When it comes to food storage, pantries are commonly used for storing various food items. If it is not frozen food, groceries are often dumped in the pantry as soon as they arrive from the nearby store. One could almost say the pantry has become the “storage dump” for food products.

There are food items that simply should not be stored in the pantry and you increase their shelf life by stockpiling them elsewhere. This article will discuss four food items that should not be stored in the pantry.

Pexels| Bananas will do better in a fridge

Bananas

People often caution us against keeping bananas in the fridge as this would stop or slow the ripening process due to the cold temperature in the fridge. However, when bananas are ripe, it is advisable that you store them in the fridge because doing so will preserve them for longer and prevent them from going bad anytime soon.

Butter

Although keeping butter in the pantry does not ruin it entirely, it’s entirely possible that its color and flavor change over time. So, experts advise that your butter should go into the fridge to ensure that its quality remains top-notch. In some cases, however, people prefer their butter soft instead of the hard, cold butter you would normally get straight from the refrigerator. In these instances, it is advisable to simply place the butter at room temperature before its consumption to allow it to soften.

Pexels| Almond nuts

Nuts

Most of us keep nuts in our pantries and there is nothing wrong doing so, unless you intend on keeping the nuts for more than a month. Nuts have high oil percentages and will spoil quicker in warm environments than in cold ones. So, if you intend to keep your nuts for more than a month, put them in a jar and store them in the fridge. This is the best way to store nuts for long-term use.

Pexels| Apples should be stored in the fridge, away from other fruits and veggies

Apples

Perhaps even more than other fruits, apples need to be refrigerated to retain their quality and flavor. This is because apples release ethylene gas which ripens nearby fruits and vegetables. So, you should store apples in plastic bags with holes in them before placing them in a fridge while also making sure to keep them away from other fruits and vegetables.