Article created by: Kotryna Br

As more people moved into cities and further away from food sources, household refrigerators became a necessity. So in 1834, the world got its first working vapor-compression refrigeration system. The first commercial ice-making machine was invented in 1854. And in 1913, refrigerators for home use were introduced.

But as we learned how to preserve our resources more efficiently, we got more and more creative with it, too. So when Reddit user Monk_Never_Dies asked everyone on the platform, "What is something commonly refrigerated, [but] actually doesn't need to be?" the replies came flying in. Here are some of the most popular ones.

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#1

Fresh tomatoes with water droplets on a wooden plate, illustrating items that do not need to be refrigerated. Tomatoes. They'll stay edible longer in the fridge, but they'll instantly lose all their flavor when chilled. My mother grew up relatively poor and so has it ingrained to never risk wasting food. She'll always refrigerate tomatoes (and even bananas!) despite my attempts to convince her otherwise.

Cybyss , Rodion Kutsaiev Report

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    #2

    Halved avocado on a plate showcasing fresh produce that people claim do not need to be refrigerated. I leave avocados out until they’re the perfect ripeness, then I put them in the fridge and they last ages in the perfect state

    Lost_in_the_Library , Alina Karpenko Report

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    #3

    Open jar of peanut butter with a swirl texture, surrounded by shelled peanuts, highlighting things that do not need refrigeration. Peanut butter. Why people do it, I don't know.

    TrukerJay , Towfiqu barbhuiya Report

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    #4

    Hand holding honey dipper with honey dripping into an open jar, illustrating things claimed not to need refrigeration. People who put honey in the fridge should be charged as criminals

    DuckingGolden , Arwin Neil Baichoo Report

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    #5

    Two jars of Nutella hazelnut spread on a woven surface, illustrating items claimed to not need refrigeration. Nutella in the fridge should be a major felony. Who tf wants rock hard Nutella?

    BackHDLP , Victor Serban Report

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    #6

    Pickle held on a fork above an open jar, illustrating popular items claimed not to need refrigeration. Pickles, but they're much better if they are.

    Scoongili , SuckerPunch Gourmet Report

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    #7

    Various brands of mayonnaise jars displayed on grocery store shelves, a common item people claim do not need refrigeration. Store-bought mayonnaise. I was raised in the South, and my mother (born in 1924) was kind of obsessed with the idea that mayonnaise left out of the refrigerator would "turn" and grow a bunch of salmonella. We were repeatedly cautioned to be sure to return the mayonnaise jar to the fridge immediately. (When Mom was a girl, mayonnaise was homemade out of raw egg yolks, lemon juice, salt and cooking oil.) Then I took a food safety course (I was an RN and got assigned to be the safety inspector at my hospital) and to my great surprise the county food safety instructor told us that unrefrigerated commercial mayonnaise only very rarely was ever a problem. I still don't trust it though. (My mama never steered me wrong, I don't care *what* the county food safety guy says.)

    KaBar2 , Alex Gorzen Report

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    #8

    Potatoes, garlic, and onion displayed on a cloth and wooden tray, common foods that do not need refrigeration. Onions or potatoes. Honestly most produce doesn’t necessarily need to go in the fridge but it does help it last longer

    DannoWhamo , Monika Stawowy Report

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    #9

    Brown eggs in a carton on a kitchen counter, illustrating one of the items people claim do not need refrigeration. Eggs - in the US you have to refrigerate eggs. You don't always in Europe.

    Sir_Distic , Edouard Gilles Report

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    #10

    Butter on a kitchen counter unwrapped and sliced, illustrating things people claim do not need to be refrigerated. When I got married my wife showed me that butter can just sit there right on the counter, even right next to the stove, forever. What is this conspiracy to make people think butter needs to be refrigerated? Is it by the margarine makers to sell their stuff as a softer alternative to butter?

    obsertaries , Sorin Gheorghita Report

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    #11

    A bunch of ripe yellow bananas on a light gray surface, illustrating items that do not need refrigeration. Bananas

    Viker2000 , Anastasia Eremina Report

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    #12

    Pouring molasses from a bottle into a dish, illustrating things that do not need refrigeration. Molasses In the refrigerator, Grandma's molasses turns to "sludge."

