Things That You Can Store In A Wine Fridge

Wine fridges are a great way to store your wine, whether it be for ageing or for serving - but did you know that you can store more than just wine in your wine fridge?

From cheese to medicine, wine coolers are a versatile unit in which you can store anything you like - especially if it has humidity control.

Regular fridges can get full pretty quickly and can smell like the food stored in it.

Wine coolers on the other hand often feature a charcoal filter to eliminate aromas, so why not make the most of your wine cooler by storing other things in there?

 

1- Fruit And Veg

A wine fridge is a perfect place to store your fruit.

Some fruits that you can keep in a wine fridge include apples, pears, bananas, grapes, plums, peaches, and nectarines. Hybrid fruits can also be stored in a wine fridge.

You can also effectively store vegetables in your wine fridge - typically, leafy greens are more suitable for wine fridge storage.

However, most veg should be fine as long as it isn’t too smelly - you don’t want your wine to smell of onion, after all.

Typically, cooler season fruit and veg such as sprouts or kale are best stored at 0-20-2°C.

However, warmer season fruit and vegetables such as tomato or cucumber is generally best stored at higher temperatures of I’m 7-10°C.

 

2- Other Drinks

Wine isn’t the only beverage you can store in a wine fridge - you can store pretty much any drink in a wine fridge.

Nobody enjoys a warm can of coke or a warm bottle of water. Well, storing your beverages in a wine fridge is a great way of keeping them cool, so you can enjoy a refreshing beverage whenever you like.

Bottles of water and mixers can take up space in your regular fridge, so if your wine fridge isn’t at full capacity, why not keep your bottles in there next to your wines?

As well as mixers and water, you can also store your sparkling wines and Champagne in your wine fridge - white and sparkling wines are best kept at temperatures lower than red wines - usually under 10°C.

You can also store your iced tea and iced coffees in a wine fridge so they remain cool and fresh for longer!

 

3- Cheese

Wine and cheese have something in common - they both taste better with age. Wine fridges provide the optimal storage conditions for ageing cheeses.

Regular fridges tend to dry out cheese due to the humidity levels, whereas wine fridges provide humidity levels and ensure your cheese remains fresh and moist.

Soft cheeses are best stored at between 1°C and 7°C, whereas harder cheeses are best stored at higher temperatures of between 4°C and 10°C.

Storing your cheese in a wine fridge is certain to maintain the natural flavours of the cheese without drying it out. Before serving, take the cheese out of the fridge for an hour or so to achieve room temperature.

 

4- Herbs

If you use herbs when cooking, you’ll be glad to know that you can store herbs in your wine fridge so they stay fresh for longer.

Herbs such as coriander or parsley are best stored in a wine fridge, but you can store pretty much any herb in there.

However, try to avoid storing strong-smelling herbs such as garlic in a wine fridge as the smells can overpower the flavours of the wine.

 

5- Meat

Did you know that you can also store meat in a wine fridge? Wet ageing meats in your wine fridge is only usually recommended if you have wine in there at the same time.

Be sure to use thick and durable shrink-wrapped plastic bags to ensure the smells don’t leave the bag and affect the flavours of the wine.

Not using plastic wraps when you’re dry ageing or curing your meats can result in an unpleasant meaty aroma in your wine fridge, and even lead to your wine tasting of meat.

It’s usually best to age your meats in a wine fridge that has humidity control to ensure that the meat is kept at the right humidity levels.

 

6- Cigars

Cigars are generally best stored in the correct humidity levels, which is generally around 72% humidity for cigars in a Spanish cedar box and Boveda beads.

If your wine cooler doesn’t allow you to change the humidity levels, it may be worth purchasing a hygrometer.

Wine fridges that use compressors can cause your cigars to dry out, so it’s best to avoid these.

 

7- Chocolate

Who doesn’t like chocolate? Well, if you’re a chocolate lover, you’ll be glad to know that you can keep your chocolate cool in a wine fridge - which is ideal for the summer months where chocolate can melt.

Chocolate kept in a regular fridge can absorb the aromas of other food in the fridge - and the last thing you want is an onion or bacon flavoured chocolate bar.

 

8- Olive Oil

You can also store olive oil in your wine fridge - olive oil is best kept at around 13°C, which is a default setting of many wine coolers.

 

9- Beauty Products

Many beauty products such as creams, lotions, and face masks will last longer if kept in cooler conditions, so why not store them next to your wine collection in your wine fridge?

You don’t want to keep your face mask in a regular fridge as it could start smelling like the food stored around it - and you don’t really want your moisturiser smelling like leftover spaghetti bolognese, do you?

It’s also much better for your skin to apply cooler creams and face masks, and it can do a great job of closing and tightening your pores.

 

10- Medicine

Certain medications are best stored at cooler temperatures, so why not keep them in your wine fridge to avoid taking up space in your regular fridge?

It’s sure to save time spent rummaging through your fridge trying to find your medication, as you know exactly where it is in your wine cooler.

However, if you just want to know how you can store your wine, then click here for our guide to storing wine successfully.