What ever you feel comfortable with. For years people have been storing eggs in a larder/pantry and providing you choose good quality eggs from reputable sources it should be perfectly ok to store eggs at room temperature. In fact many chefs support this as the eggs perform better in cooking when kept out of the fridge. A few years ago test was done on Lion-branded eggs. Two batches of eggs were kept for a fortnight, one at room temperature, the other at typical fridge temperature. Samples from both batches were regularly tested for a wide range of bacteria including E.coli, salmonella and listeria and there was no difference between the two batches. Both remained bacteria-free.

I keep it on the counter, on a pretty cake pedestal, next to my tomatoes. I don't eat it all at once so need a place to keep it until all used. If it sits around too long it starts to smell strongly of garlic, that's when I know it has gone off. Otherwise it does not have an odor, and it is very pretty in its show white gift wrap.

Tim Tams are very nice, of course, but it's Mint Slices that really get me drooling! Both always in the fridge (essential in summer, nice even in a cold winter).

Thanks Kate. Okay I can make that work w the pantry. So with that in mind, with the hinges on the correct side, you don’t think the fridge on the northern wall facing south will feel too cramped? It will come out 300mm more than if the pantry was there. But the win would be that the practicality and flow of the kitchen is there despite it coming out further.