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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.
This post may include affiliate links.
#1
People who put honey in the fridge should be charged as criminals
Marie Dahme 2 years ago
Honey is one of the very few food products that will last indefinitely. Sigh. Some people may wince at that but it’s true, google it. Somewhere I read they even found honey in the pyramids that was hard as a rock but was still edible.
Spocks's Mom 2 years ago
Yes! We use it to heal wounds from time to time where I work!
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Cassi Lyris 2 years ago
REAL honey doesn't need refrigeration. It will crystallize but never go off.
IRwuzzle 2 years ago
I put mine in the fridge because sometimes we'll get ants
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JoJo Anisko 2 years ago
The insanely high sugar concentration dehydrates most anything with harmful potential (except botulism toxin, which is why you should not feed it to babies). I think most of us have observed how honey makes bread go "crunchy" - that's the dehydration.
Patrick Linnen 2 years ago
Honey is a large ingredient in traditional German Gingerbread. (The good kind.) Making a old-fashioned Gingerbread House with this, with plain (maybe some food colouring) sugar icing and hard candy & peppermints (no jelly or gum drops) makes it last forever if it does not get wet.
Load More Replies... Ann M Clinkscales 2 years ago
Honey is good forever as long as you don't get other food mixed in! Also, if it crystallizes after a while, just put the bottle (closed of course) in a bath of warm to hot water for as long as needed to make it gooey liquid again! (Usually about 5-10 minutes, depending on how hot the water is.),
Janice Seagraves 2 years ago
A couple month ago, my daughter was about to toss a jar of honey. I told her to stop, honey doesn't go bad. I had to explain that when it crystalizes all you need to do is heat it up.
Mary Daniel 2 years ago
I worked with an ob/gyn phys who would order a thin smear of honey to be spread over his c-section ladies incisions. A natural antibiotic.
Debby Keir 2 years ago
It crystalises when cold and goes cloudy, and some people prefer it to the clear honey.
Patti Wagner 2 years ago
Dont know if it should be refrigerated or not but, do know that it will get moldy if not sealed properly.
Missi Boness 2 years ago
It does not mold.Honey is hygroscopic, which means that it is water-negative and can even draw water from the air in improper storage conditions, leaving nothing for microbes and molds to grow on. Honey also has a low pH value, making it too acidic for most microbes.
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Her Name Was Lola 2 years ago
Honey doesn't spoil, period. Honey was found in the tomb of King Tut, hundreds of years later, 100% edible. Awesome stuff. Zero pasteurization needed.
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#2
Nutella in the fridge should be a major felony. Who tf wants rock hard Nutella?
Bored Lady On The Run 2 years ago
Saw this somewhere that someone would spread Nutella on the parchment paper. About a dozen or more, they shaped them in a nice thinly board. Chilled it overnight, then they used it to crackle its bits for ice cream. For me I would have eaten it in one sitting.
#3
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.
#4
Bread. We put it in the fridge bc my precious little douche bags (cats) like to take chomps out of the bag.
#5
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
#6
Peanut butter. Why people do it, I don't know.
Cynthia Carter 2 years ago
We buy the kind you have to stir- just peanuts, no hydrogenated oils, sugar etc-and it will separate if we don't keep it in the fridge.
#7
Pickles, but they're much better if they are.
#8
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.)
Jack and Coke 2 years ago
Just checked my mayo jar and it says to refrigerate after opening. I think I'll follow the directions.
#9
Onions or potatoes. Honestly most produce doesn’t necessarily need to go in the fridge but it does help it last longer
#11
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?
#12
Bananas
Shyla Bouche 2 years ago
Bananas are good frozen, covered in chocolate sauce, and rolled in cereal crumbs.
#14
Vinegar
#15
Ketchup but I like mine cold
Raumpfleger 2 years ago
Depends. Once the bottle is opened it will het sour over time. I used to put mine in the fridge, but thats not necessary anymore since we have kids.
