WEBVTT - What Foods Should Be Kept Out of the Fridge? 0:00:01.920 --> 0:00:06.360 Welcome to brain Stuff, a production of iHeart Radio, Hey 0:00:06.400 --> 0:00:10.119 brain Stuff Lauren vogle bam here. The refrigerator is an 0:00:10.119 --> 0:00:12.800 appliance so useful that it may seem like it can 0:00:12.840 --> 0:00:16.200 do no wrong. But although it is adept at keeping 0:00:16.200 --> 0:00:20.160 that macaroni, salad, picnic perfect, and uncooked ground beef from spoiling, 0:00:20.600 --> 0:00:23.759 it can actually cause other foods to lose texture and 0:00:23.800 --> 0:00:28.520 flavor faster than they would otherwise. For example, the fridge 0:00:28.640 --> 0:00:31.440 may be the greatest thing since sliced bread, but don't 0:00:31.480 --> 0:00:34.959 actually put your bread in there. So we spoke via 0:00:35.000 --> 0:00:38.040 email with Randy George, president and co owner of Vermont 0:00:38.080 --> 0:00:42.040 based Red Hand Baking Company. He explained that hearth baked 0:00:42.040 --> 0:00:44.480 breads are best kept at room temperature for a couple 0:00:44.479 --> 0:00:47.240 of days in a paper bag perforated bag, or even 0:00:47.280 --> 0:00:51.400 at no bag at all. Quote. Although refrigeration does delay 0:00:51.440 --> 0:00:55.120 the growth of mold, a refrigerated environment is very dry 0:00:55.200 --> 0:00:58.840 and will therefore hasten this sailing of bread back at 0:00:58.880 --> 0:01:02.240 room temperature, preserve or if the crisp crust. Although the 0:01:02.320 --> 0:01:05.000 humidity of your room will vary, it is rarely as 0:01:05.080 --> 0:01:09.520 dry as the inside of a refrigerator. However, if you 0:01:09.560 --> 0:01:11.639 need to keep the bread fresh for a longer period 0:01:11.680 --> 0:01:14.360 of time, opt to freeze it in a tightly sealed 0:01:14.400 --> 0:01:17.240 plastic bag. A pre slicing a loaf will let you 0:01:17.280 --> 0:01:21.200 take out only what you need when you need it. Also, 0:01:21.360 --> 0:01:23.720 although the fridge might not be the last place on 0:01:23.760 --> 0:01:27.280 Earth to store potatoes, it's pretty close. And this is 0:01:27.319 --> 0:01:30.800 because potatoes don't fare well at temperatures below forty five 0:01:30.840 --> 0:01:35.000 degrees fahrenheit that's seven degrees celsius. At that temperature, their 0:01:35.000 --> 0:01:38.480 inherent starches start to break down into sugars, which in 0:01:38.560 --> 0:01:42.720 turn can cause unfortunate changes to texture and taste, making 0:01:42.760 --> 0:01:47.800 the potatoes sweeter and tougher. Instead, look to store potatoes 0:01:47.840 --> 0:01:51.080 in a dark, humid environment between forty and fifty degrees 0:01:51.120 --> 0:01:54.080 fahrenheit that's about four point four to ten degrees celsius. 0:01:54.680 --> 0:01:56.840 If you live in a temperate climate, you could store 0:01:56.880 --> 0:01:59.680 potatoes in a pantry, basement or root seller if you 0:01:59.720 --> 0:02:01.920 have one. If you live in a warmer part of 0:02:01.960 --> 0:02:03.880 the world, though, you can still store them in a 0:02:03.920 --> 0:02:06.840 cellar or kitchen cupboard and just make sure you use 0:02:06.920 --> 0:02:09.240 up those potatoes in a week or two, because after 0:02:09.280 --> 0:02:12.720 that they'll start to sprout. Once you find a good 0:02:12.760 --> 0:02:15.040 storage spot, wrap the spuds up in a paper bag 0:02:15.240 --> 0:02:19.640 rather than a stifling plastic bag. For winter squash, there's 0:02:19.720 --> 0:02:22.480 no need to get too fancy. A countertop will do 0:02:22.680 --> 