The 10 Things You Should Never Store on Your Kitchen Countertops — And Why Most People Still Do It

Avocados ripen too fast. Potatoes sprout. Tomatoes lose flavor. Onions rot near potatoes. The list goes on.

Stick to displaying bananas or apples. Store the rest in a cool pantry or the fridge, depending on what it is.

5. Spices

I used to proudly keep my spice rack near the stove — ready for action. But I later learned that heat and light degrade the flavor of spices.

That dried basil? Tasteless. That cinnamon? Weak.

Best practice: Keep spices in a drawer or cabinet away from the stove. It not only preserves flavor but gives your counter a cleaner look.

6. Paperwork and Mail

Raise your hand if your kitchen counter becomes the catch-all for bills, coupons, doctor’s notes, and grocery lists.

(I’m guilty too.)Continue reading…