7 Foods You're Probably Refrigerating, But Definitely Shouldn't Be

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Feel like you're playing Jenga every time you put a tupperware into your fridge? There's good news: Most of the stuff in your fridge probably doesn't need to be there anyway. 

Toss those tomatoes to the curb, er, countertop. According to the Farmers' Almanac, these foods don't actually need to be in your fridge — and are sometimes better off kept out. 

1. Bananas

Putting your 'naners in the fridge will make the peels turn brown and also transform the banana's texture. Got overripe bananas? Make them into banana bread right away or throw them in the freezer and use for a smoothie. 

2. Bread

Storing bread in the fridge makes it go stale faster. The cool temperature causes bread to harden at a faster pace compared to room temperature. If you're a carb lover looking to preserve your crusty loaves, you're better off keeping them in a breadbox or sticking them in a freezer, Serious Eats reported. Preservatives will dictate how long bread will last on your counter. Eat by Date estimated that the shelf life can range from a few days to several weeks.

3. Butter

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Trying to spread rock solid butter onto bread is an impossible task. Luckily, you can safely store butter on the counter— so long as you protect it from air and light in a butter dish or butter crock. The Food and Drug Administration even says butter is okay to be left at room temperature for a couple of days, the Kitchn noted. Yet for longterm storage, you'll still want to keep butter in the fridge. 

4. Coffee

Coffee grinds can lose their flavor when stored in a fridge. They're better off on the counter in a cool, dry area. They should be in a sealed container to keep moisture out. Alternatively, store your beans in the freezer for the ultimate cup of java, since the beans have the best flavor when you grind them at a cold temperature. 

5. Melons

Get your melons outta the crisper drawer. The cool temperature will make their flesh mealy, so store whole melons like cantaloupe, honeydew and watermelon on the counter. Once cut, melon slices should be refrigerated. They'll stay good for three to five days in the fridge, Eat by Date estimated. 

6. Peppers

The Farmers' Almanac claims refrigerators soften the texture of peppers (no thanks), though others, including Eat by Date, suggest using the fridge to prolong a pepper's shelf life. Avoid a chance of mealy veggies by storing your peppers in a brown paper bag on your countertop. If you want to ripen them faster, put a ripe tomato in the bag, the Kitchn recommended. The tomato will emit gas that speeds the ripening of produce.

7. Tomatoes

The cool temperature of a fridge turns a nice, juicy tomato into a mushy and mealy orb. Feel free to leave your tomatoes on the countertop for a superior tasting tomato. Eat by Date noted that a soft tomato that leaks liquid is on its way to going bad. 

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