15 Fruits You Absolutely Should Never Put in the Fridge

Refrigerating fruits seems like a good way to keep them fresh longer, but not all fruits thrive in the cold. In fact, refrigeration can alter some fruits’ flavor, texture, and ripening process. While the fridge is perfect for many foods, it’s not ideal for certain fruits that need room temperature to stay tasty and fresh. 

To help you enjoy your fruit at its best, here are 15 fruits you should never store in the fridge.

Bananas

Bananas are tropical fruits that don’t do well in the cold. When you put them in the fridge, the cold temperatures can cause their skins to turn brown or black, and they stop ripening properly. 

If you want your bananas to ripen naturally, it’s best to leave them on the counter. Cold temperatures also make the flesh mushy, which isn’t appealing. Keep them at room temperature, and they’ll stay sweet and soft.

Avocados

If you’ve ever stored avocados in the fridge, you might have noticed they don’t ripen well. Avocados need warmth to soften and develop their full flavor. Putting them in the fridge slows down the ripening process, leaving you with hard, tasteless avocados. 

Once fully ripe, you can refrigerate them for a couple of days to prevent them from spoiling too quickly. However, it’s best to keep them on the counter to get them ripe and ready to eat.

Tomatoes

Tomatoes lose their flavor and texture when stored in the fridge. Cold temperatures can make them mealy and bland, far from how a juicy tomato should taste. 

The natural ripening process slows down, and the fruit’s sugar content changes, impacting its sweetness. Keep tomatoes at room temperature to maintain their delicious, juicy flavor. A ripe tomato is best enjoyed fresh off the counter.

Mangoes

Like other tropical fruits, mangoes thrive in warm conditions and shouldn’t be refrigerated until fully ripe. The cold can make the flesh mealy and affect its sweet flavor. If they’re unripe, leave them out at room temperature to ripen. 

Once fully ripe, you can pop them in the fridge for a short time if needed, but their best flavor develops outside the fridge. Room temperature ensures mangoes ripen perfectly, becoming sweet and juicy.

Pineapples

Pineapples don’t benefit from refrigeration while they’re ripening. Cold temperatures can stop the process and make them taste less sweet. They do best when left at room temperature until fully ripe. 

If you’ve cut the pineapple, you can refrigerate the pieces, but the whole fruit should stay on the counter. This will ensure you get the best flavor and texture when it’s time to eat.

Watermelons

Whole watermelons can lose some of their sweetness when stored in the fridge. The cold affects the fruit’s natural sugars, producing a less flavorful melon.

Keeping whole watermelons at room temperature is best to maintain their juicy, sweet taste. Once cut, however, you can store the slices in the fridge to keep them fresh. Just be sure to enjoy them soon after cutting for the best flavor.

Peaches

Peaches are delicate fruits that need to ripen fully at room temperature. When placed in the fridge before ripe, peaches become mealy and lose their sweetness. If you want your peaches to develop their full, juicy flavor, leave them on the counter. 

Once ripe, you can refrigerate them briefly if you don’t plan to eat them immediately. But to enjoy them at their best, let them ripen naturally outside the fridge.

Plums

Plums, like peaches, need warmth to ripen properly. Storing them in the fridge before they’re ripe can produce a dull flavor and unappealing texture. Leave plums at room temperature to ripen fully, developing their sweet, tangy taste. 

Once they’re soft and ripe, you can put them in the fridge to slow down their ripening, but they’re best when eaten straight off the counter. A perfectly ripe plum is sweet and juicy.

Papayas

Papayas should be kept at room temperature to ripen and become sweet and flavorful. Refrigerating them too early can interfere with their ripening process and lead to bland, unripe fruit. 

Papayas ripen best in warm conditions, so give them time on the counter to soften and sweeten naturally. Once fully ripe, you can store them in the fridge for a short period if needed. Enjoy them when they’re soft and bursting with flavor!

Citrus Fruits (Oranges, Lemons, Limes)

Citrus fruits, such as oranges, lemons, and limes, are often stored in the fridge, but they don’t need to be. These fruits can last a long time at room temperature, and the fridge can dull their vibrant flavors over time. 

For the freshest, most flavorful citrus, keep them on the counter, where they can stay fresh for up to a week. If you don’t use them within that time, you can refrigerate them, but they’re best enjoyed fresh from the fruit bowl.

Apples

While apples can be refrigerated once they’re ripe, they actually do just fine at room temperature for a while. Cold temperatures can make apples lose their crispness over time, so if you plan to eat them within a week or two, it’s best to keep them on the counter. 

Apples stored at room temperature will stay fresh and maintain their flavor and texture for longer than you might expect. Keep them in a cool, dry spot, and they’ll be ready to snack on whenever you like.

Pears

Pears are another fruit that should be ripened at room temperature. When put in the fridge too soon, pears may not ripen properly, leaving you with a hard, flavorless fruit. Allow them to ripen naturally on the counter until they’re soft and ready to eat. 

Once they’ve reached their peak ripeness, you can refrigerate them if you need to extend their shelf life a little longer. But for the best taste, room temperature is key.

Melons (Cantaloupe, Honeydew)

Whole melons, like cantaloupe and honeydew, don’t need to be refrigerated until they’re cut. Cold temperatures can change the texture and taste of these fruits, making them less sweet. 

Keep whole melons on the counter to allow their natural sugars to develop fully. After slicing, you can refrigerate the pieces to keep them fresh, but the whole fruits are best left at room temperature for the richest flavor.

Kiwis

Kiwis should be kept at room temperature until they’re fully ripe. Putting them in the fridge too early can stop their ripening process and leave them hard and sour. 

Once ripe, you can store kiwis in the fridge if you’re not going to eat them right away, but they ripen best in warm conditions. Let them soften naturally on the counter for the sweetest, juiciest kiwis.

Apricots

Apricots, like peaches and plums, need time at room temperature to ripen and become soft and flavorful. If refrigerated too soon, apricots may remain hard and won’t reach their full sweetness. 

Allow them to ripen on the counter until they’re ready to eat. Once ripe, they can be kept in the fridge for a short time if needed, but for the best taste and texture, enjoy them fresh and warm from the counter.

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