661884 Sat Oct 24 04:39:04 -0700 2009 77 27 General Chowhounding Topics 0 5127038 Does anybody know of a list of foods that should not go in the fridge? Sat Oct 24 04:39:05 -0700 2009 154622 Paulustrious 1 5127083 I'll start. Honey, Iberico ham, bananas, tomatoes, avocados, red wine. Sat Oct 24 05:46:11 -0700 2009 5127038 57170 Veggo 2 5127089 At least for me....I'll add potatoes and onions. Sat Oct 24 05:55:47 -0700 2009 5127083 123497 fourunder 2 5127208 I keep butter and eggs in the fridge, but I noticed that they stay out in Italy and they were fine. It takes me a week or more to use up a stick of butter or a dozen eggs so I'm torn about whether to keep them on the counter (the advantage of having soft butter is obvious) or refrigerate them. Sat Oct 24 07:19:28 -0700 2009 5127083 24468 chicgail 3 5127215 Eggs can stay out quite a long time provided they are not fertilized, cracked or washed. Sat Oct 24 07:22:02 -0700 2009 5127208 154622 Paulustrious 3 5127220 When butter is purchased, it goes directly into the fridge, but unless it's summertime, once a stick of butter is removed for use, it always stays out in a butter dish until finished. I always toyed with the idea of purchasing this item strictly for keeping butter on the counter. https://www.pleasanthillgrain.com/butter-keeper-butter-bell-french-butter-crock-porcelain-ceramic-marble-dish.aspx Sat Oct 24 07:25:17 -0700 2009 5127208 123497 fourunder 4 5127305 My mom totally loves the Butter Bell! She first saw one at a friend's house. I wouldn't mind one myself. Sat Oct 24 08:07:33 -0700 2009 5127220 249664 kattyeyes 5 5127552 I have one. I always forget to use it though! Sat Oct 24 10:18:23 -0700 2009 5127305 50431 chef chicklet 3 5127224 You can get a butter keeper that will keep butter safely on the counter (sort of suspended upside down with a thin layer of cold water to seal the jar), but I've been keeping mine on the counter for years (in a regular covered butter dish) with no problems. It doesn't last long - I buy it, put it in the refrigerator, and leave about half a stick at a time on the counter, so I go through it quickly. I generally refrigerate any produce that is refrigerated when I buy it...otherwise it stays on the counter. That tends to work as a pretty good general rule. I don't refrigerate coffee (I know a lot of people keep it in the fridge or freezer). Sat Oct 24 07:26:27 -0700 2009 5127208 172437 foodpoisoned 4 5127294 For most of my childhood we did not have a fridge. Butter was kept in an unglazed covered ceramic (think brick) container with water. Evaporation from the ceramic kept is reasonable cool - at least below melting point. Sat Oct 24 07:59:58 -0700 2009 5127224 154622 Paulustrious 3 5127389 I much prefer butter at room temp and keep it in a butter dish on the counter except in the hottest summer days. Hard butter is no fun. Sat Oct 24 08:50:01 -0700 2009 5127208 76025 mojoeater 2 5127599 I think it must be a myth that you shouldn’t refrigerate avocados. I do it all the time to no ill effect. I refrigerate them to delay ripening, then put them on the counter two or three days before I think I’ll need them. If they ripen too quickly, or if I don’t need them when I thought I would, I wrap them in plastic and refrigerate until needed. Some spoiling does result after about a week, but even then I just cut off the bad spots and the rest of the avocado tastes fine. Sat Oct 24 10:44:17 -0700 2009 5127083 11407 JoanN 3 5127944 I do too. Though I seldom do, I see no reason not to put onions and potatoes in the fridge, if you have the room. Sat Oct 24 13:46:17 -0700 2009 5127599 137946 Scargod 2 5127608 If bananas are totally ripe but I'm not ready for them, I refrigerate them. The outside will get black but the inside remains "correct" longer than if left out. Sat Oct 24 10:50:21 -0700 2009 5127083 131001 c oliver 3 5129033 HA HA! My mom recently threw ripe bananas in our freezer to "save" them for later. No word on how good they are post-thaw, though I imagine they'll be OK. They're still up there. They look so weird hanging out in the deep freeze! Sun Oct 25 06:12:57 -0700 2009 5127608 249664 kattyeyes 