Autumn has arrived, the temperature is dropping, the days are short and the nights are long, and human activity is relatively reduced, while appetite increases. While we use our diet to increase calories to fight off the cold, we should not just satisfy our cravings and neglect the conditioning and maintenance of our bodies. We have specially compiled various dietary health information suitable for autumn, so that you and your family can be healthy and happy every day!
Specifically, foods such as biscuits, candy, honey, pickles, soybean paste, preserved fruits, powdered foods, and dried foods do not need to be put in the refrigerator. They either have an extremely low water content, making it impossible for microorganisms to breed, or their sugar and salt concentrations are too high, creating a high osmotic pressure with very little free water, which also prevents microorganisms from multiplying. In that case, what's the point of putting them in the refrigerator? Isn't it just a waste of electricity and space?
For example, putting honey in the refrigerator will cause it to crystallize and precipitate glucose. This change does not affect the safety or nutritional value of the honey; it only affects the uniformity of its texture. Some families mistakenly believe that the honey has spoiled and throw away a whole bottle, wasting electricity and then food, which is truly a great pity!
Chocolate, when left in the refrigerator for a long time, is prone to changes in the crystal form of its fat. Although it will not spoil, its texture will gradually become rough, its surface will bloom, and it will no longer be delicate and smooth. It is even worse when placed in the freezer. In fact, chocolate is best stored at room temperature, between ten and twenty degrees Celsius.
There are also some fruits that should not be put in the refrigerator, such as mangoes and bananas, which are tropical fruits. They are best stored at around 12 degrees Celsius, usually in a cool, room-temperature place. If put in the refrigerator, they can suffer from chilling injury and spoil prematurely.
Starchy foods like steamed buns, twisted rolls, and bread can be kept at room temperature if they cannot be finished in one or two meals. Putting them in the refrigerator will actually speed up the process of them drying out and becoming hard. If you need to store them for more than 3 days, it is best to wrap them well and put them in the freezer. When you want to eat them, just take them out and microwave them for 1-2 minutes to thaw, and the texture will be as fresh as ever.
There are also some foods that can be temporarily put in the refrigerator, such as various drinks, beer, and so on. However, they are not actually required to be refrigerated; they are put in the refrigerator only to lower the temperature for a more refreshing taste when consumed. You might as well store them at room temperature on a normal day and put them in the refrigerator half a day before drinking. This can save a considerable amount of electricity and space.
In general, when you buy food, be sure to check the packaging for the required storage temperature. If you bought it from a room-temperature display and the packaging does not specify that it needs to be stored in a low-temperature environment, then there is no need to keep it in the refrigerator all the time.