Consumer experts at Which? have advised people to stop storing cucumbers in the fridge, along with several other everyday foods. In a social media video, the organisation revealed five items that do not belong in the fridge, including cucumbers, tomatoes, onions, bread, and bananas.
Posting on TikTok as @Which?, the video explained that cold conditions can cause cucumber skins to shrivel and the inside to become soft. Instead, cucumbers should be kept in a cupboard or in a bowl on the countertop.
Tomatoes and onions
Tomatoes are also better at room temperature, as low temperatures can change their texture and, most importantly, their taste. Onions, meanwhile, can turn soft and mouldy in the fridge due to moisture. They should be stored somewhere cool and dry, though sliced or cut onions can be kept in the fridge in a sealed container.
Bread and bananas
Bread stored in the fridge can become dehydrated, leaving stale-tasting slices. A bread bin is recommended instead, with any unused bread sliced and frozen, then revived in a toaster or under the grill. Bananas will turn black in the fridge and should be kept in a cool cupboard or fruit bowl, while small berries and citrus fruits are fine to refrigerate.
The video, which attracted hundreds of likes, prompted mixed reactions. One social media user commented that all the items except bread are kept in the fridge at their workplace, while another said few people keep bananas or bread in the fridge. However, one viewer defended storing bread in the fridge, claiming it lasts about five times longer if kept in an air-tight box.