4 5129058 Friends did it all the time for smoothies, later. It does kind of look like a fruit graveyard, does't it? But what's the diff? I've got dead animals in there already. Sun Oct 25 06:30:29 -0700 2009 5129033 137946 Scargod 5 5129063 'tis the season for a fruit graveyard after all. That's funny. Good point about the dead animals (from the supermarket, anyway!). Good idea re smoothies. We usually make banana bread or muffins. Sun Oct 25 06:35:46 -0700 2009 5129058 249664 kattyeyes 6 5129120 "We usually make banana bread of muffins." Is that like twice-cooked pork or just efficient recycling of muffins? Sun Oct 25 07:20:45 -0700 2009 5129063 137946 Scargod 7 5129150 Proof that when multitasking, people are usually doing more than one thing ineffectively. Corrected to say "banana bread OR muffins"...though your comment was amusing. ;) Sun Oct 25 07:40:04 -0700 2009 5129120 249664 kattyeyes 4 5129156 I love eating frozen bananas (they have to be peeled before you freeze them) and frozen grapes. Both treats have a rather obscene nature to eating them, but they are delightful. Sun Oct 25 07:46:03 -0700 2009 5129033 24468 chicgail 5 5129171 One of our local chocolate stores (Munson's in Connecticut) offers chocolate-covered frozen bananas as a specialty item. :) That would be a fun and rather easy thing to do at home (not with black bananas, of course, which are reserved for baking). Sun Oct 25 07:53:04 -0700 2009 5129156 249664 kattyeyes 4 5134019 They will be completely much. They'll taste the same but not good for eating. There are however plenty of recipes (such as banana bread or ice cream) which tell you to freeze the bananas to get that custardy texture. DT Tue Oct 27 06:47:37 -0700 2009 5129033 11291 Davwud 5 5141737 Yup, that's exactly what my mom was saving 'em for (banana bread). She said it came out great! :) Thu Oct 29 18:25:55 -0700 2009 5134019 249664 kattyeyes 6 5142500 I just noticed my typo. Completely mush is what I meant. But I guess you got that. DT Fri Oct 30 06:55:24 -0700 2009 5141737 11291 Davwud 2 5146977 If I'm organized enough, I put red wine in the refrigerator 15-20 minutes before serving, especially in warm weather. I like it slightly colder than room temperature, especially warm room temperature. Sun Nov 01 10:45:59 -0800 2009 5127083 39874 chowser 1 5127320 A wedge of nice brie on a plate with a glass cover is good for at least 3 days on a counter. I have never had one make it to day 4. Sat Oct 24 08:13:03 -0700 2009 5127038 57170 Veggo 1 5127575 Perhaps the refrigerator does no *harm,* but olive oil's rendered solid by time in the fridge. I keep mine in the pantry. Sat Oct 24 10:30:29 -0700 2009 5127038 270888 shaogo 2 5127808 Never heard of olive oil in the fridge, although some people do worry about oils going rancid and the colder temperature helps delay that process. Sat Oct 24 12:29:44 -0700 2009 5127575 24468 chicgail 1 5129303 Honey, pepper jelly, mustards. My grandmother keeps her mayo in the pantry and has for her 88 years...I always have a stick of butter in a butter keeper for use....in 20 years I have only had one stick go bad, and it was very apparent. Sun Oct 25 09:24:11 -0700 2009 5127038 1099082 vstock 1 5130364 I keep my mustard & jellies in the fridge once opened. I live where it's humid most of the year and if I didn't keep most things cool, they'd rot including tomatoes, potatoes & onions. Peanut butter shouldn't go in the refrigerator! Sun Oct 25 18:12:11 -0700 2009 5127038 1108638 Cherylptw 2 5145760 i put my natural peanut butter in the fridge. what's the problem? Sat Oct 31 16:43:23 -0700 2009 5130364 105717 alkapal 3 5146973 Spreading it. Sun Nov 01 10:44:04 -0800 2009 5145760 39874 chowser 4 5150709 Just pop it in the microwave for a few seconds until it's spreadable. Mon Nov 02 17:38:17 -0800 2009 5146973 322300 Michelly 1 5130477 I think OP is asking about foods that SHOULD NOT go in the fridge rather than those that don't have to go in the fridge. Sun Oct 25 18:59:53 -0700 2009 5127038 131001 c oliver 2 5130513 You keep 'em straight CO! Add canned foods, dried pasta and rice to the list. Sun Oct 25 19:16:17 -0700 2009 