[Alupis]

Even in the winter, I put my vegetables and most fruits in the fridge too (bananas being my usual exception, since they're so underripe when I buy them). They just last longer that way...

I also put most of my bread in the fridge for the same reason.

[pkroll]

As many people are probably typing this at the same time: bread goes stale faster in the fridge. If you need to preserve bread for a while, freezing is the way to go.

[Alupis]

My goal with the bread is to keep it from molding, which is does in a couple days sitting on the counter. Usually it isn't around long enough to freeze.

[RandallBrown]

That may be true, but in my experience it takes longer to go stale in the refrigerator than it does for it to mold outside the refrigerator. So I store my bread in the fridge and everything is fine.

I've never stored my bread outside the bag in something like a breadbox though, so maybe that would make it last longer. I've never had my bread go stale in the fridge before I finished it, so I'm not too worried about changing my habits.

[toxik]

What? That can’t be right. I’m aware most people put bread in the pantry or whatever, but why would the fridge make it go stale?

[likpok]

A big part of staling is the recrystallization of starch, which happens faster at cold-but-not-freezing temperatures.

https://www.seriouseats.com/2014/06/does-refrigeration-reall...

[NikolaeVarius]

https://www.seriouseats.com/2014/06/does-refrigeration-reall... Temperature causes starches to crystallize and cause it to get stale

[pilsetnieks]

Because air is much dryer inside a fridge.

I still put my bread in a fridge (unless it's something that's really intended to be consumed soon) because I prefer stale to mold.

[likpok]

Drying is only part of staling. You can seal bread airtight and it will still go stale faster in the fridge.

[chooseaname]

Freezing does something to the bread that I just don't like. It's just different coming out of a freezer.

[mason55]

> I put my vegetables and most fruits in the fridge too (bananas being my usual exception, since they're so underripe when I buy them)

A few things will retain better quality being left out

- Apples will get mealy in the fridge - Tomatoes will be much better unrefrigerated - I'm not sure about alliums, I never refrigerate onions or garlic but I do refrigerate green alliums like leeks and scallions.

[Alupis]

It all really depends how quickly you plan to consume the items.

If you're the type that shops at the market several times a week - setting all produce on the counter is likely just fine.

If you're like me and try to avoid the grocery store as much as possible... sometimes stretching 2 weeks between trips, then the fridge can be very helpful.

[exhilaration]

I also put most of my bread in the fridge for the same reason.

You might be interested in this comment I posted a few months ago: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=20838704

[Alupis]

Hmm, that is interesting - never tried it that way.

Although I don't usually toast the bread - depends heavily on what it's being used for. A sandwich for lunch... probably not toasted. Would work fine for other breads though.