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World Kitchen Journal
Five foods that are surprisingly not suitable for refrigeration have elicited reactions like, "Really?!" and "I wish I'd known that sooner!"
The Kitchen
By Jean-Luc Moreau, the Technique desk · 20d ago · Japón · 7 min ·

Five foods that are surprisingly not suitable for refrigeration have elicited reactions like, "Really?!" and "I wish I'd known that sooner!"

1. Crispy, fluffy, and gooey Monte Cristo

2. Crispy caramel rusks made with sliced ​​bread

3. Banana Bread Pudding

Store food properly and enjoy it!

5 foods that are not suitable for refrigeration

What foods seem like they would be good to store in the refrigerator, but are actually not suitable for refrigeration? Here are five common examples, along with the reasons why.

■ Parmesan cheese

Many people assume that grated cheese should be stored in the refrigerator like other cheeses. However, the temperature and humidity fluctuations that occur when taking it in and out of the refrigerator can cause it to harden! Therefore, it's best to store grated cheese at room temperature and eat it as soon as possible. By the way, before opening, it's fine to store it at either room temperature or in the refrigerator.

■ Olive oil

Olive oil should be stored in a cool, dark place. You might think, "Then why not put it in the refrigerator?" However, in places like refrigerators where the temperature drops below 10°C, white particles may settle, the oil may become cloudy, or it may solidify. This applies not only to olive oil but also to other cooking oils such as sesame oil and salad oil.

If it cools down and hardens or becomes cloudy, you can restore it by placing the container in lukewarm water or leaving it in a warm place.

■ Potato

Potatoes can suffer from chilling injury and spoil easily if stored in the refrigerator. Therefore, room temperature storage is the basic rule. However, if left in a place exposed to sunlight or artificial light, sprouts containing the toxic substance solanine may grow, or the skin may turn green. During the hot summer months, store potatoes in the vegetable compartment of the refrigerator, and during other seasons, store them in a well-ventilated place away from direct sunlight.

■ Honey

Honey tends to crystallize and turn white when the temperature drops below around 15°C. Therefore, it is not suitable for storage in low-temperature places such as refrigerators. Also, drastic temperature changes can cause crystallization, so avoid placing it near a stove or other heat source.

It's best to store honey at room temperature in a place that's out of direct sunlight and maintains a constant temperature. Honey has strong antibacterial properties, so you can safely consume it even when stored at room temperature.

■ White bread

The worst place for sliced ​​bread is actually the refrigerator! Storing it at the low temperatures of 0-10°C in the refrigerator accelerates the aging of the starch in the bread, making it less delicious.

If you want to store sliced ​​bread, wrap each slice individually in plastic wrap, place them in a freezer bag, seal it tightly, and store it in the freezer. When toasted, it will taste just as good as freshly bought bread. If you think you'll have leftover bread, freeze it as soon as possible.

You might be surprised to learn that there are actually many foods that shouldn't be refrigerated. We all want to enjoy the food we buy to the very last bite, right? So, take this opportunity to check the labels on the packaging!

Recipes for using up leftover bread!

Now, let's move on to some recommended recipes for using up leftover sliced ​​bread. We've picked out some fantastic recipes using sliced ​​bread, such as Monte Cristo, a Canadian breakfast staple, and banana bread pudding, which is like a cross between French toast and pudding. Be sure to check them out!

1. Crispy, fluffy, and gooey Monte Cristo

An addictive deliciousness! Here's a recipe for Monte Cristo. Monte Cristo is a Canadian breakfast staple consisting of slightly sweet French toast filled with salty ham and cheese. The surface is crispy from being fried in butter, the bread soaked in egg mixture is fluffy, and the cheese inside melts deliciously, allowing you to enjoy a variety of textures in one dish.

Materials (for 1 person)

Sliced ​​bread (6 slices) ... 2 slices

Egg fluid

Egg (medium size) ... 1

Milk... 50ml

Sugar... 1 teaspoon

ingredients

Roast ham... 2 slices

Sliced ​​cheddar cheese... 2 slices

Sliced ​​cheese (melting type) ... 1 slice

Dried basil... two pinches

Salt... 1/4 teaspoon

Coarsely ground black pepper... 1/4 teaspoon

Salted butter... 10g

side dishes

Baby greens... appropriate amount

How to make it

1. Place the ingredients in order between slices of bread and cut diagonally in half. 2. Mix the egg mixture ingredients in a tray and dip both sides of the bread in the mixture. 3. Melt the salted butter in a frying pan over medium heat, add the bread, and cook. Once both sides are golden brown, remove from the heat. 4. Cut into bite-sized pieces and serve on a plate with baby greens.

*Elderly people, infants under 2 years old, pregnant women, and those with weakened immune systems should avoid eating raw eggs. If the eggs are cooked to a soft-boiled state, please cook them thoroughly before consuming.

How about making crispy caramel rusks with sliced ​​bread as a snack for your children? Crispy toasted bread coated in rich caramel is absolutely delicious! If you don't have heavy cream, you can make it with milk instead. Once you start eating one, you won't be able to stop! Please give it a try.

Materials (for 2 people)

Sliced ​​bread (6 slices) ... 2 slices

Sugar... 50g

Salted butter... 30g

Whipping cream... 2 tablespoons

Mint... appropriate amount

How to make it

Preparation: Preheat oven to 180°C. 1. Cut the bread into 2cm cubes. 2. Arrange the bread cubes on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper and bake in the preheated oven at 180°C for about 15 minutes until crispy. 3. Put sugar, salted butter, and heavy cream in a frying pan and heat over medium heat until caramelized, then remove from heat. 4. Add the baked bread and coat it completely. Let it cool, then arrange on a plate and garnish with mint.

3. Banana Bread Pudding

A flavor that adults and children alike will love! Here's a recipe for banana bread pudding. It's a delightful dessert that combines the best of French toast and pudding, leaving you feeling happy and satisfied. The sweetness of the bananas and the sweet and sour taste of the raisins go perfectly with the bread, making it ideal for a snack or breakfast. It's delicious served hot and fresh from the oven, but it's also tasty chilled.

Materials (for 2 people)

White bread (6 slices) ... 1 slice

Banana... 1

(A) Beaten egg... 1

(A) Sugar... 1 teaspoon

(A) Milk...50ml

(A) Fresh cream... 50ml

(A) Vanilla extract... 3 drops

Salted butter (for spreading) ... 3g

Salted butter... 10g

Raisins... 10g

How to make it

1. Cut the bread into 2cm cubes. 2. Slice the banana into 1cm rounds. 3. Mix (A) in a bowl and soak the bread in it. 4. Grease a heatproof dish with salted butter and arrange the banana slices on top. 5. Pour the remaining egg mixture over the bread, arrange the banana slices on top, and sprinkle with salted butter. 6. Bake in a toaster oven for about 15 minutes. 7. Once golden brown, sprinkle with raisins and serve.

*Toasting times may vary depending on your toaster model, so please adjust accordingly while monitoring the process. This time, we toasted at 1000W and 180℃. Because toasters have a small interior and the food is close to the heat source, there is a risk of smoke or fire due to oil dripping from the food or oil splattering during heating. Do not leave the toaster unattended while it is heating.

Store food properly and enjoy it!

So, what did you think? This time, we introduced five surprising foods that aren't suitable for refrigeration, along with some recommended recipes using leftover bread. Were there any foods on the list that you've always kept in your refrigerator? Let's learn how to store food properly so we can enjoy it to the very last bite.

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