5130477 137946 Scargod 3 5130525 Smarty britches! I'm still confused about the whole avocado issue. I never heard about not refrigerating them so then I stopped. Now some say, once ripe they CAN be chilled. Inquiring minds want to know... WTF????????????????????? Sun Oct 25 19:23:27 -0700 2009 5130513 131001 c oliver 4 5130531 Well, wouldn't putting it in the fridge (once ripe) prolong freshness if you couldn't use the avo right away--kinda like the bananas in the freezer trick? Sun Oct 25 19:25:37 -0700 2009 5130525 249664 kattyeyes 5 5130547 That's what I always thought. Even if I'm giving up some flavor (am I?), I figure that's better than letting it rot outside the fridge. Vegoo, please elaborate : Sun Oct 25 19:30:34 -0700 2009 5130531 131001 c oliver 6 5130575 JoanN who posted above is exactly right that refrigeration will delay the ripening of avocados. All fruiterias in Mexico have avocados "para hoy" ( for today) ,but often manage the ripeness of the following days' produce with refrigeration. There is no loss of flavor, just serve them at room temp, same as tomatoes. It's nice to have Haas year round, but they are sometimes pricey here. Sun Oct 25 19:47:59 -0700 2009 5130547 57170 Veggo 7 5130607 In Brazil, it's "para hoje." Hass are expensive here also. Anytime I can find for under $1, I buy. In Rio I saw them for $5 each. I DID NOT BUY. Sun Oct 25 20:00:38 -0700 2009 5130575 131001 c oliver 8 5130846 CO, could the avacados have been (past perfect tense) out of season? In Bolivia, we had a big tree, just ouside our kitchen door. They were dirt cheap, 10 for a dollar at the open air markets. Garlic, melons until cut, vinegar based sauces, soy sauce, oils, stay out of the fridge. Ours is small, by American standards. Sun Oct 25 22:49:57 -0700 2009 5130607 93538 Passadumkeg 9 5130867 I bought nice and tasty avocados this weekend at a local Mexican market in Dallas six for a dollar. I was amazed. Sun Oct 25 23:32:51 -0700 2009 5130846 277493 DallasDude 10 5145762 hass avocados are on sale this week here in arlington, virginia at 4/$5 (at giant, for you locals who are interested). dallas dude, you are lucky! 6 for a buck? wow! Sat Oct 31 16:44:50 -0700 2009 5130867 105717 alkapal 11 5145782 I found them at Safeway (I think it was Safeway) 2/$1 the other day. Sat Oct 31 16:56:24 -0700 2009 5145762 131001 c oliver 12 5146325 I just got them 4 for $3.50, the price is coming down finally. When I was in California, my sister and I bought some off the back of a truck, 10 for $1, but BIL got mad because he said those are the ones they pick up off the ground. So she went back to swiping them out of her neighbors yards (they live in an ex-avocado farm and she swears they don't care!) Those free ones are the best tasting of all, for several reasons ;-) Sun Nov 01 04:18:14 -0800 2009 5145782 11097 coll 13 5146383 Avocados are unusual in that they only ripen when they are detached from the tree. There is one other common fruit that does this, and there is a special name for it. Both of which I have forgotten. Edit: Bless little google's heart. Banana and Climacteric. Sun Nov 01 05:15:36 -0800 2009 5146325 154622 Paulustrious 14 5147538 climacteric (i thought of menopause) and non-climacteric fruit are listed here: http://www.quisqualis.com/Climacteric.html """"In very general terms a climacteric fruit can be picked from the tree at full size or maturity but before it is 'ripe' and allowed to ripen off the tree. Generally there is an increase in flavor quality, juice, sugars and other factors. Again, in general terms, non climacteric fruits tend to maintain what ever quality they had at harvest without many beneficial changes. More technically, in climacteric fruit 'ripening' is controlled by the fruits production of Ethylene and a significant increase in CO2 production. Non climacteric fruit produce little or no Ethylene and no large increase in CO2 production. Some fruits are picked full sized and green in color and held under refrigeration with Ethylene gas added to make them suitable for sale. It seems that much of what we know about the ripening of non climacteric fruit remains poorly