Obviously, certain foods need to be kept in the fridge for them to stay fresh for later use. Those foods include fish, meat, dairy, etc. However, you’d be surprised to know that there are also some ingredients that must be stored in the fridge. This is necessary to prevent potential bacteria from growing on these foods and give these foods a longer life.

Today, we have listed down food items that you might want to reconsider stockpiling in a cabinet or pantry because they are better off in the fridge.

1. Apples

Apples happen to be one of the very few fruits that benefit from being kept in the fridge. Storing apples next to other fruits will speed up their ripening process as they release ethylene gas. Keeping them in the fridge causes the production of ethylene gas to slow down which extends their life, and also the life of other fruits and veggies around them. The proper way to store apples in the fridge is to not keep all of them in one place and store them away from other veggies or fruits. Also, it is suggested that you either keep them in plastic bags with holes in them or cover them with a damp paper towel to preserve them even more effectively.

Pexels | Try storing your produce this way and see if it helps

2. Ketchup

Should ketchup be stored in the fridge or in the pantry? This question can be quite controversial and some people prefer keeping it at room temperature because of its high sugar, vinegar, and salt content. However, spokespersons for the popular ketchup brand Heinz state otherwise. According to them, their ketchup is shelf-stable, although it is preferred that you store it in the fridge once opened, as the storage conditions can have an effect on its shelf life.

Pexels | Your french fries will only be getting cold ketchup now

3. Chocolate Syrup

Much like jam, and to the surprise of absolutely no one, chocolate syrup has high sugar content. This keeps it from spoiling quickly, although storing it in the fridge increases its lifespan. Nevertheless, with store-bought chocolate syrup, you’ll notice changes in flavor and smell over time, however, this, in no way means your product is going bad. Moreover, homemade chocolate syrup belongs only in the fridge since there are no preservatives added to it.

Pexels | If you ask us, homemade is always better than storebought

With these helpful tips, you should be able to store these items for a long time now. You’re welcome!