1 00:00:01,920 --> 00:00:06,360 Speaker 1: Welcome to brain Stuff, a production of iHeart Radio, Hey 2 00:00:06,400 --> 00:00:10,119 Speaker 1: brain Stuff Lauren vogle bam here. The refrigerator is an 3 00:00:10,119 --> 00:00:12,800 Speaker 1: appliance so useful that it may seem like it can 4 00:00:12,840 --> 00:00:16,200 Speaker 1: do no wrong. But although it is adept at keeping 5 00:00:16,200 --> 00:00:20,160 Speaker 1: that macaroni, salad, picnic perfect, and uncooked ground beef from spoiling, 6 00:00:20,600 --> 00:00:23,759 Speaker 1: it can actually cause other foods to lose texture and 7 00:00:23,800 --> 00:00:28,520 Speaker 1: flavor faster than they would otherwise. For example, the fridge 8 00:00:28,640 --> 00:00:31,440 Speaker 1: may be the greatest thing since sliced bread, but don't 9 00:00:31,480 --> 00:00:34,959 Speaker 1: actually put your bread in there. So we spoke via 10 00:00:35,000 --> 00:00:38,040 Speaker 1: email with Randy George, president and co owner of Vermont 11 00:00:38,080 --> 00:00:42,040 Speaker 1: based Red Hand Baking Company. He explained that hearth baked 12 00:00:42,040 --> 00:00:44,480 Speaker 1: breads are best kept at room temperature for a couple 13 00:00:44,479 --> 00:00:47,240 Speaker 1: of days in a paper bag perforated bag, or even 14 00:00:47,280 --> 00:00:51,400 Speaker 1: at no bag at all. Quote. Although refrigeration does delay 15 00:00:51,440 --> 00:00:55,120 Speaker 1: the growth of mold, a refrigerated environment is very dry 16 00:00:55,200 --> 00:00:58,840 Speaker 1: and will therefore hasten this sailing of bread back at 17 00:00:58,880 --> 00:01:02,240 Speaker 1: room temperature, preserve or if the crisp crust. Although the 18 00:01:02,320 --> 00:01:05,000 Speaker 1: humidity of your room will vary, it is rarely as 19 00:01:05,080 --> 00:01:09,520 Speaker 1: dry as the inside of a refrigerator. However, if you 20 00:01:09,560 --> 00:01:11,639 Speaker 1: need to keep the bread fresh for a longer period 21 00:01:11,680 --> 00:01:14,360 Speaker 1: of time, opt to freeze it in a tightly sealed 22 00:01:14,400 --> 00:01:17,240 Speaker 1: plastic bag. A pre slicing a loaf will let you 23 00:01:17,280 --> 00:01:21,200 Speaker 1: take out only what you need when you need it. Also, 24 00:01:21,360 --> 00:01:23,720 Speaker 1: although the fridge might not be the last place on 25 00:01:23,760 --> 00:01:27,280 Speaker 1: Earth to store potatoes, it's pretty close. And this is 26 00:01:27,319 --> 00:01:30,800 Speaker 1: because potatoes don't fare well at temperatures below forty five 27 00:01:30,840 --> 00:01:35,000 Speaker 1: degrees fahrenheit that's seven degrees celsius. At that temperature, their 28 00:01:35,000 --> 00:01:38,480 Speaker 1: inherent starches start to break down into sugars, which in 29 00:01:38,560 --> 00:01:42,720 Speaker 1: turn can cause unfortunate changes to texture and taste, making 30 00:01:42,760 --> 00:01:47,800 Speaker 1: the potatoes sweeter and tougher. Instead, look to store potatoes 31 00:01:47,840 --> 00:01:51,080 Speaker 1: in a dark, humid environment between forty and fifty degrees 32 00:01:51,120 --> 00:01:54,080 Speaker 1: fahrenheit that's about four point four to ten degrees celsius. 33 00:01:54,680 --> 00:01:56,840 Speaker 1: If you live in a temperate climate, you could store 34 00:01:56,880 --> 00:01:59,680 Speaker 1: potatoes in a pantry, basement or root seller if you 35 00:01:59,720 --> 00:02:01,920 Speaker 1: have one. If you live in a warmer part of 36 00:02:01,960 --> 00:02:03,880 Speaker 1: the world, though, you can still store them in a 37 00:02:03,920 --> 00:02:06,840 Speaker 1: cellar or kitchen cupboard and just make sure you use 38 00:02:06,920 --> 00:02:09,240 Speaker 1: up those potatoes in a week or two, because after 39 00:02:09,280 --> 00:02:12,720 Speaker 1: that they'll start to sprout. Once you find a good 40 00:02:12,760 --> 00:02:15,040 Speaker 1: storage spot, wrap the spuds up in a paper bag 41 00:02:15,240 --> 00:02:19,640 Speaker 1: rather than a stifling plastic bag. For winter squash, there's 42 00:02:19,720 --> 00:02:22,480 Speaker 1: no need to get too fancy. A countertop will do 43 00:02:22,680 --> 00:02:24,919 Speaker 1: just fine if