understood."""" Sun Nov 01 15:11:36 -0800 2009 5146383 105717 alkapal 13 5147758 What's the problem with picking them up off the ground? Seriously. If she's "swiping" then they probably DO care, don't you think? Sun Nov 01 16:55:06 -0800 2009 5146325 131001 c oliver 14 5148317 When you pick them off the ground, you can get salmonella. The neighbors told her she could help herself but she liked to act secretive about it anyway. It was a fun game for her, it's not like she couldn't afford to buy all she wanted. Mon Nov 02 01:38:20 -0800 2009 5147758 11097 coll 15 5148486 i was wondering when you said salmonella....how could that work? then i wiki'd and saw that salmonella can live in dried excrement for weeks. hence, avocado under tree -- if pooped on by an infected animal -- could be very bad news. couldn't you just wash it really well? i mean, we pick up key limes from under the tree. and mangoes, iirc. certainly some oranges, if they look ok. i guess i just never entertained the idea of salmonella from this vector. Mon Nov 02 05:57:35 -0800 2009 5148317 105717 alkapal 16 5148591 I learned about this when organic apple juice that wasn't pasteurized some years back caused several deaths. You will probably be OK if it's your own backyard, but big open fields with wild things roaming at night....and another concern is when there are no outhouses in the fields for the workers. I don't remember if we washed those avos, but I do know we ate them and didn't get sick. I did start thinking about how high off the ground things grow and washed accordingly. But anyway the thing is, those avocados we bought were illegal, there was a law prohibiting avocados that had touched the ground from being sold, and that's why the ones off the back of the truck were so cheap. Here's a little more info I just looked up http://www.foodsafety.ksu.edu/en/article-details.php?a=2&c=6&sc=37&id=427 Mon Nov 02 06:49:19 -0800 2009 5148486 11097 coll 17 5150236 thanks. very interesting. Mon Nov 02 14:37:49 -0800 2009 5148591 105717 alkapal 9 5130986 Speaking of past perfect; para ayir es gratis? "For yesterday is it free?" Uncut onions. Avocados in the fridge: no problema. Warm them back up to room temp... Mon Oct 26 04:47:02 -0700 2009 5130846 137946 Scargod 10 5131676 Not quite following the Spanish reference. Is it the equivalent of 'free beer tomorroww' or 'jam tomorrow'? Mon Oct 26 09:37:57 -0700 2009 5130986 154622 Paulustrious 9 5132690 They have other avocadoes that are the size and shape of large grapefruit which are everywhere and I assume to be local. I'm guessing the Hass ones were imported but I don't know that. Mon Oct 26 15:01:06 -0700 2009 5130846 131001 c oliver 10 5146328 I believe Haas is from Mexico and California, and the giant ones are from Florida. I think they call them Alligator Avocadoes? Sun Nov 01 04:19:35 -0800 2009 5132690 11097 coll 11 5146371 there are different varieties of avocado in florida, just as there are different varieties of mango. as to the size of the florida avocados, yes, in general, they are larger than the typical hass i'm seeing lately in the grocery (btw, are these seeming to get smaller?). the varieties in florida derive from west indian, guatemalan and mexican stock: http://www.avocadosource.com/CAS_Yearbooks/CAS_03_1917/CAS_1917_PG_24-26.pdf Sun Nov 01 04:58:45 -0800 2009 5146328 105717 alkapal 11 5147770 Here's a pix that shows how big: http://images.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3488/3899046795_177e950b3f.jpg&imgrefurl=http://flickr.com/photos/98033476%40N00/3899046795/&usg=__6ejDV93aKtfh5Yw8byKlVJje49M=&h=333&w=500&sz=86&hl=en&start=59&um=1&tbnid=WCYjcvDBK3Ch9M:&tbnh=87&tbnw=130&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dbrazilian%2Bavocado%26ndsp%3D20%26hl%3Den%26rlz%3D1T4ACAW_enUS319US319%26sa%3DN%26start%3D40%26um%3D1 Sun Nov 01 17:00:07 -0800 2009 5146328 131001 c oliver 5 5146964 Avocados also freeze well for use in guac or just to smear. Sun Nov 01 10:39:38 -0800 2009 5130531 279577 just_M 6 5147773 Really? What's the texture like? I like chunky guac. Sun Nov 01 17:00:49 -0800 2009 5146964 131001 c oliver 7 5148158 I like chunky guac too and this spreadable like the bagged stuff from the grocery. I've only done this twice once on the *final*, final check of the house before a trip and once when I came across the produce guy pulling a bunch of overripe ones and I got the box for $2; at that price I'm willing to deal. Adding fresh chunks to the creamy base was a good compromise. Sun Nov 01 20:30:41 -0800 2009 5147773 279577 just_M 8 5148162 Thanks. There are those times when I've had to throw some out. Sacrificing texture is worth it. Sun Nov 01 20:33:37 -0800 2009 5148158 131001 c oliver 3 5131145 Add canned foods... ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Does Tomato or V-8 Juice count as a food or simply a beverage? :-) Mon Oct 26 06:43:33 -0700 2009 5130513 123497 fourunder 4 5132473 Both, and also ketchup should never go in the fridge in case anyone does that. Mon Oct 26 13:37:00 -0700 2009 5131145 11097 coll 5 5132618 If ketchup gets too hot, it will burst through the top and create a heck of a mess. I've seen it happen in restaurants with no AC. Mon Oct 26 14:35:36 -0700 2009 5132473 76025 mojoeater 6 5133765 I've worked in many restaurants and never saw anything like that. Ketchup was always stored at room temp, and often in the kitchen area, which is pretty hot. I can't even imagine how that would happen! Tue Oct 27 02:26:32 -0700 2009 5132618 11097 coll 5 5132683 Why should ketchup not be refrigerated? Mon Oct 26 14:59:15 -0700 2009 5132473 131001 c oliver 6 5133763 Mainly because room in my fridge is limited, but also room temp you can taste it better. Ice cold doesn't do it for me. Tue Oct 27 02:23:56 -0700 2009 5132683 11097 coll 5 5133894 Doesn't the bottle say "keep refrigerated?" Is that just a legal/corporate CYA? Tue Oct 27 05:37:51 -0700 2009 5132473 24468 chicgail 6 5133996 I totally ignore most "Keep refrigerated" and also "Best By" dates, I figure they're just marketing tools to make you think the stuff's gone bad and you have to throw out and buy more. I trust my eyes and nose. Here's lots of different opinions http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/589501 http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/620786 http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/520008 http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/348668 Tue Oct 27 06:37:29 -0700 2009 5133894 11097 coll 7 5145765 i'm with you, coll. Sat Oct 31 16:47:01 -0700 2009 5133996 105717 alkapal 7 5145783 I never thought of that. Good point. I have a can of Pillsbury thin crust pizza dough that's probably months past its date. I won't hesitate to fix. Sat Oct 31 16:57:47 -0700 2009 5133996 131001 c oliver 8 5145802 speaking of refrigerated dough, i've been trying to really clean out my fridge, and use up stuff, so i used a roll of very out-of-date pillsbury crescent buttery rolls to make little pouches full of smoked salmon, cream cheese, and minced chives. quite good -- except i'm tired of the "sweet" flavor in the pillsbury dough. ~~~~~~ ps, c, good deal on the avocados. guac it is? Sat Oct 31 17:05:09 -0700 2009 5145783 105717 alkapal 9 5145902 Yes it is stuff guacamole is made from, and great sliced on sandwiches and just about anything else. New ad has em at 7 for a buck, Let the guac wars begin! Sat Oct 31 18:06:21 -0700 2009 5145802 277493 DallasDude 10 5145919 dallas dude, i grew up in sw florida, so am quite familiar with our friend, the avocado. ps: my latest fave sandwich is avocado, turkey, bacon salt, mayo on white. Sat Oct 31 18:19:41 -0700 2009 5145902 105717 alkapal 5 5146224 Sometimes I prefer my ketchup cold, esp. on a plate of scrambled eggs. Sun Nov 01 00:42:20 -0700 2009 5132473 11583 ipsedixit 1 5140957 Winter squashes should not be refrigerated. The refrigerator does a good job of mimicking the conditions squash has evolved to begin to rot under. They keep a lot longer under any conditions, even hot weather, high humidity, and sunlight, but the best conditions for them are in a root cellar. Thu Oct 29 13:10:20 -0700 2009 5127038 36408 danieljdwyer 2 5146334 OK I'd better start digging ;-) Sun Nov 01 04:23:19 -0800 2009 5140957 11097 coll