These Foods Do Not Belong in Your Pantry

Open your pantry doors and you might just realize you have a storage problem.

Stuffed side by side you can often find boxes, jars, cans and everything in between. It’s a mess!

But that’s not what we’re talking about. While your pantry may or may not have sufficient space to store your favorite snacks and cooking staples, that doesn’t mean every item belongs on those shelves.

Here are five foods that should not be stored in your pantry, at least not if you want to maximize their flavor and longevity.

Bananas

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There’s a major difference between a banana that’s perfectly ripe and one that will squish at the slightest touch. Once your bananas are ready to eat, whatever that means to you, store them in the fridge. Leaving them in the dark in your pantry is a recipe for disaster (or perhaps banana bread).

Whole-Grain Flour

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When it comes to whole-grain flour, it deserves different treatment than its all-purpose cousin. This healthier alternative contains bran and wheat germ, and their oils can turn sour rather quickly. The secret to preserving its freshness is to store it in the freezer.

Fresh Herbs

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Incorporating fresh herbs in your cooking can add not only flavor but also health benefits. But while basil is best stored in your pantry, other greens such as rosemary and thyme need to rent room in your refrigerator. Even softer herbs used for garnishes and extra depth, such as dill and parsley, should be stored in plastic bags in the fridge rather than your pantry.

Opened Red Wine

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A glass of red wine after a long week (or day) of work can relax your weary mind and body. But if you don’t manage to finish the bottle in one sitting, the best way to preserve the wine’s flavor is to re-cork it and stick it in the fridge. The cold temperature slows the oxidation process and ensures that your second glass will be just as refreshing as the first (at least, if you get to it quickly enough…wine does spoil).

Tortillas

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The next time you buy tortillas for Taco Tuesday, make sure to think ahead about where you’re going to store the leftover wraps. Just like bread, tortillas grow mold rather quickly when left out at room temperature for more than a week. Storing them in the fridge will help ensure your crispy quesadilla satisfies your midnight snack craving.

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You Won’t Shed a Tear When Chopping These Special Onions

Chopping onions can really make the waterworks start flowing. It’s so annoying that home cooks and professional chefs alike have tried to scheme ways to overcome the tear-jerking effects of preparing onions for their final resting place.

From soaking your onions in water to sharpening your knife like you’re being sent into battle to practicing proper breathing techniques, it seems everyone has an answer to the crying question. Unfortunately, many tips and tricks simply don’t hold up over time.

But if you want to be rid of oniony tears forever, now you can be. That’s been made possible by Sunions.

I swear I’m not making this up. The Sunion is a cross-breed of two other onions and looks no different than the ones you have used in dishes for years. However, because Sunions do not have lachrymatory-factor synthase (the chemical that makes your eyes burn), they become milder and sweeter while in storage.

Of course, the hype surrounding a tearless onion seemed too good to be true. Luckily, an editor from Taste of Home tried out Sunions first hand and the results were fascinating.

“I held the chopped onion up to my eye to see if I’d tear up, and nothing,” the editor said.. “They don’t even really have much of a smell. We could definitely taste the onion on our tacos, though, which is what we were hoping for.”

If you’re looking to spice up your cooking without the customary crying, retailers like Walmart, Costco and Kroger all carry Sunions. The next time you go on a grocery run, skip the tissues and simply stick with Sunions.

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