Should We Store Fruits in The Fridge?
When it comes to storing fruit, the refrigerator is often the first choice. But is it the best option?
While the fridge does offer the convenience of "store and forget," it also consumes a lot of energy and can contribute to overconsumption and waste. In addition, there is a common belief that cold food is more refreshing for the body, but science actually shows that it requires more energy to raise the temperature of ingested food. This means that room temperature options can be just as refreshing, if not more so. Before science, older generations knew to be attentive and to carefully manage their food reserves. As a result, everybody would develop greater knowledge of food and how to best store, mature and protect them.
The Fridge Brought The Convenience of 'Store 'n Forget’
The fridge has brought the convenience of ‘store and forget’ to many generations. We put everything in the refrigerator without asking any questions. It has become addictive. But at what cost? It is one of our largest energy-eater in the house. It hides our food from sight, often resulting in some being lost in the fridge. There is no denying it: volume storage promotes wasteful over-consumption. This is no secret that food will smell wrong as it absorbs the taste and flavors of other provisions. The process of food maturation is blocked or degraded.
Misconception abounds. In fact, science tells us that in order to refresh ourselves, our body does not need to consume cold items. It has been proven to be quite the opposite, as our body must work harder in order to actually raise the temperature of the food we ingest. Common sense shows that “eating a slice of watermelon kept at room temperature has powerful refreshing value, and keeping it in the fridge does not add to it.”
Truth be told, the fridge still provides value. It is hard to keep some items such as milk or fresh fish or meat any other way. However, it is clearly time to challenge our use of it!
So, where should we be storing our fruit?
Think about it, most fruits do not belong in a fridge.
In our modern lives, the fruits and vegetables we purchase are optimized for transportation and are not mature enough for consumption when they reach our homes.
Many types of produce are better off being left out at room temperature to fully ripen. This not only allows them to mature properly, but it also makes them more visible, encouraging us to eat them before they go bad. Of course, there are exceptions to this rule - certain items like milk, fish, and meat do require refrigeration. But for most fruits, it might be worth considering alternative storage options. A wooden cabinet or a specialized fruit storage solution like a HappyFruit cabinet can help keep your produce fresher for longer and add a touch of contemporary style to your kitchen.
Of course, the decision to store fruit in the refrigerator or not ultimately depends on the type of fruit and its ripeness. Fruits that are already ripe or close to ripe should be eaten as soon as possible and do not need to be stored in the fridge. On the other hand, unripe fruits can be left out at room temperature to mature, or you can speed up the ripening process by placing them in a paper bag with a ripe banana or apple.
Once fruits are ripe, you can store them in the fridge if you don't think you'll be able to eat them all within a few days. This will help extend their shelf life and prevent them from going bad too quickly. Just be sure to take them out of the fridge a few hours before eating to allow them to come to room temperature and reach their peak flavor and texture.
In conclusion
while the refrigerator is a useful tool for storing certain types of produce, it's not always the best choice.
This is why I now store most fruits in wooden cabinets. It has become a passion that I share by designing and manufacturing HappyFruit cabinets, which are meant to bring contemporary style and natural protective storage for our fruits and food.
After all, it is not about getting rid of our fridge. It is about rethinking how we organize ourselves, how we re-evaluate our relationship to food consumption and how prioritize the goodness eating great fruits and vegetables.
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