Once you open it, ketchup goes in the fridge.

We straightened out some misconceptions about foods that don’t go in the fridge. Now here are 7 foods that will benefit from the chill of the icebox.

Ketchup
Restaurants go through a bottle in no time, but most home kitchens don’t. Keep ketchup fresh in the refrigerator for up to 3 months.

Butter
All those oils can and will turn rancid at room temperature (ick!). Store all your buttery goodness in the fridge or the freezer. Defrost frozen sticks in the refrigerator overnight.

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Is it time for a major fridge cleaning at your house?

Take a peek in your fridge or freezer. How many of these items do you have stocked?

Defining “Worst”
It’s no big shocker that large portions of ice cream, butter and mayonnaise aren’t super healthy, but they’re not off limits as far as we’re concerned. For this list we’re highlighting 10 foods that you’re better off avoiding all together.

1.    Expired Condiments
Condiments do last a while, but certainly not forever! Mold, yeast and other types of creepy-crawly bacteria can grow even in the chilly refrigerator, especially when stored in the warmest part of the fridge—the door. Check dates on all condiments and toss anything you aren’t sure about.

2.    Sugar-Sweetened Beverages
Sodas, juice drinks and teas can dump hundreds of sugary calories into your day. A 2010 study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association found that most folks consume a whopping 21.4 teaspoons of added sugar each day. You’ll find anywhere from 12 to 22 teaspoons in just one bottle of sweetened (16 to 20 fluid ounces) of tea or soda.

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What should stay and what should go? We have the answers.

The time for spring cleaning has arrived — this includes your refrigerator, freezer and pantry! Confused on what should stay and what should go? We’ll tell you how long you can keep foods and when it’s time to toss them.

What to keep and what to toss »

Start the year with a fridge full of healthy foods.

For 2011, it’s out with the old and in with the new for your fridge and freezer. We’ve got 5 things to scratch off your shopping list and 5 fresher, healthier, and more affordable things to put in their place.

What to stock and what to skip »

When Healthy Eats’ intern, Karen, mentioned she’d love some tips on how to upgrade her refrigerator staples, I said, “Send me a pic! Stat!” Always obliging, Karen took a snapshot and then gave me the heads up on the usual items she and her roommate keep on hand. Karen’s main comment was that she and her roommate are both recent college graduates — so they’re busy with new (or odd) jobs and have a limited budget and time. Here’s the feedback I gave her from what I saw inside…

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Some people hate throwing anything out and that includes food. I’m not talking about any food — I mean those rusty cans, condiments and spices you’ve had for years and frozen meats you need a chisel to remove from the freezer.

It’s spring cleaning time — make sure that extends to the kitchen! Learn the best ways to keep a safe refrigerator, freezer and pantry.

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Out with the old, in with the new! Make time this weekend to root out all those unrecognizable foods hiding in your refrigerator and get a clean, healthy start to the year.

Keep these basic tips in mind:

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