What type of products absorb odors easily and should be stored separately from foods that produce strong odors?

• A. Fruits and vegetables
• B. Dairy products such as milk, cheese, butter, and margarine
• C. Grains
• D. Meats

Answer: (B)

Odor absorption happens most with foods that have fat and moisture and that carry delicate flavors, so they can pick up smells from other items in the fridge. Dairy products—milk, cheese, butter, and margarine—fit this well. Their fats and proteins don’t block odor compounds, so aromas from strong-smelling foods like onions, garlic, or fish can migrate into dairy, giving off-flavors or odors to those products. Because of that, dairy is stored separately or in tightly sealed containers to keep flavors from crossing.

Fruits and vegetables, grains, and meats don’t absorb odors in quite the same way or to the same extent, so the issue is less pronounced with them.