. Sara Lee honey wheat was the only one she would do like that.

xolitaire
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Freezer yes, fridge no. It just draws moisture in the fridge and nobody wants that.

Pharmtechgurl
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

We used to use the microwave - called it the "food safe". Kept the cats away LOL

Jen Nunyabiz
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

What in the Texas toast is that bread in the picture? I wish store bread looked that good.

Pamela Blue
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Either freezer or in the bread bin/cupboard. Putting bread in the fridge makes it lose its freshness immediately. If you don't mind your bread tasteless and stale, then keeping it in the fridge should be fine.

Bubs623
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Why do cats like chewing on plastic bags??? I thought it was just mine.

Brindle Nutter
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I have this same problem with my cat....little MF loves baked goods

Chad Schuermeyer
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Thought my car was the only one that did that! I also out bread in the fridge to keep it from molding.

ThePunnyBunny
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I put it in the fridge to keep it longer. Just let it warm up before you make into sandwiches, works a charm.

Ginger
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I never refrig bread....I only buy Italian bread which does not go bad as quickly as other bread.

Judy Reynolds
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I thought I had the only cat who would chew through the bag to get the bread. He crossed the rainbow bridge 15 years ago, but bread is still stored in the microwave to keep it safe...

Can't go for that
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Cats love to chew plastic bags and wrapping. I think it's the equivalent to a human sucking their thumb.

Sue D
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Well in a humid locatit can tend to grow mold faster if you don't put it in the fridge.

The Veil of Fire
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Used to make, no machine, bread. 6-12 loaves. We froze the extra. Kept two out to eat up. Store bought breads stay out on counter top unless the mold fast. Wal-Mart has a "store made" bread that molds within 4-5 days. that's a nope bread.

GMc
Community Member
2 years ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Bread in freezer here. That said, it's because my toaster has a frozen setting and I swear the toast comes out better that way.

Nikki Sevven
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

We put it in the fridge so it doesn't mold before we finish the loaf.

Margaret Howard
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Buy a bread box or put up with dryer out bread because refrigeration sucks moisture out of bread

Jordi Sharpe
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I leave it I the cupboard for about five days, then throw it in the freezer.

ItsJess
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

We keep it in the fridge bc it tends to get moldy on the counter

Patti Wagner
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

They have this great thing known as a breadbox that you can store your bread in so that pets cant get to it and destroy your bread. Just saying!

Jenn C
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

My bread goes bad faster in the summer if it's not in the fridge.

Mary Elliott
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Cold tightens up bread and makes it tougher. Get a bread box. And look into your cat's diet. That's a weird thing for cats to eat. If you're feeding super cheap food or homemade food to an indoor only cat, it may not be geting all the nutrients it needs.

Marie Dahme
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I miss bread.😢. Haven’t had it in over a year. (Abstaining from carbs til the holidays of course lol)

Carol Blyth
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

If it is really humid then bread will get mouldy faster unless refrigerated....

JoJo Anisko
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I store it in fridge, then as I'm about to use it, I give it 5-8 seconds in the nukulator. Freshener long enough to eat.

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#5

27 Things People Claim Do Not Need To Be Refrigerated I leave avocados out until they’re the perfect ripeness, then I put them in the fridge and they last ages in the perfect state

Lost_in_the_Library , Alina Karpenko Report

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#6

27 Things People Claim Do Not Need To Be Refrigerated Peanut butter. Why people do it, I don't know.

TrukerJay , Towfiqu barbhuiya Report

#7

27 Things People Claim Do Not Need To Be Refrigerated Pickles, but they're much better if they are.

Scoongili , SuckerPunch Gourmet Report

#8

27 Things People Claim Do Not Need To Be Refrigerated Store-bought mayonnaise.

I was raised in the South, and my mother (born in 1924) was kind of obsessed with the idea that mayonnaise left out of the refrigerator would "turn" and grow a bunch of salmonella. We were repeatedly cautioned to be sure to return the mayonnaise jar to the fridge immediately. (When Mom was a girl, mayonnaise was homemade out of raw egg yolks, lemon juice, salt and cooking oil.)

Then I took a food safety course (I was an RN and got assigned to be the safety inspector at my hospital) and to my great surprise the county food safety instructor told us that unrefrigerated commercial mayonnaise only very rarely was ever a problem.

