Which vegetables should you be refrigerating?

Where should you store your vegetables? There is no one answer to that question, as each type of vegetable has its own requirement for the best results. There is a lot of confusion about where certain types of vegetables should reside, but as Bob Granleese of The Guardian explains, where the vegetables grow provides a clue as to how they should be stored.

vegetables

The basic rule of thumb is that if the vegetable grows underground, like potatoes, carrots, and onions, it will stay fresher longer if stored outside the fridge. Part of the problem is that the refrigerator not only keeps food cold, it also dries it out, resulting in sad, shrunken veg. 

Other items that shouldn’t be stored in the refrigerator include most soft fruits and vegetables like tomatoes. Many items do better in the cold, however, including fresh greens and certain berries. For the greens, Jane Scotter who runs the   Fern Verrow biodynamic farm, has a tip to keep them perky. She suggests that you wash them “in baby bath-warm water – never cold, because that gives them an almighty shock, and never hot, for obvious reasons [ie, it’ll cook them]”, then dry them off and place them in a (reusable) plastic bag. 

Now, we only need to settle the debate about whether eggs should be refrigerated. 

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5 Comments

  • Indio32  on  March 9, 2019

    Here in the UK I believe it’s illegal to wash eggs as such they keep there protective layer meaning they don’t need to be put in the fridge. In the US they do wash eggs meaning they lose there protective layer meaning they have to be keep in the fridge.

    Talking of washing food….. bit of a hot topic here in the U.K. is the possible importation of US bleach washed chicken after (stupid!) Brexit which is currently not allowed.

  • vickster  on  March 11, 2019

    I have a hard time believing that carrots shouldn't be refrigerated.

  • Rinshin  on  March 11, 2019

    I too keep carrots, daikon, and gobo ie burdock refrigerated. I keep them sealed to prevent drying out. Does anyone else keep them not refrigerated?

  • Rinshin  on  March 11, 2019

    Btw, always refrigerate nori. To use take out of refrigerator for at 30 min before using

  • averythingcooks  on  March 12, 2019

    Since I first read this I've been wracking my brain to think of ANYONE I know who doesn't refrigerate carrots……guess I'm not alone re: this question.

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