What's Worse? 7 Surprising Truths About Food

What's worse: washing vegetables before putting them in the fridge, or storing them "dirty"?

Washing them first.
Even though cold temperatures slow down most bacterial growth, some bacteria can multiply in the fridge, especially if they're in a moist environment. You can try to dry produce well, but still, Ibrahim says, "It's best to wait until you're ready to eat produce to wash it, due to water introducing mold, decay and potential bacteria growth."