Butter? Velveeta? Apples? It turns out that the "to-fridge-or-not-to-fridge" question is more complicated than it might seem at a glance. If your kitchen is the scene of debate, don't worry: we've got you covered.
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00:00Butter?
00:01Velveeta?
00:02Apples?
00:03It turns out that the to-fridge or not-to-fridge question is more complicated than it might
00:07seem at a glance.
00:08If your kitchen is the scene of debate, don't worry, we've got you covered.
00:12There is no denying that plump grapes, whether you prefer red or green, are the perfect on-the-go
00:17snack.
00:18No matter how you enjoy them, you'll want your grapes to last as long as possible.
00:22And to do that, keep them in the refrigerator.
00:25If you store them at room temperature, this will cause the grapes to spoil within just
00:28a few days of when you purchase them.
00:30Not to mention, they will likely become mushy fast, which isn't necessarily the most appetizing
00:35thing.
00:36Storing them under cold conditions ensures that they stay firm and fresh.
00:40Another great word of advice?
00:41Don't transfer them out of the bag, or box, you bought them in.
00:44There's a reason for that slotted plastic.
00:47It gives the grapes room to breathe.
00:49Well, aren't you a tiny plum.
00:53It is easy to assume that cured meat is shelf-stable forever, since it is typically stored unrefined.
00:58It's usually refrigerated at the grocery store.
01:00But here's why you should never store cured meats in your pantry.
01:03It will absolutely cause the meat to lose much needed moisture.
01:07In addition, once you've opened the meat packages, the meat quality will slowly start to worsen
01:12if not correctly stored, from the texture to the flavor and everything in between.
01:16Carnivore Club reports that the best way to go about preserving the meat is to keep it
01:20in the refrigerator, but remember to securely wrap it first.
01:24If you are a sauerkraut fan, you probably have some stocked up at all times.
01:29Whether you make it yourself or buy store-bought sauerkraut, it's good to be aware of how to
01:33keep it fresher.
01:34The truth is that no matter how the sauerkraut is made, it is best to keep it in your fridge
01:38after opening it.
01:39This, says Cleveland Kitchen, is because room temperature air will cause the sauerkraut
01:43to dry out and lose those beneficial probiotics.
01:46The good news is that storing it in a cold environment will lengthen the amount of time
01:50it is suitable for.
01:52When comparing the differences in storage, keeping it in the pantry will only give you
01:55a month to use it up, whereas keeping it in the refrigerator gives you up to six months.
02:01When making desserts or fancy coffees, you might wonder how long whipped cream can be
02:04left out at room temperature.
02:06Although many people make whipped cream frosting for cakes and pies, the truth is that this
02:10product will be unsafe to eat when not stored in the refrigerator.
02:14It is best to keep your whipped cream dessert in the fridge until just before serving.
02:18Since it is a dairy product, it only takes a couple of hours of sitting out for it to
02:22become inedible.
02:23But how about non-dairy whipped cream?
02:25Unfortunately, you must keep the non-dairy kind chilled as well.
02:29After all, nobody wants to eat soupy cream that is supposed to be light and fluffy.
02:33The King Arthur Baking Company has some good news.
02:36Even homemade whipped cream will hold its shape for up to a day if stored in the fridge.
02:40Seconds, anyone?
02:42Making infused olive oil at home can undoubtedly add depth to the food you're making.
02:46But whether you infuse the oil with different herbs or garlic, it is essential to know how
02:50to store it safely.
02:52According to chef Anne Burrell, infused olive oil is one of the items you shouldn't store
02:56in your pantry or on your kitchen counter.
02:58Why?
02:59Because room temperature oil is a perfect breeding ground for bacteria to grow to unsafe
03:03numbers.
03:04Even if you had rinsed and dried your fresh herbs beforehand, they likely still have small
03:08amounts of bacteria.
03:10The University of Maine notes that storing infused olive oil at room temperature could
03:14be so dangerous that it could cause botulism poisoning.
03:17Keeping it in the refrigerator will put the brakes on the bacteria growth.
03:20After all, as the old saying goes, it's better to be safe than sorry.
03:25And avoid food poisoning at all costs.
03:27There is something so appealing about leaving butter out at room temperature.
03:31It's much easier to spread.
03:33Baking with softened butter is even easier.
03:35So is there a shortcut to be had here?
03:37Do you really have to refrigerate butter?
03:39When it comes to unsalted butter, the answer is always yes.
03:43Unfortunately, leaving this product at room temperature will inevitably cause it to sour
03:47quickly.
03:48As reported by Healthline, this isn't necessarily because of bacteria growth, but because the
03:52butter has so much fat, which does better under refrigeration.
03:56In addition, keeping the butter cool will keep the flavor rich and creamy rather than
04:00rancid.
04:01It is easy to assume that Kraft products are all shelf-stable.
04:05After all, the company did market its products that way for the longest time.
04:09That brings us to the tried-and-true favorite that is Velveeta.
04:12Velveeta can indeed stay at room temperature before being opened, but once you have broken
04:16the package seal, the company recommends that you store the cheese product under refrigeration.
04:21Even though it is a pasteurized product, that doesn't mean it's invulnerable to spoilage.
04:26Therefore, not refrigerating it will cause it to change its texture, and possibly lead
04:30to an unpleasant taste or odor.
04:32The good news is that it can last over six months when stored correctly.
04:37Do you know what happens to brownies when they're not refrigerated?
04:40Don't worry, they are safe to eat when covered and stored on the counter.
04:43However, this storage method might noticeably dry them out, especially if you've already
04:47cut the brownies.
04:49After all the time spent making the silky batter and baking them to perfection, it would
04:53be a shame to have them dry out in just a day or two.
04:56Luckily, there is a great way to combat this issue so that your brownies remain fudgy and
05:00moist.
