Why shouldn't you refrigerate tomatoes?

Author: Thaddeus Lind  |  Last update: Monday, June 23, 2025

Standard wisdom dictates that ripe tomatoes shouldn't be refrigerated. In theory, this is because cold kills their flavor-producing enzymes and ruins their texture by causing cells to rupture.

Is it bad to refrigerate tomatoes?

Yes, tomatoes can be refrigerated, but it's generally not recommended. Refrigeration can alter their texture and flavor, making them mealy and less sweet. If you need to store ripe tomatoes for a longer period, it's better to keep them at room temperature, away from direct sunlight.

What vegetables should not be refrigerated?

WHAT FOODS SHOULD NOT BE REFRIGERATED?
  • TOMATOES. Keep your tomatoes juicy, tasty and ready for your next Tomato and Ricotta Pizza by storing them at room temperature rather than in the fridge.
  • POTATOES. ...
  • ONIONS. ...
  • PICKLES. ...
  • CUCUMBERS. ...
  • BELL PEPPERS. ...
  • AVOCADOS. ...
  • WINTER SQUASH.

Why should you not put an opened can of tomatoes in the fridge?

Once the can is opened with the can opener, it start getting oxygen and start the process of lead oxide formation. This becomes a poison after a few days. The food poisoning can happen consuming any acidic food from the open can in the refrigerator. This should be stored in a plastic container with the airtight lid.

How long do fresh tomatoes last on the counter?

How Long Are Tomatoes Good For? Fresh, ripe tomatoes will last from two to five days on the counter at room temperature. A refrigerated ripe tomato can last up to two weeks. Cut tomatoes only last in a cool fridge for a day or two.

Why You Should Never Put Tomatoes in the Fridge!

Should you keep tomatoes in a plastic bag?

If you need to refrigerate tomatoes, place them in the crisper section in their plastic clamshell container (if that is how they were pack- aged in the store), a paper bag, or a plastic bag with a few slits, to reduce water loss. This is most important for cherry and grape tomatoes.

Why do refrigerated tomatoes taste bad?

A 2016 US study found that chilling tomatoes for a week reduced the activity of genes that code for enzymes needed to synthesise these volatiles, which are responsible for giving tomatoes a sweeter, more complex taste.

Why shouldn't you put cans in the fridge?

Metals can corrode and rust in moist environments. However, you may store them in the refrigerator for a short period of time. It is best to store unopened commercially canned foods in a cool and dry place (such as in a cupboard). For best quality use closed canned fruits within 18 months.

Why are diced tomatoes unsafe to can?

Some growing conditions may cause the tomatoes to be unsafe to can even when the tomatoes look fine. Tomatoes with blight and those from dead or frost-killed vines may be lower in acidity and are more likely to carry bacteria.

Why should you not put apples in the fridge?

Apples do best in an environment with 90% humidity. Did you know that your refrigerator is a natural dehydrator? It's easy to see this if you have ever left apples (or other produce for that matter) in the crisper for a while only to slide open that drawer and find a very shriveled up piece of fruit.

Do you have to refrigerate ketchup?

Ketchup can be kept unrefrigerated for up to one month, but if you don't think you'll finish the bottle in that timeframe, it's best to keep it in the refrigerator.

What grocery item needs no refrigeration but is often refrigerated by most people?

Honey. Honey's many magical qualities make it an incredible preservative — ancient cultures didn't use it to embalm dead bodies for nothing! Honey can last forever, it doesn't need to be refrigerated.

Why not refrigerate bananas?

Bananas grow in hot climates, so they are unused to the cold. If they're kept at a cold temperature, the enzymes that enable them to ripen are inhibited. And as those enzymes become inactive, other enzymes operate more efficiently. Some cause cell damage, while others (browning enzymes) cause the skin to blacken.

Why don't you refrigerate potatoes?

Surprisingly, even the fridge isn't great. Cold temperatures prompt the spuds to turn their starches into sugars (something called cold-induced sweetening), making them taste, well, sweeter, and will likely make them turn brown when cooked. Storing them there will fly for a little while, but not long term.

How long does it take for tomatoes to go bad unrefrigerated?

Stored at room temperature, “most ripe tomatoes retain best eating quality for 2 to 3 days,” according to the University of California division of agriculture and natural resources.

Why is it bad to leave a spoon in food in the fridge?

The moisture in the fridge makes them soft and moldy.

Can you put unopened tuna in the fridge?

Canned Tuna Is Safer In The Refrigerator

Instead of stuffing your canned tuna under heavy items in your pantry, isolate them in the back of your fridge. Storing unopened cans of tuna in the refrigerator can actually make them last longer.

Should you refrigerate peanut butter?

An open jar of peanut butter stays fresh up to three months in the pantry. After that, it's recommended to store the peanut butter in the fridge (where it can maintain its quality for another 3-4 months).

How do you keep tomatoes fresh the longest?

Tomato Storage Method: Stem Side-Up with a Taped Stem

The theory is the same as the upside-down tomatoes, in which you create a barrier to potential bits of bacteria and mold. Place a small piece of tape (any kind will do) over the small stem bump and leave it there until you are ready to use your tomato.

Are tomatoes better in containers or ground?

Garden soil from planting beds tends to be too heavy for containers — it will over-compact — and may contain disease organisms. Tomatoes are susceptible to diseases (such as blight) and pests (like nematodes) that can hang out in soil, and one advantage of growing in pots is that doing so can reduce outbreaks.

Should carrots be stored in a plastic bag in the fridge?

When stored properly, whole carrots can last for about three to four weeks in the fridge.
  1. Wrap unpeeled, unwashed carrots in a dry paper towel, and store them in an airtight food storage container or bag.
  2. Store the container of carrots in the coolest part of your refrigerator.

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