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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.

#1

27 Things People Claim Do Not Need To Be Refrigerated People who put honey in the fridge should be charged as criminals

DuckingGolden , Arwin Neil Baichoo Report

#2

27 Things People Claim Do Not Need To Be Refrigerated Nutella in the fridge should be a major felony. Who tf wants rock hard Nutella?

BackHDLP , Victor Serban Report

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Bored Lady On The Run
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1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Saw this somewhere that someone would spread Nutella on the parchment paper. About a dozen or more, they shaped them in a nice thinly board. Chilled it overnight, then they used it to crackle its bits for ice cream. For me I would have eaten it in one sitting.

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#3

27 Things People Claim 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

#4

27 Things People Claim Do Not Need To Be Refrigerated Bread. We put it in the fridge bc my precious little douche bags (cats) like to take chomps out of the bag.

ChipTheOcelot , Charles Chen Report

#5

27 Things 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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Jack Holt
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1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I do the reverse, put unripe avos in fridge and bring them out one by one a day or 2 before I want them to be ripe

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#6

27 Things People Claim Do Not Need To Be Refrigerated Peanut butter. Why people do it, I don't know.

TrukerJay , Towfiqu barbhuiya Report

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Cynthia Carter
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1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

We buy the kind you have to stir- just peanuts, no hydrogenated oils, sugar etc-and it will separate if we don't keep it in the fridge.

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#7

27 Things People Claim Do Not Need To Be Refrigerated Pickles, but they're much better if they are.

Scoongili , SuckerPunch Gourmet Report

#8

27 Things People Claim Do Not Need To Be Refrigerated 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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Jack and Coke
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1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Just checked my mayo jar and it says to refrigerate after opening. I think I'll follow the directions.

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#9

27 Things People Claim Do Not Need To Be Refrigerated 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

#10

27 Things People Claim Do Not Need To Be Refrigerated Eggs - in the US you have to refrigerate eggs. You don't always in Europe.

Sir_Distic , Edouard Gilles Report

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Jewels737
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1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

If they're washed, they get refrigerated. There's a natural coating that protects them otherwise. In Europe they aren't washed.

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#11

27 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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Elita One
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1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

"What is this conspiracy to make people think butter needs to be refrigerated?" My guy I live in Australia if I leave the butter out its gonna be a butter puddle.

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#12

27 Things People Claim Do Not Need To Be Refrigerated Bananas

Viker2000 , Anastasia Eremina Report

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Shyla Bouche
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1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Bananas are good frozen, covered in chocolate sauce, and rolled in cereal crumbs.

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#13

27 Things People Claim Do Not Need To Be Refrigerated Molasses

In the refrigerator, Grandma's molasses turns to "sludge."

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

#15

27 Things People Claim Do Not Need To Be Refrigerated Ketchup but I like mine cold

TreClaire , Yelena Odintsova Report

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Raumpfleger
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1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Depends. Once the bottle is opened it will het sour over time. I used to put mine in the fridge, but thats not necessary anymore since we have kids.

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#16

27 Things People Claim Do Not Need To Be Refrigerated 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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Rebekah Krause
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1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Maple syrup definitely needs to be refrigerated, says a woman who was also told this and watched mold grow on a $40 bottle of pure maple syrup. Pancake syrup does not.

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#17

27 Things People Claim Do Not Need To Be Refrigerated Keeping onions in the fridge greatly reduces tears when cutting onions

LastNameCoholic , Karolina Grabowska Report

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Faern Grey
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1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Sharp knives are a better way to cut down on the tears. The more you damage the onion, the more it makes your eyes water.

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#19

27 Things People Claim Do Not Need To Be Refrigerated 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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unfilteredCigarette73
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I leave Louisiana style, like Crystal's for example, out after opening but all the other stuff goes in the fridge. Louisiana style has so much vinegar and pepper it's not gonna turn.

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#20

27 Things People Claim Do Not Need To Be Refrigerated 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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Frank Hassler
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1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Strawberries tend to go bad because of mold around here, so refrigeration slows that down.

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#21

27 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

#22

27 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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#25

27 Things People Claim Do Not Need To Be Refrigerated 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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Andreas
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1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

The mold you see is not all the mold that is there. Its inside the food. You cant just 'cut it off' thats unsafe as heck!

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#26

27 Things People Claim Do Not Need To Be Refrigerated 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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Rebekah Krause
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1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Only if it’s not opened! Don’t do this with open jam or jelly. Especially if you’re double dipping your knife between spreads.

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#27

27 Things People Claim Do Not Need To Be Refrigerated 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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