What people keep in their refrigerators in 20 countries around the world

Talia LakritzAug 19, 2020, 19:41 IST

A Romanian family shares what's inside their fridge.Courtesy of Admiral Home Insurance

Admiral Home Insurance asked 20 people from 20 countries to photograph their fridges and reveal more about what's inside.
Some fridges are organized, while others describe theirs as "controlled chaos."
People's favorite treats include fruit, dulce de leche, jalapeños, and almond butter.

The kitchen is often called "the heart of the home" because it's where people gather to cook and eat meals together. Refrigerators are a central part of kitchens around the world, and what people keep inside them can tell you a lot about their culture and household.

Admiral Home Insurance asked 20 people from around the world to open their fridge, take a photo, and describe what's inside.

Here's what people from 20 different countries like to eat.

Miguel from Mendoza, Argentina, lives in a household of four.

Mendoza, Argentina. Courtesy of Admiral Home Insurance

"We try not to be wasteful with food," he said. "If any food remains, we reheat it the next day and any leftovers go to the dog."

Miguel's fridge. Courtesy of Admiral Home Insurance

In Bagerhat, Bangladesh, Bashanti does most of her shopping at the Mistripara Market.

Bagerhat, Bangladesh. Courtesy of Admiral Home Insurance

"My husband goes food shopping and pays for it," she said. "He goes two or three times a week."

Bashanti's fridge. Courtesy of Admiral Home Insurance

Christina always keeps Skyr in her fridge in Haskovo, Bulgaria.

Haskovo, Bulgaria. Courtesy of Admiral Home Insurance

"Our fridge isn't very organized and we tend to go by the motto 'put it wherever you find space,'" she said. "This often means stacking items on top of each other."

Christina's fridge. Courtesy of Admiral Home Insurance

Janice lives alone in Bogota, Colombia.

Bogota, Colombia. Courtesy of Admiral Home Insurance

"For me, green apples are a must, as are plain yogurt and chicken breast," she said.

Janice's fridge. Courtesy of Admiral Home Insurance

María lives with her mother and two sisters in Guayaquil, Ecuador.

Guayaquil, Ecuador. Courtesy of Admiral Home Insurance

"We always have tomatoes, onions, shrimp and soy meat in the fridge," she said. "A treat for us is low sugar chocolate."

María's fridge. Courtesy of Admiral Home Insurance

Nicola from Tunbridge Wells, England, shops at Marks and Spencer's.

Tunbridge Wells, England. Courtesy of Admiral Home Insurance

"I've decided to stop growing vegetables because of the very warm summers we are experiencing in England," she said.

Nicola's fridge. Courtesy of Admiral Home Insurance

In Helsinki, Finland, Laurene lives with his boyfriend.

Helsinki, Finland. Courtesy of Admiral Home Insurance

"We love condiments and pickled items like mustard, soy, chili sauce, fish sauce, ketchup, Worcestershire sauce, Tabasco, lemon juice, capers, ginger, cucumbers, and eggs," he said.

Laurene's fridge. Courtesy of Admiral Home Insurance

"We love condiments and pickled items like mustard, soy, chili sauce, fish sauce, ketchup, Worcestershire sauce, Tabasco, lemon juice, capers, ginger, cucumbers, and eggs," he said.

Duncan from Wexford, Ireland, has two children, both lactose intolerant.

Wexford, Ireland. Courtesy of Admiral Home Insurance

"To try and reduce wastage each time we do a new shop, we move any old veg into one drawer and have the new veg in the other," she said.

Duncan's fridge. Courtesy of Admiral Home Insurance

Nicholas and his wife from Nairobi, Kenya, go grocery shopping once a week.

Nairobi, Kenya. Courtesy of Admiral Home Insurance

"To get our food we use public service vehicles (locally known as matatus) that pick and drop passengers from one point to the next," he said.

Nicholas' fridge. Courtesy of Admiral Home Insurance

In Guadalajara, Mexico, Vanessa lives on her own.

Guadalajara, Mexico. Courtesy of Admiral Home Insurance

"I always have non-dairy milk, bread, veggies, and some kind of spicy sauce or salsa," she said. "I don't usually buy a lot of treats for myself, I usually just have almond butter."

Vanessa's fridge. Courtesy of Admiral Home Insurance

"I always have non-dairy milk, bread, veggies, and some kind of spicy sauce or salsa," she said. "I don't usually buy a lot of treats for myself, I usually just have almond butter."

Asif lives with his wife and three children in Lahore, Pakistan.

Lahore, Pakistan. Courtesy of Admiral Home Insurance

"For us a treat would be a banana or an apple, or sometimes cake," he said.

Asif's fridge. Courtesy of Admiral Home Insurance

Ghada and his wife live in Khan Yunis in the Palestinian Territories.

Khan Yunis, Palestinian Territories. Courtesy of Admiral Home Insurance

"I love sweetcorn and I use it in my salads," he said. "I also love foods like Tiland chicken, which I use on pizza and in Turkish pie."

Ghada's fridge. Courtesy of Admiral Home Insurance

Mateusz, his partner, and their baby live in Silesia, Poland.

Silesia, Poland. Courtesy of Admiral Home Insurance

"Honestly, it's more of a controlled chaos than any kind of a system," he said of their fridge.

Mateusz's fridge. Courtesy of Admiral Home Insurance

Daniel lives with his wife and daughter in Cluj-Napoca, Romania.

Cluj-Napoca, Romania. Courtesy of Admiral Home Insurance

"Special treats in our fridge are peanut butter, chocolate, and honey," he said.

