45+ Foods That Don't Actually Need to Be Refrigerated

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Do you ever open your refrigerator and feel stressed by the cluttered shelves and drawers? Even after clearing out the stuff that went bad the week before, finding a place for the new stuff can be hard. We usually end up shoving stuff wherever there's a space to fit it. We're mindlessly stuffing our groceries into cooler temperatures without a second thought!

Have you ever stopped and thought about what actually goes into the fridge? Turns out, a lot of the stuff you keep in your fridge is perfectly fine to sit out on the counter or stored away in your pantry. The fridge may actually cause the items to rot faster! The truth is that we should all pay more attention to where we're storing our favorite food items. 

There have been many debates about what does and doesn’t belong in your refrigerator, but here are the items that can be moved from the refrigerator shelves to the pantry. Not only will your fridge be decluttered (hello, free space!), but your groceries will taste significantly better when stored correctly. Here's a list of foods that don't need to be refrigerated.

Disclaimer: The information in this content is for general informational purposes only, not a substitute for professional medical advice. Always consult your doctor before making any changes to your lifestyle.

According to scientific research, ripe tomatoes should be kept on your counter, uncovered. When kept in the refrigerator, their flavor is highly affected. This is because the cold temperatures reduce the functionality of the genes that allow the fruit to properly ripen. If they're currently ripe, they'll also lose the flavor you love. 

Tomatoes

Chemicals known as "volatiles" are responsible for giving tomatoes a sweeter, more complex taste. Studies have shown that chilling tomatoes for a week greatly change their flavor. If your tomatoes are going bad and you want to preserve them a little longer, it's okay to put them in the fridge for a day, but use them quick!

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Did you know...

  • Need a quick cool down? Try drinking some hot liquid. It's true! As counterintuitive as it may seem, the heat from hot liquids will raise your body temperature. This will heat you up and cause you to sweat. The increased perspiration will wind up helping you feel cooler as it evaporates. Try it out!
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  • Do you know what the strongest muscle in your body is? No, it’s not your biceps or your thighs. It’s actually in your head. The masseter is a muscle in the jaw that is used when chewing. When all of the muscles of the jaw work together, they can exert a force as strong as 200 pounds on the molars. That’s some serious pressure.
  • Have you ever told your husband something and he promptly forgets it? It's not his fault, actually. It really is because he's a man. The hippocampus (the part of the brain that deals with memory) begins to shrink with age faster in men than it does in women. That's why you can remember everything, and he can't!
  • Does your job make you stressed? We all know that stress is psychologically bad for you, but it also has an effect on…your allergies? A Harvard Medical School study has shown that stress causes your allergies to become worse because your body's defense response loses efficacy when repeatedly triggered by stress. Then, when you really need to physically fight something off, you're less able to!