You could argue that the heart of any home is the refrigerator. It's true- without it, we would have to constantly rely on food delivery, and have nothing to go to for late-night munchies. Obviously, having a fridge is an absolute necessity.
But what are the most essential contents of a fridge? These people of Reddit have all the answers. Connnor4real asked:
What is essential to have in your fridge at all times?
First, let's go back to basics.
Seasoning your food is necessary.
“Having just condiments is pretty sad, but not having condiments at all is a whole different level of low.”
“I'll never forget the time I was invited to eat at my aunt's boyfriend's house (why, I have no clue). I had to have been around 11 or so.
The man had no salt. No salt-like product. How do you not own salt? If you choose not to eat salt for whatever reason, how do you not own salt for people you invite over? It's like the one basic seasoning.
I'm 41 and whenever that comes to mind I still get annoyed at the idea of it.”
Yes to all of this.
Hot Sauce Bip GIF by Bachelor in Paradise
Giphy
“Some kinda hot sauce, I go for cholula and sriracha.
Yo I'm very aware you don't need them in the fridge to stay good. Also thanks for the recommendations everyone!”
“We keep El Yucateco, Cholula, Louisiana, Tabasco, Huichol, Valentina, and Tapatío.
Also often keep a more home style jalapeño and tomatillo or chile de árbol salsa. Once in awhile the molcajéte will show up with various salsas in it, or whatever was left over from the last trip to the taqueria.
I could go for some chile morita salsa. And carnitas.”
For the sake of adapting.
“Anything that can be used on bread. Cheese, pâté, any kind of savoury spread.
I lost all pleasure to cook when my partner died, and bread+spreadables is my usual go-to.
Oh, and eggs.
ETA: thank you all so much for the awards, they are really heartwarming; but please, please, please, keep your money and use it for a charity nearby instead, if you can."
“When my grandfather died it was the exact same for my grandmother. She went from being an amazing cook who stood in the kitchen for hours making a three-course menu for a simple family visit to living with easy and ready-made foods. In the past, she never would have touched those. I heard that this is a fairly common concomitant of grief but that it gets better over time.
I wish you all the best!"
Emergency quesadillas.
“Shredded cheese and tortillas. Gotta be able to make a quesadilla at the drop of a hat.”
“Up your quesadilla game by buying the cheese in a block and shredding it yourself. It's cheaper and melts better; the pre-shredded stuff has additives it to keep it from clumping.”
Then there are the nonsensical universal things that we keep in our fridge, despite no reason to.
Don’t eat after phase three.
Hungry Labor Day GIF by Bounce
Giphy
“Leftovers that I will never actually eat.”
“Leftovers go through 3 phases. 1) I can still eat this because I just cooked it yesterday but I won't. 2) it's been 2-3 days, I should really eat that now before it goes bad. 3) why did I even save that, now it's been 4 days and it's definitely bad but I don't want to throw it out and let it sit in my garbage can so might as well wait until garbage day.
Edit: yes I get it. You can eat leftovers after 4 days. That's great. Personally I have leftover fish in my fridge from Thursday and it's in phase 3. But if you want to eat food a week after it's been cooked be my guest.”
Every grandma has this.
”A strange jar of something completely unlabelled and hidden toward the back. It stays there for years and keeps people guessing.”
“Please stop coming to my grandma's house.”
Who needs to bake it anyway?
“Cookie dough, I don't care if it's edible or not I'm eating it.”
“There have been way too many times in my house where the cookie dough has never made it to the oven.
ETA: This comment made me want cookies. I managed to get most of them baked.”
And don’t forget the go-to snacks that always have a home in the fridge, especially for those wild nights.
All of this is accurate.
pickle GIF
Giphy
“Pickles. Best anytime snack.”
“People don't believe me when I say that eating them before you go to bed will diminish one's hangovers until they try it themselves. I mostly stick to my Mexican roots and eat a bowl of pozole or street tacos for hangover prevention before I crash out but pickles are great when I'm totally smashed and just want to pass out. Pickle juice is also great in the morning if you do wake up with a slight headache. Salud!
Smart ideas all around.
“Barbecue sauce.
Also sandwich supplies (sans bread cuz refrigerated bread is weird) cuz sandwiches are fantastic quickie "meals"."
“I keep bread in the freezer, then give it a quick trip through the toaster to make it edible."
This is a gourmet meal on its own.
“Bacon. So many things.
Fresh Broccoli. Roasted with oil and salt is magic.
A variety of cheeses.
Real Butter. Cook almost everything in it."