    Back2Bach , https://www.flickr.com/photos/tuba/40743922/ Report

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    #13

    Two bottles of apple vinegar placed on a wooden surface, illustrating items that do not need refrigeration. Vinegar

    Pilzoyz , Bulbul Ahmed Report

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    #14

    Bottles of tomato ketchup and barbeque sauce on a shelf illustrating items claimed not to need refrigeration. Ketchup but I like mine cold

    TreClaire , Yelena Odintsova Report

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    See Also on Bored Panda
    #15

    Bottles of maple syrup on a wooden surface, illustrating things people claim do not need refrigeration. Maple syrup Growing up it was always in the fridge. When my husband and I met he questioned me on it. I had no idea it wasn’t needed.

    Inkqueen12 , Nadine Primeau Report

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    #16

    Onions in a bowl, illustrating common things people claim do not need to be refrigerated for freshness. Keeping onions in the fridge greatly reduces tears when cutting onions

    LastNameCoholic , Karolina Grabowska Report

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    #17

    Pouring soy sauce into a small dish with sushi in the background illustrating things claimed to not need refrigeration Soy sauce

    ToothbrushGames , GoodEats YQR Report

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    #18

    Bottle of Frank's RedHot Original cayenne pepper sauce, an item claimed to not need refrigeration. Hot sauce. All the restaurants leave it out but I feel like most people stick it in the fridge.

    snowpawzz , Sticker Mule Report

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    #19

    Fresh strawberries on a wooden surface with a bowl in the background, illustrating items that do not need refrigeration. Strawberries go bad much faster once refrigerated. Grocery stores greatly reduce shelf life by refrigerating them before you even get the chance to buy the darn berries

    No-Supermarket-332 , Jenna Hamra Report

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    #20

    Hand holding a fresh pineapple outdoors, illustrating one of the things people claim do not need to be refrigerated. Pineapples, my mom tried to refrigerate a whole pineapple once and i had to lecture her about how you are supposed to leave them out

    MRbaconfacelol , Marta Ortigosa Report

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    #21

    Bottle of Pepto-Bismol on a table, an example of things people claim do not need to be refrigerated. Pepto Bismol. It doesn’t need to be refrigerated but it tastes just awful if it isn’t.

    pantzoptional , romana klee Report

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    #22

    Round flour tortillas on a plate, representing one of the things claimed not to need refrigeration. Tortillas

    jolie-renee , micheile dot com Report

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    #23

    Bottle of yellow mustard on a red background, illustrating one of the things people claim do not need refrigeration. Mustard

    slip1byyou123 , Pedro Durigan Report

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    #24

    Chunks of cheese on a slate board with pomegranate seeds, illustrating things people claim do not need refrigeration. Most cheeses are fine to be left out - you just cut away any moldy/dried-out bits, and you’re good to go. NOTE: this does not apply to intentionally moldy cheeses like blues and Gorgonzola, or softer cheese like Brie. It’s for hard cheeses only (Parmesan, cheddar, etc.), which can still last longer when refrigerated too

    candle340 , Aliona Gumeniuk Report

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    See Also on Bored Panda
    #25

    Jar of homemade jam with spoon, surrounded by fresh berries and leaves, illustrating foods that do not need refrigeration. I don't know if its commonly refrigerated but I do remember getting in an argument with my college roommate about needing to refrigerate jelly/jam. You don't. It'll last a long long long time in the pantry.

    TumblrTheFish , Elena Leya Report

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    #26

    Person pouring orange juice from a glass bottle into a glass, showing items people claim do not need refrigeration. Orange juice. I found out they don't refrigerate it over in France. That freaked me out.

    TeeteringCrockery , Anete Lusina Report

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