It’s the age-old question and one that certainly rustles a few household jimmies: to fridge or not to fridge? Does the Tommy sauce belong in the fridge? What about your beloved chocolate? Does bread keep longer in the fridge? All very good and important questions.
Food storage is often an overlooked conversation that relies on guesswork, which can lead to compromised flavour, ruined textures, and unnecessary food waste. That’s why the lords over at Westinghouse have put together a definitive to fridge or not to fridge guide. They’ve broken down the most divisive storage wars for kitchen staples (and sweet treats) and delivered the final verdict on exactly where they should live.
Should you keep bread in the fridge?
Nope, apparently not. While the fridge is excellent at preventing mould, it is actually the worst possible place for maintaining the texture and freshness of a loaf.
Should chocolate be kept in the fridge?
According to Westinghouse, you keep it in the pantry, far away from the cold. While snapping a cold piece of chocolate might be satisfying, refrigeration introduces a host of issues that degrade the quality, appearance, and taste.
Personally, I must strongly disagree with this one. Room-temperature chocolate just doesn’t hit the same way a chilled choccie does.
Does tomato sauce belong in the fridge or pantry?
While the fridge might seem like the best place to keep produce fresh, tomatoes are a major exception. They belong on the counter or in the pantry to preserve their flavour and texture, and apparently, the same rule applies to tomato sauce.
Another one that hurts my heart. There’s something about warm sauce that just feels wrong.
What about fruit? Fridge or pantry?
For most fruit, the answer isn’t a strict fridge or pantry but rather a two-step process. Pantry first to ripen, fridge second to preserve. For maximum longevity, transfer them specifically to a humidity-controlled drawer/crisper to keep them fresher for days longer.
Do sauces live in the fridge or pantry?
Unopened sauce belongs in the pantry, but the second that seal is broken, it needs to go in the fridge — especially when it comes to soy sauce, traditional brewers and food scientists agree: while it won’t explicitly spoil in the pantry, the fridge is the absolute best place to preserve its complex quality and flavour over time.
And last but certainly not least: Does Vegemite belong in the fridge or pantry?
Vegemite officially belongs in the pantry since it is completely shelf-stable right up until its best-before date. The same rules apply to peanut butter spreads.
Unholy if you ask me, a certified Vegemite lover. Honestly, I eat a sickening amount, but it exclusively lives in our fridge, and I won’t hear otherwise.
Anyway, speaking of fridges, if you need a new one, the folks over at Westinghouse make reliable, durable and pretty fridges that can handle anything your roommates throw in them. You can check them out over here.
Lead Image: Westinghouse / Cadbury / Masterfoods / Vegemite
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