Flour should be stored in an airtight container or in a plastic bag. Keeping it in a plastic snap-top container makes it convenient to scoop into your recipes. Regular bleached or unbleached white flour will stay for up to two years, so it shouldn’t be necessary to store it in the fridge.
However, when you’re dealing with whole grain flours, their shelf life shrinks to just a few months, so if you need to, then you can be stored the same way. But if you know you won’t use it in that short span of time, then freezing it will keep it fresh much longer.
How To Keep Sweet Potatoes At Their Best
Do not keep sweet potatoes in the refrigerator. These root veggies prefer to be stored in a cool, dry place. Make sure there is plenty of ventilation, and definitely do not wrap them in plastic; let them sit fully exposed to air. Keeping them in the fridge will ruin them.
Sweet potatoes “will produce a hard center and unpleasant taste,” according to the experts over at the North Carolina Sweet Potato Commission. So if you like your sweet potato wedges sweet and well, delicious, just keep them out of the fridge, they usually last for quite long before they go bad.
What About Eggs?
In the U.S., it is advised that eggs are refrigerated. Here, farms scrub the eggs clean before selling them, and refrigeration is the only way to protect against bacteria seeping in after the natural coating that repels bacteria on shells is removed. So, the answer is yes. In the U.S., you should definitely refrigerate eggs.
However, in Europe, eggs are not washed at commercial farms, and people do not store them in the refrigerator. Also, not washing the eggs causes a greater risk of bacteria contamination, but only if they are refrigerated. With the coating intact, eggs are protected against bacteria but only at room temp.
Do Not Put Honey In the Refrigerator You Will Regret It
Once a jar of honey has been refrigerated, it will harden up and will not pour until it is heated. You can wait until it comes to room temp, but why not just leave it out? Honey is one of the most stable foods in nature and can last a very long time.
Honey has natural preservation properties. The high sugar levels and zero water content make honey a hypertonic substance, and in this environment, any bacteria will basically suffocate and die of dehydration. The good news is honey lasts forever. The honey in hives has the potential to last hundreds of years.
Best Practice Storage Tips For Coffee
First of all, coffee beans or ground coffee should be stored in an airtight container. Since air, light, and moisture ruin coffee, the container should be dark or at least impervious to light. Also, coffee beans and grounds become dry and flavorless when chilled.
An airtight container will also protect the coffee from absorbing other flavors. Those precious beans should live as far away from the fridge as possible. It’s ideal to use it up in about two weeks. If you have to, then you can freeze whole beans to preserve your coffee if you have huge amounts.