What You Should Know About Storing These Everyday Items

Not all foods are made to sit in the pantry, even if the label says they don’t need to be refrigerated. Some can spoil faster than expected. Others can grow mold or even dangerous bacteria. To help keep your kitchen safe and your food fresh, here are ten items that do better in the fridge.

Garlic-infused olive oil is one to watch. When made at home, it can carry spores that grow into bacteria. These bacteria can cause serious illness. To reduce the risk, always keep garlic-infused oils cold. And once you make it, use it within a week.

Pure maple syrup is another one to move to the fridge. It may seem fine in the pantry, but mold can grow inside the bottle. If the container isn’t clear, you might not notice until it’s too late. Storing it in the fridge helps prevent that and keeps the syrup tasting fresh.

Oils like sunflower and truffle oil spoil faster than you might think. These oils are often cold-pressed and more delicate. Left out, they turn rancid more quickly. Since they tend to cost more, it’s worth putting them in the fridge to make them last longer.

Nuts are also best kept cool. In the pantry, they can become stale. If you snack straight from the container, moisture or bacteria from your hands can build up. This raises the chance of the nuts turning bad over time. Refrigeration slows down that process.

Salami and other cured meats don’t last as long as people often think. Once opened, they start to dry out quickly. Wrap them in butcher paper and store them in the fridge. This keeps the flavor and texture while lowering the chance of getting sick from spoiled meat.

Chocolate might not be something you’d usually refrigerate, but it can help it last longer. Wrap it tightly to keep moisture out, then place it in a sealed container. This keeps the chocolate from absorbing other food odors and helps it keep its taste.

Tortillas are another surprise. Whether they’re made from flour or corn, tortillas can dry out or go stale in the pantry after opening. To make them last longer, move them to the refrigerator once the package is open.

Whole-grain flours are different from all-purpose flour. They still contain natural oils from the grain, and those oils can go bad if stored at room temperature. All-purpose flour is fine on a shelf, but whole-grain flours belong in the fridge or freezer to stay fresh.

Natural peanut butter often separates in the jar, and that oil can spoil over time. A cooler environment helps prevent the oil from going rancid. Stir it well and keep it cold once opened.

Mustard doesn’t have to go in the fridge, but it’s better if it does. The cold helps mustard keep its color and flavor. Leaving it out won’t make it unsafe, but you might notice it doesn’t taste the same after a while.

Even if some of these foods don’t seem like fridge items, storing them cold can protect your health and reduce waste. A little fridge space now can save money and meals later.