Garlic is picked and then dried, so it’s best to keep it in a dry place. To optimize shelf life, store the bulbs in a well-ventilated, dry area. Specialized ceramic jars with air holes work best, but as long as they are kept in the pantry or other dry place.
Don’t be tempted to wrap them in plastic; their skins keep them perfectly sealed and protected. Storing them like this is the best way to make sure the bulbs will maintain the best quality. The refrigerator is a harsh environment for garlic. It can become moldy and cause the bulbs to deteriorate.
Do Not Lock Your Tomatoes In a Cold, Dark Fridge.
One way to ruin a perfectly good tomato is to refrigerate it. All the sweet juiciness of its tender flesh will be transformed into a mushy, mealy mess. Cold tomatoes? Yuck! Tomatoes taste best at room temperature, which is why, in Italy, everyone leaves their tomatoes out on the counter.
But if you want to know why that is exactly, it's because the cold temperature inside your fridge breaks down all that flavor and aroma. A 2016 study by the University of Florida confirmed the existence of flavor alterations due to the chemical degradation of tomatoes kept in refrigeration for a week.
Papaya Comes From the Tropics Too
Papaya comes from Hawaii, which is actually the only place where it is commercially farmed. Let it soften and ripen on the counter. If you want it to ripen sooner, pop the papaya into a paper bag. It will ripen in about three days sitting out and even sooner inside the bag. Once it is soft to the touch, cut it open and slice it up.
Another way you can tell if it is ripe is by its yellow color. If you sniff it, it should smell slightly sweet. If you have extra papaya, you can cut it into cubes and freeze it for a convenient smoothie ingredient. Most fruit can be frozen and used in smoothies after it is cut.
Have You Ever Thought of Storing Cereal In The Fridge?
It's been estimated that the average American eats around 160 bowls of cereal per year. To say cereal is popular would be a massive understatement. But what's cereal so great? It's dry and crunchy, and that crunchiness is the perfect counterpart to milk or yogurt. Put it in the refrigerator, and it will turn limp and soggy.
Honestly, we've never heard of anyone putting their cereal in the refrigerator, so if you feel tempted to now, don't do it! Even if you won't be home for a while and want to make sure it doesn't spoil. Instead, store cereal in an airtight container in a cool, dry place such as a pantry.
Olive Oil Is Best On the Shelf
There is no reason to store olive oil in the refrigerator. The cold air makes it a congealed, clumpy mess that's inconvenient and will only be messy to use. Cold air does not affect the quality of olive oil, but warmth, sunlight, and air can cause it to become rancid before its time.
So, the best way to store olive oil is to place it in a cool, dark cupboard inside of an airtight bottle. Some recommend using containers that are not plastic to avoid chemicals seeping into the oil. And, if you keep it on the counter, an opaque bottle resilient to light, is best.