I did not invent these no-­refrigeration principles. The Italians did. I am just the messenger. My cooking students across the country have learned what all Italians know, as they are essential to the outcome of good cooking.

Why?

Tomatoes​ will get mealy in the fridge. And they will lose their flavor. The tomato is good when it is sweet, and cold air will interrupt its ability to get and stay sweet. This goes for heirloom, cherries, romas, ALL tomatoes! How to Store Tomatoes:​ Take a beautiful bowl, place your gorgeous tomatoes in them, and let them act as colorful food art in your kitchen. And if they start to get soft? Make sauce! Recipe here: heirloom tomato sauce (you can use any tomato you have on hand if you don’t have heirlooms)

Onions and garlic​ add a spike to food. It is usually a pungent spike, but it can also be sweet, as in the case of caramelized onions. When you put onion and garlic in the fridge, however, they lose their potency.

How to Store Onions and Garlic:​ Place in a bowl or basket on your countertop or in your pantry. What if little green shoots start to pop up out of them? No problem! As long as either is not soft, they are good to be used. Should last a couple weeks.

Have more cooking questions? Just email us at info@mealandaspiel.com and put #AskElana in the subject line.