Professor explains why you should never store key food ingredient in fridge

An expert has said people should never keep a common food in the fridge because it will suddenly start sprouting. It’s part of a great many dishes and people will want to preserve it as one head of garlic can give enough cloves for a number of different meals.

However, Spanish website Cope reported that there are a number of foods which you should not be keeping in the fridge. Amparo Gamero, professor at the Health Sciences Studies at Universitat Oberta de Catalunya (UOC), explained in a recent interview which food you should never store in the fridge. Current research shows that garlic may have some real health benefits, such as protection against the common cold and the ability to help lower blood pressure and cholesterol levels.

Garlic is also known for its antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties and is a key part of many dishes in what is known as the Mediterranean diet which many nutrition experts say is the key to healthy eating and longer life. Prof Prof Gamero said the best place to store it is a pantry because they can sprout after a few days, making garlic have a more intense bitter taste. He said: “The pantry is usually a good place to store them at an approximate temperature of 15 degrees Celsius, as long as they’re kept away from potatoes since garlic and onions emit gases that can accelerate potato sprouting.”

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To preserve them for much longer, they can also be stored in oil by covering peeled garlic cloves in olive oil in a hermetically sealed glass container. You can also freeze them whole or chopped.

Prof Gamero also highlighted some other food which should not be stored in a fridge - starting with bread since it can lead to a loss of quality regarding its texture and flavour. He said the best way is to store bread at room temperature inside a paper bag wrapped in a clean kitchen cloth. It can also be frozen to keep it fresh longer.

Chocolate is also not recommended for storage in the refrigerator because cold can affect its smoothness and creaminess; sudden temperature changes are not advisable as they alter its texture. It’s best to keep it in a cool place away from direct light and store it inside its original packaging or an airtight container.

Bananas shouldn’t be stored in the fridge either. Putting them in the fridge too soon can make them hard and tasteless. Finally, coffee shouldn’t be stored there either since both whole bean and ground coffee absorb moisture and lose their aroma and flavour. The best place to store coffee is an airtight container in a cool dry place.