One way to ruin a perfectly good tomato is to refrigerate it. All the sweet juiciness of its tender flesh will be transformed into a mushy, mealy mess. Cold tomatoes? Yuck! Tomatoes taste best at room temperature, which is why, in Italy, everyone leaves their tomatoes out on the counter.
But if you want to know why that is exactly, it’s because the cold temperature inside your fridge breaks down all that flavor and aroma. A 2016 study by the University of Florida confirmed the existence of flavor alterations due to the chemical degradation of tomatoes kept in refrigeration for a week.
Leaving Salad Out Is Fine
A bowl of mixed greens kept on the counter before serving is not a problem. But after a couple of hours, you might want to refrigerate it before it goes soggy so that it retains its crispness. In general, lettuce and other vegetables sit out when they are busy growing outside.
But once they've been cut and removed from their source, they will soon begin to wilt. So the sooner you use them, the better, but weather permitting, you can probably leave them out for a while. Unless it’s very warm or anything over 80 degrees, the salad greens will start to wilt.
Don’t Refrigerate Cantaloupe Until It Is Ripe
Similar to citrus fruits, cantaloupes developed a thick, textured rind to protect their delicious and sweet flesh. However, as soon as they are picked, they begin to ripen. However, cantaloupe can stay fresh for a while before it ripens and should be left out on the counter until it is ready to eat.
Refrigeration may deteriorate the flavor and nutritional content, but after it is ripe, you might want to cut it up and store it in the fridge before it spoils. These antioxidant-rich fruits hold more vitamins and nutrients while they are naturally fresh. But beware, if you eat a cantaloupe that tastes a bit old, you could get really sick.
Papaya Comes From the Tropics Too
Papaya comes from Hawaii, which is actually the only place where it is commercially farmed. Let it soften and ripen on the counter. If you want it to ripen sooner, pop the papaya into a paper bag. It will ripen in about three days sitting out and even sooner inside the bag. Once it is soft to the touch, cut it open and slice it up.
Another way you can tell if it is ripe is by its yellow color. If you sniff it, it should smell slightly sweet. If you have extra papaya, you can cut it into cubes and freeze it for a convenient smoothie ingredient. Most fruit can be frozen and used in smoothies after it is cut.
Tips For Storing Garlic
Garlic is picked and then dried, so it’s best to keep it in a dry place. To optimize shelf life, store the bulbs in a well-ventilated, dry area. Specialized ceramic jars with air holes work best, but as long as they are kept in the pantry or other dry place.
Don't be tempted to wrap them in plastic; their skins keep them perfectly sealed and protected. Storing them like this is the best way to make sure the bulbs will maintain the best quality. The refrigerator is a harsh environment for garlic. It can become moldy and cause the bulbs to deteriorate.