I still don't trust it though. (My mama never steered me wrong, I don't care *what* the county food safety guy says.)

KaBar2 , Alex Gorzen Report

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#9

27 Things People Claim Do Not Need To Be Refrigerated Onions or potatoes. Honestly most produce doesn’t necessarily need to go in the fridge but it does help it last longer

DannoWhamo , Monika Stawowy Report

#10

27 Things People Claim Do Not Need To Be Refrigerated Eggs - in the US you have to refrigerate eggs. You don't always in Europe.

Sir_Distic , Edouard Gilles Report

#11

27 Things People Claim Do Not Need To Be Refrigerated When I got married my wife showed me that butter can just sit there right on the counter, even right next to the stove, forever. What is this conspiracy to make people think butter needs to be refrigerated? Is it by the margarine makers to sell their stuff as a softer alternative to butter?

obsertaries , Sorin Gheorghita Report

#12

27 Things People Claim Do Not Need To Be Refrigerated Bananas

Viker2000 , Anastasia Eremina Report

#13

27 Things People Claim Do Not Need To Be Refrigerated Molasses

In the refrigerator, Grandma's molasses turns to "sludge."

Back2Bach , https://www.flickr.com/photos/tuba/40743922/ Report

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#14

27 Things People Claim Do Not Need To Be Refrigerated Vinegar

Pilzoyz , Bulbul Ahmed Report

#15

27 Things People Claim Do Not Need To Be Refrigerated Ketchup but I like mine cold

TreClaire , Yelena Odintsova Report

#16

27 Things People Claim Do Not Need To Be Refrigerated Maple syrup
Growing up it was always in the fridge. When my husband and I met he questioned me on it. I had no idea it wasn’t needed.

Inkqueen12 , Nadine Primeau Report

#17

27 Things People Claim Do Not Need To Be Refrigerated Keeping onions in the fridge greatly reduces tears when cutting onions

LastNameCoholic , Karolina Grabowska Report

#18

27 Things People Claim Do Not Need To Be Refrigerated Soy sauce

ToothbrushGames , GoodEats YQR Report

#19

27 Things People Claim Do Not Need To Be Refrigerated Hot sauce. All the restaurants leave it out but I feel like most people stick it in the fridge.

snowpawzz , Sticker Mule Report

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#20

27 Things People Claim Do Not Need To Be Refrigerated Strawberries go bad much faster once refrigerated. Grocery stores greatly reduce shelf life by refrigerating them before you even get the chance to buy the darn berries

No-Supermarket-332 , Jenna Hamra Report

#21

27 Things People Claim Do Not Need To Be Refrigerated Pineapples, my mom tried to refrigerate a whole pineapple once and i had to lecture her about how you are supposed to leave them out

MRbaconfacelol , Marta Ortigosa Report

#22

27 Things People Claim Do Not Need To Be Refrigerated Pepto Bismol. It doesn’t need to be refrigerated but it tastes just awful if it isn’t.

pantzoptional , romana klee Report

#23

27 Things People Claim Do Not Need To Be Refrigerated Tortillas

jolie-renee , micheile dot com Report

#24

27 Things People Claim Do Not Need To Be Refrigerated Mustard

slip1byyou123 , Pedro Durigan Report

#25

27 Things People Claim Do Not Need To Be Refrigerated Most cheeses are fine to be left out - you just cut away any moldy/dried-out bits, and you’re good to go. NOTE: this does not apply to intentionally moldy cheeses like blues and Gorgonzola, or softer cheese like Brie. It’s for hard cheeses only (Parmesan, cheddar, etc.), which can still last longer when refrigerated too

candle340 , Aliona Gumeniuk Report

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#26

27 Things People Claim Do Not Need To Be Refrigerated I don't know if its commonly refrigerated but I do remember getting in an argument with my college roommate about needing to refrigerate jelly/jam.

You don't. It'll last a long long long time in the pantry.

TumblrTheFish , Elena Leya Report

#27

27 Things People Claim Do Not Need To Be Refrigerated Orange juice. I found out they don't refrigerate it over in France. That freaked me out.

TeeteringCrockery , Anete Lusina Report