A food waste expert has settled the debate over which foods belong in the fridge, revealing that items such as potatoes, apples, and nuts should be kept chilled to extend their shelf life.
Common storage mistakes
According to polls by biscuit maker Bahlsen, 21% of Britons do not know where to store their potatoes or bananas. Food waste expert Kate Hall has shared a list of foods she says are commonly stored incorrectly, advising that several should be kept in the fridge, especially during the UK's hot summer months.
Unexpected fridge items
Hall says eggs will "stay fresher for longer" in the fridge, calling it "the best spot" for them at a consistent cool temperature. Potatoes, she suggests, can last "up to three times longer" when refrigerated, with slower sprouting and spoiling, despite previous concerns about acrylamide that have been disputed by the Food Standards Agency.
Apples continue to ripen after picking and become softer, but keeping them cool helps them stay crisp. Condiments, including ketchup, mayo, and soy sauce, should always be refrigerated after opening to preserve colour and flavour, according to Hall. Nuts, whose unsaturated fats can oxidise and turn rancid, should also be kept in the fridge or freezer.
Full list of fridge-worthy foods
Hall's full list of foods that ideally should be kept in the fridge includes: apples, seeds, wholemeal flour, citrus fruits, potatoes, peppers and chillies, fresh herbs, berries, cucumber, cut melon and tropical fruit, condiments and sauces, jams and marmalades, chutneys and pickles, pure maple syrup, soy sauce, eggs, butter, chocolate-covered biscuits, and crisps.