05:01Placing them in a container and storing them in the refrigerator is one of the absolute
05:04best ways to keep brownies fresh.
05:06You could even go a step further and cover them in plastic wrap before putting them in
05:10the container.
05:11Simple, right?
05:12They'll last for up to a week, unless they're eaten first.
05:15Oh!
05:16We should be having brownies!
05:18Although some fruits and veggies stay fresher at room temperature, cauliflower is a vegetable
05:22that doesn't.
05:24In fact, one of the absolute best ways to store cauliflower is by placing it in a plastic
05:28bag, or a container that you can seal, within the refrigerator.
05:32Cauliflower can last a few days when sitting out on the counter, but it runs the risk of
05:36becoming rotten and shortening its lifespan by more than half.
05:39Discoloration, softened texture, and lousy odors are all clear indicators of how to tell
05:44if cauliflower has gone bad.
05:46Additionally, mold is also another possibility that you can easily avoid.
05:50Therefore, unless you plan to use the cauliflower within a few days, the best course of action
05:55is to cover it adequately and ensure it stays cold.
05:58Ultimately, it makes more sense to keep the cauliflower chilled so that it remains crisp
06:02until you are ready to use it.
06:05Let's start by saying that processed peanut butter can stay in the pantry even after being
06:08opened.
06:09Babe, where's your Kraft peanut butter?
06:12What is Kraft peanut butter?
06:14However, you might want to think twice about storing your natural peanut butter in the
06:18same place.
06:19When determining which foods should and shouldn't be refrigerated, natural peanut butter is certainly
06:24one that will benefit from being stored in a chilled environment.
06:27Storing this unprocessed product at room temperature will cause it to go sour, which nobody wants.
06:32These effects can be apparent after just a couple of weeks, because this type of peanut
06:36butter has a high content of natural oils that need to stay cold.
06:40Your best bet is to store the natural peanut butter in your refrigerator immediately after
06:44you open it.
06:45Apples are fruits that keep ripening even after they've been picked from a tree.
06:49The truth is that storing them at room temperature will aid the ripening process further, and
06:53that's not necessarily a good thing.
06:55Before you know it, the shiny and crisp apples can soon turn to mush, or brown spots can
07:00start making an appearance.
07:01I never picked apples before, but now I have.
07:04I had fun, I think.
07:05The good news is that you can do certain things to keep the ripening process at bay, so that
07:09all of your apples can last much longer.
07:12The trick to keeping apples fresh longer is to store them in the refrigerator, specifically
07:16away from other produce if possible.
07:18Additionally, moisture can be an apple's saving grace when it comes to storage, so finding
07:22a way to add moisture to their environment can do wonders.
07:26Draping damp linen over the apples will do.
07:28It's worth it to never have to worry about biting into a mushy apple again.
07:32It can be tricky to determine which fruits need to be refrigerated and which don't.
07:37Although keeping limes on the counter is safe, it isn't the best route of action.
07:41When stored at room temperature, limes will dry out within just a few days.
07:45On the other hand, when they are correctly stored, they can stay fresh for up to a few
07:48months.
07:49These lengths of time are drastically different, so learning the absolute best ways to store
07:53limes is crucial.
07:55First, placing them in the refrigerator is the primary practice to extend their freshness.
08:00Another fantastic trick you can try is to grab a container, put the limes inside, then
08:04cover the limes with water.
08:06Keep this container with the limes immersed inside your fridge, and it'll lengthen its
08:10lifespan considerably.
08:12The boiling process kills all of the bacteria in eggs, so hard-boiled eggs don't need to
08:16be refrigerated, right?
08:18Not necessarily.
08:20Hard-boiled eggs are just as vulnerable to spoilage as scrambled eggs or poached, if
08:23not more.
08:25Although the bacteria on the shell dies during the boiling process, Healthline says that
08:29the protective coating on the outside is also cooked off.
08:32This makes it easy for bacteria to adhere to the egg and even creep through the surface.
08:36So, what happens if you don't refrigerate hard-boiled eggs?
08:40The short answer is that room-temperature air gives bacteria room to grow to unsafe
08:43amounts.
08:44On the other hand, storing cooked eggs in the refrigerator is a smart move that can
08:48save you from foodborne illness.
08:50The surprising truth is that maple syrup is not as shelf-stable as one might assume.
08:55Although leaving maple syrup at room temperature for a few days likely won't cause any harm,
09:00extended periods of keeping it in the pantry will pose a risk.
09:03Maple farmers reported that it's possible this would cause a change in the flavor of
09:06the syrup, weakening its sweet and pleasant taste.
09:10Additionally, the main concern is that mold could grow inside the container.
09:14Fortunately, the best solution is also the easiest.
09:17Store maple syrup in the refrigerator.
09:20It is also crucial to note that swapping out a plastic container to a glass one will
09:24help it stay fresher longer.
09:26From using it in meatloaf to taking advantage of its unique flavor for cocktails, Worcestershire
09:30sauce is a multifaceted ingredient that is a cooking staple.
09:34Although it might be easy to conclude that this sauce is shelf-stable, the test of time
09:39and temperature would say otherwise.
09:41If you only use this product every now and then, storing it in the refrigerator is the
09:45best approach to take.
09:46So what happens if you don't refrigerate Worcestershire sauce?
09:50In simple terms, it will only last so many months.
09:53After a while, its texture and flavor can start to deteriorate.
09:56Storing it in a cool place, such as the refrigerator, ensures that this sauce remains high-grade
10:01for up to three times longer.
10:03Evaluating how often you use it will help to determine if you should refrigerate it
10:06or not.
10:07Of course, it wouldn't cause any harm to store it in the fridge either way.
10:11Better safe than sorry.