Out of all of these, the hot sauce one really spoke to me. Nothing like a fresh pepper filled with hot sauce as my go-to drunk snack.
Take this list to the grocery store, and stop ordering pizza for once.
Not all pet owners have the same relationship with their pets.
While anyone who decides to become a pet owner, or pet parent as some say, love their pets equally, some never ever let them leave their side.
Taking their pet with them to work, running errands, even on vacations.
Many pet parents even allow their pets to share their bed with them when going to sleep.
For others though, this is where a line is finally drawn.
Redditor Piggythelavasurfer was curious to hear whether pet owners allowed their pets to share their bed with them, as well as the reasons why they do/don't, leading them to ask:
"Do you let your pet sleep in your bed? Why/why not?"
The Tiny Issue Of Water...
"Absolutely not."
"I have fish."- Senior-Meal3649
Everyone Gets Lonely Eventually...
"I adopted an eleven year old cat the day before Halloween."
"She has mostly lived in my closet since I got her, and she hasn’t been too interested in coming out."
"Last night, she came out of my closet and jumped up on my bed, and crawled under my covers and curled up by my feet to sleep."
"I was so happy!"- YellowBeastJeep
The Comforting Reminder That You're Not Alone...
"I recently lost my Greyhound but I used to let him sleep on my bed with me."
"The company was nice and he was no trouble to have on my bed."- HoodedMenace3
Hungry Cookie GIF by De Graafschap Dierenartsen
Giphy
What Do You Mean Allow?
"I have no choice."
"She is a cat, cats do whatever they want."- Small_cat1412
"He lets me sleep in my bed."- Poorly-Drawn-Beagle
Wouldn't Have It Any Other Way
"I carry my old boy upstairs to bed every night."- worst_in_show
Hug GIF by The BarkPost
Giphy
Who Needs An Alarm Clock?
"I let my two cats sleep with me."
"They're so full of love and just want cuddles all the time."
"And so do I."
"We've all developed a lil routine."
"Get to bed, oldest sleeps on my feet to keep them warm, youngest lies in my arm while I lie on my side (she the little spoon), then when I snooze my alarm for work in the morning the youngest paws at my face and meeps loudly to wake me up."- GhostofaFlea_
Whose Bed Is It Anyway?
"Yes."
"They're also kind enough to let me squeeze into whatever space they've left for me."
"Although I do get a few dirty looks off them."- Therealkaylor
"I found this tiny kitten screaming her head off under a car."
"Would not come out."
"Got some food and some water in dishes."
"I stood by the tire so she couldn't see my feet."
"She got curious about the food and water and started gobbling it down."
"I thought she would bolt when I squatted down."
"She was too busy eating."
"I grabbed her by the nape of the neck and all four legs went straight out and she tried to scratch me to death."
"I got her in the door and tossed her toward the couch."
"She ricocheted off the couch as if she was a ping pong off a table and I lost sight of her."
"I put out food and water and a sandbox and did not see that kitten for three days."
"On the third day, I came home and she was on my bed pillow."
"I thought she would bolt when I came near, but she didn't."
"I wanted to sleep so I tried to scoot her little butt off my pillow."
"She would not go."
"I put my head down to sleep and that is the way it was from then on."
"She ran the roost."- Logical_Cherry_7588
sleepy kitten GIF
Giphy
Sleeping Is A Prerequisite...
"No, he's a cat and he cannot keep still during the night."
"He walks across the headboard, opens the closet doors, jumps into the windows and rustles the blinds, etc."
"If he would sleep he could stay, but alas, he's a ramblin' man."- Spong_Durnflungle
Saying No Just Isn't An Option...
"'Let'."
"Lol."
"It's a cat's world and I'm happy to be on her good side."- milaren
Felines Only!
"The cat does, the dog doesn't and the horse certainly does not either."- Xcrowzz
Angry Tom And Jerry GIF by Boomerang Official
Giphy
Is That My Hair On That Pillow?
"My dog is perfect."
"She comes up, cuddles til we start to fall asleep, then gets down to sleep on her bed so she doesn't get too hot."
"Jumps back up in the early morning for wake up cuddles."
"The hair everywhere is the only downside but she is so cozy, what can you do."- HoodieWinchester
It is easy to understand how some people are able to fall asleep more easily knowing their friend and protector is there, in bed, with them.
Though we can't blame others who don't want to run the risk of being scratched or bitten in the middle of the night either...
The old wives' tales.
They are the stories of legend.
I think we all need a big DEEP Google dive though.
Where did they originate?
WHO ARE THE OLD WIVES!
You don't hear about them as much anymore.
