Opopop products are shelf-stable, happily stored in a pantry or cupboard, and do not need to be refrigerated. The reason we sometimes ship cold is to protect the kernels from the heat of the delivery trucks during the hot summers. Similar to chocolate, they can get squishy and melt in high temps, but are still safe to eat if that happens. If you decide to keep them in the refrigerator because it's warmer than usual, we'd recommend bringing the kernels to room temperature in the Popper before putting it in the microwave.