Everyone knows that meat, poultry, dairy, and seafood items need to be refrigerated for food safety and for taste. But did you know that condiments like ketchup and maple syrup should also be refrigerated? According to the Food Network channel and the Taste of Home magazine, the following food items should ideally be stored in the fridge to prevent mold and bacteria growth, as well as to preserve for freshness and flavour:
Ketchup
Contrary to popular belief, the acid content in ketchup is often not enough to keep bacteria at bay. To preserve its flavour and freshness, food experts say it’s better to store ketchup in the fridge.
Tortillas
Some varieties of tortillas can get moldy, so it is best to keep them in low temperatures to prevent mold growth.
Natural Peanut Butter
Natural peanut butter is made with pure peanuts and a bit of salt. The oil in a jar of natural peanut butter could quickly turn rancid if the jar is kept in room temperature. Food experts recommend putting natural peanut butter in the fridge if you don’t intend to use it within a month.
Nuts
There is oil in nuts and this could cause them to spoil when stored in room temperature. If you’ve purchased nuts in bulk and you know you won’t use them within a month, store them in airtight containers in the fridge to seal in freshness and flavour.
Maple Syrup
Maple syrup should ideally be stored in the fridge after it is opened. While a bottle of maple syrup can last for a while in the pantry (maple syrup usually has a one-year shelf life), it may still attract mold if it has been sitting in room temperature for an extended period of time.
Apples
While there’s nothing wrong with putting apples in a bowl on your countertop, keeping them chilled in the refrigerator can extend their eat-by-date by a week and preserve their flavour.
Olive Oil
You can extend the shelf life of a bottle of olive oil by storing it in the fridge. Olive oils don’t do well when it is exposed to oxygen, light, and heat. Food experts say it’s best to keep olive oil in the fridge if you don’t think you will use it within 6-8 months.
Even though some of these items are not the main course, they nonetheless taste better and last longer when stored in the refrigerator. At Coolmate Rentals, we specialize in providing businesses in the Toronto area with event fridge rental and temporary cold storage solutions. Our trailers come in different sizes – from 6’ x 6’ to 6’ x 16’ – to accommodate a variety of business needs. Coolmate Rentals’ walk-in freezers and walk-in coolers are available for rent on a daily, weekly, and monthly (or longer) basis. We’ll deliver the trailer to your location and we’ll even verify the temperature of the unit before we leave. When the unit is no longer needed, Coolmate will come back to take it away – it’s that easy! We pride ourselves in providing our customers with a safe, secure, and stress-free rental experience. If you or your business is looking for refrigeration rentals to preserve temperature sensitive goods, please don’t hesitate to reach out to Coolmate Rentals.