Eli5 If plants can stay alive fine outside in 40° weather, then why do we need to refrigerate vegetables?

Question

Eli5 If plants can stay alive fine outside in 40° weather, then why do we need to refrigerate vegetables?

In: Earth Science

Answer 1

For the same reason cows can stay alive fine outside in 40c but you need to refrigerate meat.

You don’t refrigerate vegetables to keep them alive. Vegetables (the ones you buy in the supermarket) are dead and need to be refrigerated to avoid rotting.