The word refrigerator literally means cold. And, ultimately ... It doesn’t have to be room temperature or under — just enough to not affect the overall temperature of the refrigerator space.

And your home refrigerator is just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to the cold chain process, Twilley says. So this summer, as you struggle to fit Christmas leftovers into the fridge ...

The cold temperature stops the ripening process, which is important for their natural taste. The fridge also damages the tomato’s skin, making it wrinkly and mushy. Keep tomatoes at room ...