you're planning to eat them pretty soon. 44 00:02:25,639 --> 00:02:28,120 Speaker 1: If you want them to last longer, select a cool, 45 00:02:28,280 --> 00:02:31,840 Speaker 1: dark place, say next to your potatoes in a kitchen, pantry, drawer, 46 00:02:32,000 --> 00:02:36,000 Speaker 1: or cabinet. Winter squash will last longer if they aren't 47 00:02:36,040 --> 00:02:39,320 Speaker 1: touching each other or touching any hard surfaces, so it's 48 00:02:39,320 --> 00:02:43,680 Speaker 1: advisable to wrap each one in paper or cloth. Some varieties, 49 00:02:43,760 --> 00:02:46,880 Speaker 1: like a corner butternut squash, may last for months this way, 50 00:02:47,000 --> 00:02:50,480 Speaker 1: assuming that your storage area is cool enough. However, be 51 00:02:50,639 --> 00:02:53,400 Speaker 1: sure not to store squash next to fruits or vegetables 52 00:02:53,440 --> 00:02:56,760 Speaker 1: that produce ethylene, which is a hydrocarbon gas put out 53 00:02:56,760 --> 00:02:59,679 Speaker 1: by ripening fruits and veggies, as this may cause the 54 00:02:59,720 --> 00:03:04,799 Speaker 1: squad to start rotting. Some producers of ethylene include tomatoes, onions, 55 00:03:04,880 --> 00:03:10,679 Speaker 1: ripe bananas, and apples. And speaking of tomatoes, room temperature 56 00:03:10,760 --> 00:03:14,280 Speaker 1: is best to keep tomatoes from spoiling while also maintaining 57 00:03:14,280 --> 00:03:18,480 Speaker 1: their best possible flavor and texture. Ripe tomatoes usually stay 58 00:03:18,520 --> 00:03:21,240 Speaker 1: good for about two to three days post purchase, if 59 00:03:21,280 --> 00:03:25,320 Speaker 1: placed stemside down, away from direct sunlight and ideally in 60 00:03:25,360 --> 00:03:29,359 Speaker 1: a paper bag. This is because exposure to warm sunlight 61 00:03:29,560 --> 00:03:32,240 Speaker 1: will heat up the tomato and make it soften more quickly. 62 00:03:33,160 --> 00:03:35,920 Speaker 1: Note that some tomade of varieties have been specially bred 63 00:03:35,960 --> 00:03:38,400 Speaker 1: to extend their shelf life, and these may last as 64 00:03:38,400 --> 00:03:41,160 Speaker 1: long as a week or two on the counter. If 65 00:03:41,200 --> 00:03:44,040 Speaker 1: you absolutely must make that special tomato on your counter 66 00:03:44,160 --> 00:03:46,440 Speaker 1: last a little bit longer, though, you can put it 67 00:03:46,480 --> 00:03:48,600 Speaker 1: in the fridge, just be sure to take it out 68 00:03:48,640 --> 00:03:51,160 Speaker 1: an hour or so before slicing and serving to bring 69 00:03:51,240 --> 00:03:56,360 Speaker 1: some of the original flavor and texture back. Also, onions, 70 00:03:56,520 --> 00:03:59,520 Speaker 1: much like potatoes and winter squash, do well stored in 71 00:03:59,520 --> 00:04:02,880 Speaker 1: a kitchen, cabinet or pantry. The only difference is that 72 00:04:02,920 --> 00:04:06,600 Speaker 1: while potatoes prefer a humid environment and squash don't mind 73 00:04:06,680 --> 00:04:09,680 Speaker 1: much either way, onions are looking for as dry an 74 00:04:09,760 --> 00:04:13,720 Speaker 1: environment as possible. Be sure to use breathable paper bags 75 00:04:13,760 --> 00:04:16,560 Speaker 1: to store them, and opt for an area with good ventilation. 76 00:04:17,720 --> 00:04:20,400 Speaker 1: And keep in mind that all of these storage tips 77 00:04:20,400 --> 00:04:23,720 Speaker 1: apply to whole fruits and vegetables. If you buy any 78 00:04:23,839 --> 00:04:26,520 Speaker 1: already peeled or cut up, keep those in the fridge 79 00:04:26,560 --> 00:04:34,080 Speaker 1: to prevent spoiling. Today's episode was written by Ali A. 80 00:04:34,160 --> 00:04:36,440 Speaker 1: Hoyt and produced by Tyler Clang. For more on this 81 00:04:36,560 --> 00:04:38,840 Speaker 1: and lots of other curious topics, visit House to works 82 00:04:38,880 --> 00:04:41,559 Speaker 1: dot com. Brain Stuff is a production of iHeart Radio. 83 00:04:41,720 --> 00:04:43,960 Speaker 1: For more podcasts of my heart Radio, visit the iHeart 84 00:04:44,040 --> 00:04:46,520 Speaker 1: Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you listen to your 85 00:04:46,560 --> 00:04:47,240 Speaker 1: favorite shows.