#16
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.
Rebekah Krause 2 years ago
Maple syrup definitely needs to be refrigerated, says a woman who was also told this and watched mold grow on a $40 bottle of pure maple syrup. Pancake syrup does not.
#17
Keeping onions in the fridge greatly reduces tears when cutting onions
Faern Grey 2 years ago
Sharp knives are a better way to cut down on the tears. The more you damage the onion, the more it makes your eyes water.
#19
Hot sauce. All the restaurants leave it out but I feel like most people stick it in the fridge.
unfilteredCigarette73 2 years ago
I leave Louisiana style, like Crystal's for example, out after opening but all the other stuff goes in the fridge. Louisiana style has so much vinegar and pepper it's not gonna turn.
#20
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
Frank Hassler 2 years ago
Strawberries tend to go bad because of mold around here, so refrigeration slows that down.
#21
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
#22
Pepto Bismol. It doesn’t need to be refrigerated but it tastes just awful if it isn’t.
Shyla Bouche 2 years ago
It tastes like pink liquidated chalk, no matter what temperature it is.
#25
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
#26
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.
Rebekah Krause 2 years ago
Only if it’s not opened! Don’t do this with open jam or jelly. Especially if you’re double dipping your knife between spreads.
#27
Orange juice. I found out they don't refrigerate it over in France. That freaked me out.
What do you think ?
Elita One 2 years ago
This list doesn't take climate into consideration. I'm Australian, it's hot, fruit, vegetables, bread and condiments don't last in the heat so they have to be refrigerated. I'm more than happy to loose a bit of flavor so my food lasts longer.
Jay Son 2 years ago
Plus a greater risk for nasty bugs if you leave those things out in warmer climates.
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Oerff On Tour 2 years ago
In Europe it's quite easy: whatever is refrigerated in the supermarket, you keep in the fridge. Everything that isn't, stays out. When opened, check the label where to store it.
the Return of Bruno 2 years ago
SO many of these foods will last a while out of the fridge, but (1) they won't last nearly as long as if they're refrigerated, and (2) can go dangerously bad if something non-sterile has been introduced (like a knife or a spoon that has some food traces on it) and (3) even airborne particles can get at them.
Richard Campbell 2 years ago
Another post stolen from Reddit. This is not journalism, it’s plagiarism and it’s lazy.
Jay Son 2 years ago
Most of the posts here originally came from other sources. There even once was a post that went from Reddit to here to Twitter and back here lol
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Fembot 2 years ago
A huge difference in storing closed jars, tins and cartons, and storing it once opened. Honey, peanut butter etc are exceptions. Produce, like onions, may be stored in a cellar if you have one (but they’ll be fine at most temps). Greens: in the fridge. Tomatoes: room temperature. Bread: in your belly.
Jack Holt 2 years ago
I can only eat slow sourdough artisan bread because I get unmentionable side effects otherwise. For old sourdough sprinkle with water and microwave for 20s
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Jennifer .S 2 years ago
"It doesn't do anything but helps it last longer" Yeah, that's why I put it in the fridge...
Katja Katze 2 years ago
This list is stupid and wrong. The climate is not taken into account. The special features of the kitchens are also not taken into account. Do you have a cool, dark pantry? Perfect. Don't have a cool, dark pantry? So you have to store a lot of things in the fridge. In addition, the storage also depends on consumption, if you drink a liter of milk a day, the opened pack does not have to be put in the fridge. The fridge is a cool and dark place (when the lights in the fridge actually go out!), such a place keeps food from spoiling quickly.
Gary Harkins 2 years ago
Well the basis of the list is accurate. Very accurate. Personal taste buds play a big roll though. Just because you don't have to refrigerate something doesn't mean that it doesn't taste better when it comes out of a nice cold fridge
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VonBlade 2 years ago
Wow this list's entries were mainly written by people who must also appear on a "your worst bout of food poisoning" list.