It's like science and logic are suddenly a thing.
But they sure are a good way to keep your kids and their behavior in line.
Redditor the_spring_goddess wanted to discuss the tall tales we've all been fed through life, so they asked:
"What is an old wives tale that people still believe?"
"Wait an hour to swim after eating."
What a crock!
So many summer hours wasted.
I want revenge for that one.
Say Nothing
Giphy
"An undercover cop has to tell you he's a cop if you ask him."
LonelyMail5115
"Pretty much most advice when it comes to cops are old wives tales. I’m not even a cop but most of the advice you hear is pretty off."
I_AM_AN_A**HOLE_AMA
Say Something
"That you have to wait 24 hours to report someone missing."
Severe_Airport1426
"I really think this one is important and should be the top regardless. As it’s a piece of advice that needs to be relearned and the only way to do that is through awareness."
crappycurtains
"This used to be true. I think they changed it after some guy named Brandon went missing back in the '80s or '70s. You used to have to wait 24 hours if the missing person was an adult because they had 'a right to be missing' and then everyone realized that was stupid and stopped doing it."
AlbinoShavedGorilla
Body Temps
"That drinking ice cold water after eating oily foods will solidify the oil and permanently remain in your body. I informed my coworker that if your body temperature ever reached that point, you’d have bigger problems than weight gain."
chriseo22
"Oh, I have a cousin who 100% believed this. One of those guys who believed every early 2000s internet rumor and old wives tale. One night I chugged a big glass of ice water after dinner and he started freaking out and saying my guts were gonna harden."
"I sarcastically told him to drive me to the hospital if that happened. Obviously, nothing happened and the next morning I said something like 'Thanks for being on standby in case my guts filled with hardened oil.' He just walked off muttering under his breath."
apocalypticradish
Arms Down
"When I was pregnant, I was told by young and old alike that I should NOT raise my arms above my head or exert myself in such a manner because it could cause cord strangulation to my unborn sons and daughters."
Fatmouse84
10 Years Actually
Unimpressed Uh Huh GIF by Brooklyn Nine-Nine
Giphy
"Chewing gum stays in your stomach for 7 years."
"I remember accidentally swallowing a piece of gum when I was a kid in like 1995 and just accepting my fate like welp, gonna have this in my stomach til high school I guess."
Gecko-911
I was so afraid to sallow my gum when I was young.
This tale is haunting.
High/Low
Hungry Debra Messing GIF by Will & Grace
Giphy
"You can tell the sex of the baby by how you carry."
LeastFormal9366
"Pregnancy certainly wins awards for the most old wives tales. So much absolute BS was repeated to us by everyone we talked to."
IllIIIlIllIlIIlIllI
The Cursed
"If you’re a woman and you wear opal jewelry but opal is not your birthstone (October), you’ll never be able to have children, or will be widowed, or just generally have bad luck or something. You can counteract this by having a diamond in the same piece of jewelry as the opal, though."
"I have a nice opal ring that my parents gave me years ago, and I’ve had other women give me this 'advice' unprompted more than once when I’ve worn it. I have absolutely no idea where it started, but I’m pretty sure this little chunk of silicate rock has no concept of what month I was born in, let alone of how my reproductive organs work."
SmoreOfBabylon
Stay In
"Going outside with wet hair will make you get pneumonia. Or an earache. Or maybe arthritis. Depends on which old wife you listen to."
"Jokes on them - I haven't blow-dried my hair in decades and usually leave the house with wet hair in the morning. On winter mornings, the tips of my hair get frozen. No ear infections or pneumonia or arthritis yet."
worldbound0514
Dreams and Facts
"You never make anyone up in your dreams you've seen everyone in your dreams somewhere else before and never make anyone up entirely."
"How would you possibly prove that to be true? My partner adamantly believes this and tells me this 'fact' whenever I have a dream about someone I've never met before."
mattshonestreddit
"My late wife used to tell me that before she met me she would have dreams of standing at an alter on her wedding day but could never see the guy's face, no matter how hard she tried. After meeting me the face was filled in with mine. Don't know if it's true but one of those things I like thinking of every now and then when I miss her."
Darthdemented
Cracked
Getting Ready Episode 2 GIF by The Office
Giphy
"Some people still believe cracking knuckles causes arthritis."
Choice-Grapefruit-44
"There's a doctor (Donald Unger) that cracked his knuckles a couple of times a day for 60 years, but only on one hand, just to prove it. Both hands remained exactly the same."
MacyTmcterry
I love my knuckles.
Do you have any tall tales to add to the list? Let us know in the comments below.
