Unsalted butter

Keeping your butter on the counter or in the cabinet to maintain that good spreadable texture seems like a no-brainer, but it’s still important to note the type of butter you’re keeping out. Unsalted butter lacks that extra layer of protection given by salt, which is meant to ward off bacterial growth.

For this particular reason, it would be best to refrigerate unsalted butter unless you want to use it within a couple of hours for a particular recipe.

Bananas

I know it might seem like a great idea to throw those bananas in the pantry when you get home from Costco, but it will only encourage ripening. Because here’s the thing: protecting bananas from light is a super important part of prolonging shelf life, as is keeping them cool.

The ideal temperature to store bananas is 56 to 58 degrees Fahrenheit, making your countertop one of the best places to store them.