GMc 2 years ago (edited)
Now that is a celebrity cooking show I'd watch. This week we have two celebrities cook a 5 course meal and the judges will decide if it's safe to eat, inedible or "stomach pump time".
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Ali H M Salehuddin 2 years ago
While not valid in all cases, in general tropical fruits should not go inside a fridge.
Evelyn Haskins 2 years ago
I THINK it also dep3ends on how close the shops are and how often you do the shopping. If you 'work in town' and stop off to buy things on the way home -- no real need for most refrigeration. However some things out of the fridge will not keep out of the fridge more than a few days. (And that is not counting cockroach, and fly contamination.) it can get very expensive making special trips of over and hour just to get a handful of groceries But it gets fearfully expensive to need to go to the shops daily if it is half an hour or more drive away. However some things out of the fridge will not keep out of the fridge more than a few days. (And that is not counting cockroach, and fly contamination/)
Lindsey or Something 2 years ago (edited)
The other one: if you wash your produce you have to refrigerate it or use it immediately. The bacterial ecosystem on them protects it from fungi and oxidation that starts the rotting. That bacteria might be harmful to you which is why you should always wash your produce before use, but as soon as it gets home is unnecessary. (Edit: spelling error)
Will Cable 2 years ago
Did I miss the one about not refrigerating the bodies of their enemies...*rolls eyes
Misty Moon 2 years ago (edited)
I just laughed thru this whole thing. We haven't had a refrigerator in over a year and a half. We just can't stock up on food like we could with a working fridge and we don't buy milk by the gallon during the hotter months. Anything that needs to stay cool goes in a cooler-no, we don't always have ice either. Neither of us has gotten sick or even had a tummy ache. So my point is, nothing needs refrigerated if you use it in a timely manner. Don't get me wrong, I miss having the option to refrigerate but what I miss most is having a freezer to keep ice in! Edited to add: This way of living might not work in humid environments since mold loves that sort of climate. We live in the desert.
Tim S 2 years ago
A lot of these things seem to be saying that the items don't HAVE to be refrigerated. Yes, you're correct, they don't HAVE to be, but that doesn't mean choosing not to refrigerate has no effect. In many cases, it makes the items last longer or slows down the spoiling process. That's kind of the purpose.
Heather Barnett 2 years ago (edited)
For most of the condiments, they taste better could, and it's nice to have them all in one place. Plus, I don't have much cabinet space, and there's not much else that would fit in most door shelves anyway.
Hey! 2 years ago
I heard of some people putting it in the freezer, but never the fridge.
Load More Replies... Elita One 2 years ago
This list doesn't take climate into consideration. I'm Australian, it's hot, fruit, vegetables, bread and condiments don't last in the heat so they have to be refrigerated. I'm more than happy to loose a bit of flavor so my food lasts longer.
Jay Son 2 years ago
Plus a greater risk for nasty bugs if you leave those things out in warmer climates.
Load More Replies... Oerff On Tour 2 years ago
In Europe it's quite easy: whatever is refrigerated in the supermarket, you keep in the fridge. Everything that isn't, stays out. When opened, check the label where to store it.
the Return of Bruno 2 years ago
SO many of these foods will last a while out of the fridge, but (1) they won't last nearly as long as if they're refrigerated, and (2) can go dangerously bad if something non-sterile has been introduced (like a knife or a spoon that has some food traces on it) and (3) even airborne particles can get at them.
Richard Campbell 2 years ago
Another post stolen from Reddit. This is not journalism, it’s plagiarism and it’s lazy.
Jay Son 2 years ago
Most of the posts here originally came from other sources. There even once was a post that went from Reddit to here to Twitter and back here lol
Load More Replies... Fembot 2 years ago
A huge difference in storing closed jars, tins and cartons, and storing it once opened. Honey, peanut butter etc are exceptions. Produce, like onions, may be stored in a cellar if you have one (but they’ll be fine at most temps). Greens: in the fridge. Tomatoes: room temperature. Bread: in your belly.
