Is the refrigerator excellent for keeping fresh? It is a big mistake to refrigerate foods such as eggs and apples!

The Chinese New Year is getting closer, and many housewives are worried that prices will soar during the New Year period, or that the vegetable markets will be closed, and they will not be able to buy things during the period. Therefore, they are accustomed to shopping early and putting as much food as possible in the refrigerator for preservation. However, nutritionists remind us that some foods are more likely to spoil if stored in the refrigerator, so people should still store them correctly according to the properties of the food.

During the Chinese New Year, families get together and a lot of food is consumed. Mothers are accustomed to buying New Year's goods in large quantities after cleaning the refrigerator, and filling the refrigerator up again. However, this will not only hinder the air circulation in the refrigerator, but some food may also deteriorate or affect the flavor due to improper storage methods. What foods are not suitable for storage in the refrigerator? Nutritionist Joyce Cheng believes that the following 4 types of food need special attention:

1. Eggs:

Many families are accustomed to storing eggs on the shelf of the side door of the refrigerator. Some people are even worried that the eggs will come into contact with chicken manure and be contaminated with Salmonella during the egg-laying process, so the eggs will be washed before being put in the refrigerator. However, neither refrigeration nor washing will kill Salmonella. Generally, if room temperature eggs are washed and refrigerated after being bought home, the moisture may even cause the bacteria on the surface of the eggshell to penetrate into the egg, which will increase food safety concerns.

Nutritionist Joyce Cheng recommends that you buy room temperature eggs and store them directly at room temperature. It is more important to fully cook eggs before eating because Salmonella has low heat resistance. In addition, when buying eggs, try to choose fresh eggs with no cracks or damage to the shell, which feel heavy to hold, and have a thick and rough shell. Try to eat them within 2 weeks after purchase.

2. Fruits:

Fruits can be divided into "menopausal" and "non-menopausal" fruits. Climacteric fruits such as bananas, apples, kiwis, pears, papayas, etc. will continue to ripen after being harvested. That is, the fruits will emit more ethylene, allowing the fruits to continue to mature, and the starch stored in the fruits will gradually be converted into sugar, making them sweeter and more fragrant. After buying this type of menopausal fruit, you should first place it in a cool place at room temperature to allow the fruit to mature on its own. There is no need to put it in the refrigerator before it matures.

3. Vegetables:

Root vegetables such as white radish, which symbolizes "good luck", and red radish, which symbolizes festive colors, as well as staple foods such as potatoes and sweet potatoes, will absorb too much moisture if refrigerated, and will easily become damaged and rotten. It is recommended that you wipe the skin dry and store them in a cool place indoors. As for spices, the humid environment of the refrigerator can easily make the originally crisp taste of onions become soft and rotten, and make garlic easy to sprout, so it is recommended to store them at room temperature.

4. Coffee beans, chocolate:

When friends and family get together, snacks and drinks are indispensable. If your whole family loves to drink coffee, you need to be aware that coffee beans are prone to mold growth and produce ochratoxin, which is toxic to the kidneys, due to improper temperature and humidity in the environment. In addition, opened coffee beans are prone to absorbing refrigerator odors. If they are repeatedly taken in and out of the refrigerator, the temperature difference will easily increase the moisture of the coffee beans, affecting the quality and flavor.

Nutritionist Joyce Cheng recommends that when buying coffee beans, try to buy small packages that can be consumed within 1 to 2 weeks to ensure the freshness of the coffee beans or coffee powder. In addition, it should be stored in a cool and ventilated place, avoid placing it in the refrigerator to avoid moisture; also do not place it near the water heater or oven to avoid affecting the quality of the coffee beans due to high temperature.

As for snacks, many people believe that chocolate will melt when exposed to high temperatures, so it is best to store it in the refrigerator. However, they do not realize that this will easily cause the chocolate to deteriorate and lose its flavor. Generally speaking, it is recommended that chocolate snacks be placed in a cool and dry place. If stored in the refrigerator, a layer of white frost-like substance will easily form, making the appearance uneven. If the storage environment is too humid, sugar crystals will easily form on the surface of the chocolate. Both of these situations will make the texture of the chocolate become rough and lose its original smooth taste, which is quite a pity.