Refrigerating non-refrigerate foods.

I always felt that if it was not grown in a refrigerated environment, and was sold off the shelf at the grocery store, leave it out. My finance, on the other hand, is the exact opposite. Cookies, fruits, cereal, etc., etc. she puts in the refrigerator. What about you? Do you insist on sticking things in the box that aren't necessary?

I refrigerate my barbecue sauce, my peanut butter, and grapes.

I am with you Chris. I think about, were they refrigerated in the store, or does it say 'refrigerate after opening'. If the answers are no, they stay out.

My husband comes from a family that used the refrigerator as a sort of strongbox for food. Everything went into it. I drew the line when he put potato chips in the refrigerator. And my cupcakes, which are decidedly better, not cold.

Chris wrote:I always felt that if it was not grown in a refrigerated environment, and was sold off the shelf at the grocery store, leave it out. My finance, on the other hand, is the exact opposite. Cookies, fruits, cereal, etc., etc. she puts in the refrigerator. What about you? Do you insist on sticking things in the box that aren't necessary?

Stuff like cake, cookies, bread, cereal etc. I do not refrigerate I would not like that stuff cold. Fruit sometimes if you refrigerate it lasts longer. I don't like bread refrigerated either.

Bread refrigerated, dries it out. But I make my mom keep it in the fridge. She can only have one loaf a week. I don't want to keep throwing it out and buying more.

I agree about using the "refrigerate after opening" guideline if it wasn't refrigerated in the store otherwise it stays in the cupboard.

Alan Smithee wrote:I agree about using the "refrigerate after opening" guideline if it wasn't refrigerated in the store otherwise it stays in the cupboard.

an chris, your fiancee puts cereal in the fridge? never heard of that

I have lived without a refrigerator and found that cheese will last a long time at room temp - and tastes so much better. I've noticed ppl who use real butter often leave a stick out on the counter, so it apparently does not need refrigeration for a long time. I also keep my ripe olives in brine on the shelf and I suppose most condiments would do likewise (all I have is mustard).

A lot of these foods were created in a world without refrigeration, so they have a shelf or counter life. I imagine all the smoked meats can do without refrig.

I refrigerate my cookies.

I put things in the refrigerator that I want chilled or cold. Shelf items don't go in for the most part. Peanut butter? Nah. Cookies? Nah. Fruit....I used to put in the fridge, but I realized that I don't like biting into really cold fruit. Bread? Nah.