Jack Holt 2 years ago
I can only eat slow sourdough artisan bread because I get unmentionable side effects otherwise. For old sourdough sprinkle with water and microwave for 20s
Load More Replies... Jennifer .S 2 years ago
"It doesn't do anything but helps it last longer" Yeah, that's why I put it in the fridge...
Katja Katze 2 years ago
This list is stupid and wrong. The climate is not taken into account. The special features of the kitchens are also not taken into account. Do you have a cool, dark pantry? Perfect. Don't have a cool, dark pantry? So you have to store a lot of things in the fridge. In addition, the storage also depends on consumption, if you drink a liter of milk a day, the opened pack does not have to be put in the fridge. The fridge is a cool and dark place (when the lights in the fridge actually go out!), such a place keeps food from spoiling quickly.
Gary Harkins 2 years ago
Well the basis of the list is accurate. Very accurate. Personal taste buds play a big roll though. Just because you don't have to refrigerate something doesn't mean that it doesn't taste better when it comes out of a nice cold fridge
Load More Replies... VonBlade 2 years ago
Wow this list's entries were mainly written by people who must also appear on a "your worst bout of food poisoning" list.
GMc 2 years ago (edited)
Now that is a celebrity cooking show I'd watch. This week we have two celebrities cook a 5 course meal and the judges will decide if it's safe to eat, inedible or "stomach pump time".
Load More Replies... Ali H M Salehuddin 2 years ago
While not valid in all cases, in general tropical fruits should not go inside a fridge.
Evelyn Haskins 2 years ago
I THINK it also dep3ends on how close the shops are and how often you do the shopping. If you 'work in town' and stop off to buy things on the way home -- no real need for most refrigeration. However some things out of the fridge will not keep out of the fridge more than a few days. (And that is not counting cockroach, and fly contamination.) it can get very expensive making special trips of over and hour just to get a handful of groceries But it gets fearfully expensive to need to go to the shops daily if it is half an hour or more drive away. However some things out of the fridge will not keep out of the fridge more than a few days. (And that is not counting cockroach, and fly contamination/)
Lindsey or Something 2 years ago (edited)
The other one: if you wash your produce you have to refrigerate it or use it immediately. The bacterial ecosystem on them protects it from fungi and oxidation that starts the rotting. That bacteria might be harmful to you which is why you should always wash your produce before use, but as soon as it gets home is unnecessary. (Edit: spelling error)
Will Cable 2 years ago
Did I miss the one about not refrigerating the bodies of their enemies...*rolls eyes
Misty Moon 2 years ago (edited)
I just laughed thru this whole thing. We haven't had a refrigerator in over a year and a half. We just can't stock up on food like we could with a working fridge and we don't buy milk by the gallon during the hotter months. Anything that needs to stay cool goes in a cooler-no, we don't always have ice either. Neither of us has gotten sick or even had a tummy ache. So my point is, nothing needs refrigerated if you use it in a timely manner. Don't get me wrong, I miss having the option to refrigerate but what I miss most is having a freezer to keep ice in! Edited to add: This way of living might not work in humid environments since mold loves that sort of climate. We live in the desert.
Tim S 2 years ago
A lot of these things seem to be saying that the items don't HAVE to be refrigerated. Yes, you're correct, they don't HAVE to be, but that doesn't mean choosing not to refrigerate has no effect. In many cases, it makes the items last longer or slows down the spoiling process. That's kind of the purpose.
Heather Barnett 2 years ago (edited)
For most of the condiments, they taste better could, and it's nice to have them all in one place. Plus, I don't have much cabinet space, and there's not much else that would fit in most door shelves anyway.
Hey! 2 years ago
I heard of some people putting it in the freezer, but never the fridge.
Load More Replies...
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