Years ago when our family started getting larger, we needed more refrigeration space so I purchased a small dorm type refrigerator without a freezer compartment. It was great for keeping soft drinks and other items cold. When not needed, I cut the temperature down low just to keep it running.
I soon discovered that with the temperature at 50-55 degrees F, this refrigerator was great for keeping potatoes, tomatoes, apples, blueberries, onions and even bananas longer. The banana skins do not turn black either.
I didn't realize how much difference it did make until I lent it to a friend for 3 weeks while he was having refrigeration problems.
Now when family comes home, I don't give up my small refrigerator for keeping extra food in. It's full of fruits and vegetables that taste much better when not kept at real cold temperatures.
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I had no idea these refrigerators could be set to maintain a 50-55 degree temperature. Mind sharing a brand name with us?
It's a Kenmore from Sears. We purchased it at least 12 years ago. It has been a good one. I have the temperature setting one notch above off. The cabinet is 25" high and 18" wide.
It's about empty now as I need to go to the grocery store. I like to get tomatoes from Sam's club. I have kept them for over 2 weeks at the time.
My husband stopped by the grocery store several weeks ago and brought home a 5 lb bag of red potatoes. He did not know that I had just purchased one and the refrigerator was full so I had to store them in the kitchen cabinet. I used them up before using the ones I had in the refrigerator. They began to sprout before we finished them. Now we are finishing up the ones that were in the refrigerator and they are just like they came from the grocery store.
I have just recently started keeping some bananas in this refrigerator. I purchased a big bunch from Sam's club on 7-31-15. After a couple of days, I stuck 4 of them in the little refrigerator to see how long they would keep. I ate the last one yesterday, which was 8 days later. The skin was still yellow and the banana tasted just as good as it did when I put it in there.
Of the ones I left out at room temperature, after 4 days I froze 2 that got overripe before we could eat them.
So, I really don't know how long you can keep bananas at 50-55 degree temperature. But I do know that you can keep them much longer than you can just sitting out at room temperature.
To get my potassium, I eat a banana most every day, fresh, frozen or dehydrated. I love them in a bowl of hot Quaker Old Fashion Oatmeal.
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