0:02:24.919 just fine if you're planning to eat them pretty soon. 0:02:25.639 --> 0:02:28.120 If you want them to last longer, select a cool, 0:02:28.280 --> 0:02:31.840 dark place, say next to your potatoes in a kitchen, pantry, drawer, 0:02:32.000 --> 0:02:36.000 or cabinet. Winter squash will last longer if they aren't 0:02:36.040 --> 0:02:39.320 touching each other or touching any hard surfaces, so it's 0:02:39.320 --> 0:02:43.680 advisable to wrap each one in paper or cloth. Some varieties, 0:02:43.760 --> 0:02:46.880 like a corner butternut squash, may last for months this way, 0:02:47.000 --> 0:02:50.480 assuming that your storage area is cool enough. However, be 0:02:50.639 --> 0:02:53.400 sure not to store squash next to fruits or vegetables 0:02:53.440 --> 0:02:56.760 that produce ethylene, which is a hydrocarbon gas put out 0:02:56.760 --> 0:02:59.679 by ripening fruits and veggies, as this may cause the 0:02:59.720 --> 0:03:04.799 squad to start rotting. Some producers of ethylene include tomatoes, onions, 0:03:04.880 --> 0:03:10.679 ripe bananas, and apples. And speaking of tomatoes, room temperature 0:03:10.760 --> 0:03:14.280 is best to keep tomatoes from spoiling while also maintaining 0:03:14.280 --> 0:03:18.480 their best possible flavor and texture. Ripe tomatoes usually stay 0:03:18.520 --> 0:03:21.240 good for about two to three days post purchase, if 0:03:21.280 --> 0:03:25.320 placed stemside down, away from direct sunlight and ideally in 0:03:25.360 --> 0:03:29.359 a paper bag. This is because exposure to warm sunlight 0:03:29.560 --> 0:03:32.240 will heat up the tomato and make it soften more quickly. 0:03:33.160 --> 0:03:35.920 Note that some tomade of varieties have been specially bred 0:03:35.960 --> 0:03:38.400 to extend their shelf life, and these may last as 0:03:38.400 --> 0:03:41.160 long as a week or two on the counter. If 0:03:41.200 --> 0:03:44.040 you absolutely must make that special tomato on your counter 0:03:44.160 --> 0:03:46.440 last a little bit longer, though, you can put it 0:03:46.480 --> 0:03:48.600 in the fridge, just be sure to take it out 0:03:48.640 --> 0:03:51.160 an hour or so before slicing and serving to bring 0:03:51.240 --> 0:03:56.360 some of the original flavor and texture back. Also, onions, 0:03:56.520 --> 0:03:59.520 much like potatoes and winter squash, do well stored in 0:03:59.520 --> 0:04:02.880 a kitchen, cabinet or pantry. The only difference is that 0:04:02.920 --> 0:04:06.600 while potatoes prefer a humid environment and squash don't mind 0:04:06.680 --> 0:04:09.680 much either way, onions are looking for as dry an 0:04:09.760 --> 0:04:13.720 environment as possible. Be sure to use breathable paper bags 0:04:13.760 --> 0:04:16.560 to store them, and opt for an area with good ventilation. 0:04:17.720 --> 0:04:20.400 And keep in mind that all of these storage tips 0:04:20.400 --> 0:04:23.720 apply to whole fruits and vegetables. If you buy any 0:04:23.839 --> 0:04:26.520 already peeled or cut up, keep those in the fridge 0:04:26.560 --> 0:04:34.080 to prevent spoiling. Today's episode was written by Ali A. 0:04:34.160 --> 0:04:36.440 Hoyt and produced by Tyler Clang. For more on this 0:04:36.560 --> 0:04:38.840 and lots of other curious topics, visit House to works 0:04:38.880 --> 0:04:41.559 dot com. Brain Stuff is a production of iHeart Radio. 0:04:41.720 --> 0:04:43.960 For more podcasts of my heart Radio, visit the iHeart 0:04:44.040 --> 0:04:46.520 Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you listen to your 0:04:46.560 --> 0:04:47.240 favorite shows.