aemeijers wrote:

Some observations:


You put MUSTARD in the fridge?

You know you can maybe double the available space by NOT
refrigerating some things. For example:

* Mustard
dries out, gets a crust, seperates

See below on ketchup

* Ketchup
gets nasty acidic tasting, turns dark and funny smelling

Possibly, after several years. Ever see a restaurant that put its ketchup in
the cooler? In your case, you might be better off with small, sealed,
packets of condiments.

* Pickles and relish
gets mushy, and the sugar overwhelms the taste.

Huh?

* Margarine
turns into mush, tastes nasty, separates

Some margarine turns mushy. The margarine manufacturers deliberately add
liquifiers because they know people are going to cool the product.

* Some salad dressings (i.e., oil & vinegar)
agreed
* Peanut butter
tastes nasty, and if real PB, the oil separates

True. But commercial PB IS real PM, it's just been homogenized. If you make
your own, you'll have a separation problem. Same with mayonnaise.

* Maple syrup
agreed, but it can become unpourable from crystallization, and you
have to add a dash of h20 and nuke it.
* Nuts
some nuts go rancid at room temp if not in sealed containers

Then don't eat that kind.

* Coffee
sealed containers only

Huh? Do you mean only if in the original packaging should live outside the
fridge? Or do you mean uncovered coffee should be kept cool?

* Flashlight batteries
no significant diff from home refrig, since they are not kept cool in
supply chain
* The dead cat you haven't buried yet
that is what the back fence line is for. recycle, etc.
* Canned soft drinks (use a glass and ice)
not if you have soft water- the ice tastes nasty.

Water-softener lines should NOT run to the ice-maker. Softened water is an
ice-maker killer. De-ionized is okay.

* Most uncut fruits and vegetables (except watermelon, of course)
some yes, some no. I prefer my veggies crisp.

Then slice them thinly and fry them.

* Olive oil
yes
* Eggs if you plan on eating them in a week or two
no way in hell. my brother tried that on a road trip with boiled eggs,
and I refused to touch them after first 36 hours. I hate dysentary
with a passion. If in doubt, throw it out.

So he and his family died a most horrible death and you got to live large on
the inheritance. Or was there some other outcome for your brother and his
family? Now if your brother ALSO threw out the eggs, I'd suspect a motive on
his part other than merely sharing a tasty meal.

* Most cheeses
only if in factory pack or wax-dipped

Cheese was around for about 50,000 years before refrigeration. On the other
hand, all the first century Romans who ate unrefrigerated cheeses are now
dead...


Anyway, check the container. Unless is SAYS "Refrigerate after
opening" you needn't do so.
if it is sold cold, I keep it cold.

I've never had a burger served with a frozen meat patty. You may be on to
something.

If it is sold warm and I eat it
cold, I keep it cold. I also keep bread products in frig- they last
longer before going green, and it is harder for the ants and mice to
find them.

I, too, keep bread in the cooler. But that's because I buy giant quantities
at once from Sam's Club. Maybe that's why I'm so anal about what to put in
the fridge. For example, 55 gallons of jalapenos simply won't fit in the
refrigerator, no matter how much packing I do.