Midsomer Norton is expected to be a little cooler today (July 19) just 33 degrees at midday.

However the heat is still intense - and so it is tempting to put all your food in the fridge to save it being spoiled. But is the right thing to do?

Rafaelle Rochira, refrigeration category manager, at home appliance brand Hotpoint, is offering Brits expert tips on everyday items that could benefit from being moved to the fridge, during the heatwave.  

BUTTER

" The oils in the butter will go rancid if exposed to too much light or heat which speeds up the oxidation process and may result in butter developing an "off" smell, look, or taste. Our recommendation – ditch the butter dish and opt for the back of the fridge, where it will remain a cool and constant temperature to avoid food waste."

EGGS

"A question dividing the nation: should you keep your eggs in the cupboard or fridge? For optimum quality and safety, eggs should be kept at a steady temperature below 20'C. High and fluctuating temperatures isn't ideal for eggs, so the best place to store a fresh box during the heatwave is in the fridge to avoid variations in warmth."

AVOCADO

"Take note millennials: Do not refrigerate your avocados, at least not initially. If they are placed in the fridge too early, they won't ripen completely. Ideally, avocados should be stored in a cool, dark space at around 20'C and once ripe, uncut avocados can be stored in the refrigerator, unpeeled, for up to one or two weeks. Cut avocados should be refrigerated quickly as they oxidize and turn brown – to save this from happening, you can also add a splash of lemon juice to the avocado flesh as the acidity helps stop oxidisation."

BREAD

"Whether it's a cob, barm or toastie loaf – as one of our favourite staple foods, bread has a very short shelf life of 3 – 7 days when stored at room temperature, but when the mercury rises to 40, the onset of mould will come on much faster as fungus thrives in heat. However, bread stored in the fridge can dry out and become stale much faster than bread stored at room temperature, so pop it in the freezer to keep it fresh for longer during the heatwave."

KETCHUP

"A common myth that is the cause of debate continues to split the nation: does ketchup belong in the fridge? The short answer is no: Ketchup is full of preservatives to enable it to store for long periods, so hold off filling up the fridge with your tomato sauce during the heatwave and utilise the space for fresh food items."

BANANAS

"We've all been to the supermarket and bought a large bunch of bananas without thought on how long it will take us to eat them all but, to avoid them going bad in the heatwave, and to help them stay fresh for longer, we should refrigerate. Refrigerating unripe bananas will stop the ripening process and prevent the peel to turn black. However, if you put them in the fridge after they have started to go brown, they will turn to mush even faster, so it's always best to refrigerate ripe, but still yellow, bananas – which can make them last for up to two weeks."