Daniel's fridge. Courtesy of Admiral Home Insurance

Anastasija's father usually does the grocery shopping for their household in Saint Petersburg, Russia.

Saint Petersburg, Russia. Courtesy of Admiral Home Insurance

"A special treat would be yogurts or sausages," she said.

Anastasija's fridge. Courtesy of Admiral Home Insurance

Denys and her husband, who live in Kharkiv, Ukraine, do their grocery shopping together.

Kharkiv, Ukraine. Courtesy of Admiral Home Insurance

"Food essentials for us are milk, chicken, fruit, vegetables, eggs, honey, coconut oil, butter, and cottage cheese," she said.

Denys' fridge. Courtesy of Admiral Home Insurance

Pedro and his girlfriend moved to Montevideo, Uruguay, from Venezuela.

Montevideo, Uruguay. Courtesy of Admiral Home Insurance

"Treats are generally fruit such as strawberries," he said. "Other times it can be apple dessert or dulce de leche (caramel)."

Pedro's fridge. Courtesy of Admiral Home Insurance

Meghan and her partner often cook together in their home in Somerville in the United States.

Somerville, United States. Courtesy of Admiral Home Insurance

"We have a few canvas bags that we put shopping in," she said. "Our town actually charges for paper and plastic bags, so we fell into the habit."

Meghan's fridge. Courtesy of Admiral Home Insurance

Rene's daughters do her grocery shopping for her in Merida, Venezuela.

Merida, Venezuela. Courtesy of Admiral Home Insurance

"I only waste a tiny bit of food in preparation, but leftovers are always eaten," she said.

Rene's fridge. Courtesy of Admiral Home Insurance

In Monmouth, Wales, Richard and his family usually shop at Tesco, Lidl, or Waitrose.

Monmouth, Wales. Courtesy of Admiral Home Insurance

"Treats for me are spicy sauces and jalapeños," he said.

Richard's fridge. Courtesy of Admiral Home Insurance

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What people keep in their refrigerators in 20 countries around the world

Miguel from Mendoza, Argentina, lives in a household of four.

"We try not to be wasteful with food," he said. "If any food remains, we reheat it the next day and any leftovers go to the dog."

In Bagerhat, Bangladesh, Bashanti does most of her shopping at the Mistripara Market.

"My husband goes food shopping and pays for it," she said. "He goes two or three times a week."

Christina always keeps Skyr in her fridge in Haskovo, Bulgaria.

"Our fridge isn't very organized and we tend to go by the motto 'put it wherever you find space,'" she said. "This often means stacking items on top of each other."

Janice lives alone in Bogota, Colombia.

"For me, green apples are a must, as are plain yogurt and chicken breast," she said.

María lives with her mother and two sisters in Guayaquil, Ecuador.

"We always have tomatoes, onions, shrimp and soy meat in the fridge," she said. "A treat for us is low sugar chocolate."

Nicola from Tunbridge Wells, England, shops at Marks and Spencer's.

"I've decided to stop growing vegetables because of the very warm summers we are experiencing in England," she said.

In Helsinki, Finland, Laurene lives with his boyfriend.

"We love condiments and pickled items like mustard, soy, chili sauce, fish sauce, ketchup, Worcestershire sauce, Tabasco, lemon juice, capers, ginger, cucumbers, and eggs," he said.

Duncan from Wexford, Ireland, has two children, both lactose intolerant.

"To try and reduce wastage each time we do a new shop, we move any old veg into one drawer and have the new veg in the other," she said.

Nicholas and his wife from Nairobi, Kenya, go grocery shopping once a week.

"To get our food we use public service vehicles (locally known as matatus) that pick and drop passengers from one point to the next," he said.

In Guadalajara, Mexico, Vanessa lives on her own.

"I always have non-dairy milk, bread, veggies, and some kind of spicy sauce or salsa," she said. "I don't usually buy a lot of treats for myself, I usually just have almond butter."

Asif lives with his wife and three children in Lahore, Pakistan.

"For us a treat would be a banana or an apple, or sometimes cake," he said.

Ghada and his wife live in Khan Yunis in the Palestinian Territories.

"I love sweetcorn and I use it in my salads," he said. "I also love foods like Tiland chicken, which I use on pizza and in Turkish pie."

Mateusz, his partner, and their baby live in Silesia, Poland.

"Honestly, it's more of a controlled chaos than any kind of a system," he said of their fridge.

Daniel lives with his wife and daughter in Cluj-Napoca, Romania.

"Special treats in our fridge are peanut butter, chocolate, and honey," he said.

Anastasija's father usually does the grocery shopping for their household in Saint Petersburg, Russia.

"A special treat would be yogurts or sausages," she said.

Denys and her husband, who live in Kharkiv, Ukraine, do their grocery shopping together.

"Food essentials for us are milk, chicken, fruit, vegetables, eggs, honey, coconut oil, butter, and cottage cheese," she said.

Pedro and his girlfriend moved to Montevideo, Uruguay, from Venezuela.

"Treats are generally fruit such as strawberries," he said. "Other times it can be apple dessert or dulce de leche (caramel)."

Meghan and her partner often cook together in their home in Somerville in the United States.

"We have a few canvas bags that we put shopping in," she said. "Our town actually charges for paper and plastic bags, so we fell into the habit."

Rene's daughters do her grocery shopping for her in Merida, Venezuela.

"I only waste a tiny bit of food in preparation, but leftovers are always eaten," she said.

In Monmouth, Wales, Richard and his family usually shop at Tesco, Lidl, or Waitrose.

"Treats for me are spicy sauces and jalapeños," he said.