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Room temp or refrigerate? 14 foods to always store in the fridge

This helpful guide will let you quickly determine how to store some of your most used foods to optimize freshness.
/ Source: TODAY

To store in the fridge or not? That is the question most of us ask about several common kitchen items and leftovers.

Don't feel foolish if you frequently wind up stumped — so do the rest of us!

Here's a helpful guide about where your most frequently questioned foods should be stored.

1. Unopened salami or pepperoni: Room temperature

Whether part of a gift basket, or purchased for a cocktail party, all unopened salamis and related versions can be stored at room temperature. Once you've opened them, store them in the fridge, as they're susceptible to bacteria and mold from the cut end, even if most of it remains wrapped.

2. Leftover can of frosting: Refrigerator

An open can of frosting needs to go in your fridge. Unopened, it's fine in your pantry, but once you've used it, it's prone to spoilage and bacterial contamination.

3. Peanut butter (processed commercial brands): Room temperature

Traditional peanut butters like Jif or Skippy are processed for a long shelf life, even after opening. And any additives used to stabilize the products are FDA approved, and have used safely for decades.

Peanut Butter Blasts

4. Peanut butter (unprocessed brands): Refrigerator

Sometimes referred to as "natural" peanut butter, this version of peanut butter is only ground peanuts, and nothing else. It's best to refrigerate because the oils can become rancid and spoiled when left at room temperature for weeks.

To soften, remove from the fridge 30 - 60 minutes prior to using.

5. Coconut oil: Refrigerator

All oil can become rancid when stored at room temperature for too long. This is particularly true for oils used less often, including coconut oil, sesame and walnut oils. To ensure freshness, store in the fridge. Coconut oil is already a solid fat at room temperature. Sesame and walnut oils become solid in the refrigerator, but return to a liquid at room temperature without a change in taste or texture.

6. Coffee beans: Room temperature

If you're looking for optimal taste and aroma from your morning joe, keep the beans at room temperature. Coffee beans can pick up moisture from the fridge, and compromise flavor (but it doesn’t alter the caffeine content).

For storage longer than a few weeks, wrap them tightly in plastic wrap and freezer bags, and store in the freezer for up to six months.

7. Soy sauce: Room temperature

Soy sauce is a fermented product of soybeans and once opened can safely remain at room temperature.

8. Hot sauce: Room temperature

Hot sauces are generally a mixture of vinegar, hot peppers and seasonings. Because vinegar is a mild acid, these sauces can be stored at room temp without spoilage. If you choose to store it in the fridge, warm to room temperature for optimal flavor before using.

9. Leftover pie: Refrigerator

Because the crusts and sometimes the fillings contain butter, cream, and eggs, store leftover pie in the fridge to avoid spoilage.

10. Mixed nuts: Refrigerator

Nuts contain heart healthy oils that can become rancid when stored too long at room temperature, especially in a warm kitchen. Store your leftover nuts in a sealed bag in the refrigerator. For longer term storage, wrap carefully and store in the freezer for several months.

11. Balsamic vinegar: Room temperature

All vinegars — plain and specialty types like balsamic or tarragon — are stable at room temperature. Vinegar is a mild acid which deters bacterial growth.

12. Butter: Refrigerator

As a dairy product, butter must be stored in the fridge to prevent spoilage. While "butter crocks" can be a good idea for short term storage of several hours, for longer storage without spoilage, keep it in the fridge. There also is a safe way to leave butter on the counter as long as you follow these guidelines as told to TODAY Food by two food safety experts.

13. Probiotics: Refrigerator

The Good Housekeeping Institute (GHI) suggests generally keeping probiotics refrigerated even though modern freeze-drying techniques mean some bacteria can be stored in a medicine cabinet. Refrigerating probiotics slows down the process of heat killing the bacteria, according to GHI, but read the guidelines on the box or bottle to make sure about refrigeration.

14. Eggs: Refrigerator

Since the places eggs are sold in grocery stores tend to be cooler than our homes and do not fluctuate in temperature, eggs should be stored in the fridge, GHI advises.

The eggs should also be kept on the shelves of the refrigerator rather than their usual spot on the door because the door area is where the most fluctuations in temperature happen. Storing certain foods in specific parts of the fridge can be crucial to keeping them fresh.

Good Housekeeping Institute also recommends storing some non-food items in the refrigerator, too. These goods definitely surprised us!

Foundation

While it might seem strange to keep makeup in the fridge, GHI says storing foundation can prevent the oils from spoiling. It just needs to be kept in an upright container to prevent any contamination with food.

Flowers

Flowers are another item to keep in a vase in the fridge if you are trying to get them to last longer, which is routinely done by florists.

Then there's times when the refrigerator isn't an option because of lost power due to a storm or other reasons. Here's what to do with the food in the fridge when that happens.

This story was originally published July 28, 2016.

Madelyn Fernstrom is health and nutrition editor for TODAY. Follow her on Twitter @drfernstrom.