Of course people have to do what works best for them, I personally like some of these things in the fridge no matter what happens to them. Who doesn’t like a cold sliced tomato with some salt? Yum. While I don’t like storing bread in the fridge, I buy one that doesn’t have any preservatives. If I don’t put it in the fridge, it will mold quickly. If you buy any bread that doesn’t meet that criteria, the counter is a great place. You can also freeze many things in order to preserve their shelf life and make more space in your fridge. Here are some other great tips for making room in your fridge.

From Harably 

Do you ever feel like your fridge seems to be getting smaller and smaller? Well, it’s probably because you’re putting things you shouldn’t have to be putting. Many Americans make the mistake of putting everything they get from the grocery store into the fridge, not knowing that it will actually kill the flavor of many foods.

Here’s a list of what you shouldn’t be putting your refrigerator.

1) Baked goods

Storing baked goods will actually cause them to go stale. Counter-intuitive right? Keep food like bread and cookies outside to maintain their freshness.

2) Potatoes

Potatoes don’t like being cold. It turns their starches into sugar, which will ruin their flavor.

3) Tomatoes

Refrigerating tomatoes will actually turn them mushy and ruin their natural flavor.

4) Onions

Onions will lose all their flavor when refrigerated. Keep these guys out of the fridge for the best taste.

5) Fruits with hard seeds (Peaches, Plums, etc.)

Fruits need air and sunshine just as much as plants do! Give them some natural light to ripen so they can be as sweet and juicy as possible.

6) Whole Melons

Take note this is for whole melons, i.e. before you start cutting them. Refrigerating whole melons will cause them to lose their antioxidants, which are one of the biggest health benefits. Keep these outside of the fridge for healthy melons.

7) Apples

Keep apples on your countertop instead of the fridge to keep them crisp and flavorful.

8) Garlic

Why: The refrigerator cold will make garlic lose its flavor. Not to mention, your entire fridge will smell like garlic

9) Ground Coffee

While you should keep coffee beans cool, don’t keep them in the fridge! It will create moisture, which will turn your beans bad and cause them to lose their taste. And the last thing you need to start your day is bland coffee. Store it in a tightly-sealed container to retain flavor.

10) Hot Sauce

You know that shelf where you store all your hot sauces? You shouldn’t be doing that. The cold weakens the flavor of hot sauces, which is the whole point of them. It also changes the viscosity, which makes it more difficult to pour.

11)Honey

Storing honey in the refrigerator will make it crystalize and hard. Don’t ruin your honey by leaving it in the fridge and instead, keep it outside. It has a longer shelf life than you think.

12) Spices 

Chill kills. Keeping spices in the fridge will kill their flavor, which is kinda the whole point of spices.

13) Oils 

Storing oils in a fridge will cause them to harden and lose their smoothness. Note: Nut oils should be refrigerated.

14) Basil

Many people store their basil in the fridge, believing that it will help preserve their flavor. In reality, it is the exact opposite. The cold actually kills the flavor. For maximum freshness, keep your basil in water and change the water every 3 days.

After you read this article, go straight to your fridge and start refrigerating the right way. Your foods (and taste buds) will thank you.