Expert warns of common foods people should never refrigerate as it turns them 'toxic'

An expert has warned of the common foods people should never refrigerate as it can turn them 'toxic'.

After not finishing a meal, it can be quick and easy to just whack it in the fridge and have it for dinner the next day. I mean, it saves you from having to cook after work the next day, right?

However, there are some common foods that experts warn against being refrigerated in the first place as they can cause some harm than good.

Jhanvi Sanghvi, a clinical nutritionist and social media influencer, has listed some food no-goes in the fridge as they can get 'toxic'.

So, let's get into the list.

Onions

A common place in many people's kitchens, an onion should not be put in the fridge, according to Sanghvi.

The food expert wrote on Instagram: "Storing onions in the fridge can lead to mold growth and a mushy texture due to excess moisture, spoiled onions can cause foodborne illnesses if consumed."

The mold can produce a form of mycotoxins, which are poisonous chemicals that can make you very sick.

The UK's Food Standard Agency (FSA) states all onions of the brown, red and white are all best kept in the cupboard, though the likes of spring onions and leeks can be refrigerated if needed.

Bananas

While it may sound pretty obvious to not put bananas in the fridge, there are seemingly some folks that do it hence the warning from Sanghvi.

"Cold temperatures cause bananas to turn brown and mushy, disrupting their ripening process," the nutritionist explained.

On top of whether deciding it's best to refrigerate today's dinner, you need to look further into expiry dates and how long it really lasts.

Dr. Karan Raj, who regularly offers health advice on TikTok under the handle @dr.karanr, detailed how you know frozen food is no longer any good to consume.

"Frozen food technically never expires. When it comes to frozen food, these best before dates and expiry dates are more about food quality - not food safety," Dr. Raj said.

"So, as long as the food stays frozen, it's safe. But that doesn't mean frozen food stays tasty forever. The longer something stays frozen, it can be affected by something known as freezer burn.

"It gets covered by ice crystals, and it gets the moisture sucked out and oxidation occurs, so food that's frozen for a long time can lack flavour."