Antiques in the fridge

My Dear Readers: A while ago in this column, we wrote about cleaning out the refrigerator and asked our readers to tell us about the OLDEST OR MOST BIZARRE thing in their refrigerator.

Well, we received lots of letters with all kinds of old things. There were so many interesting ones that we are going to list some here, then more next week!

Lin R. Bell has a 62-year-old bottle of capers sitting happily in her refrigerator, waiting to be passed down to the next generation.

Patty Norman of Herndon, Va., found a 55-year-old jar of pear preserves. She did say, ''Technically, it was on a basement shelf, not in the fridge, but I couldn't resist letting you know!''

Francis and Sharon Beringer of Omaha, Neb., bought a box of divinity candy on their honeymoon in 1957. She wrote, ''I stuck it in the refrigerator, and it's been there ever since. It looks good enough to eat (although rock-hard), and I never had the heart to throw it out. It makes a good souvenir (or doorstop!).''

Dottie Merkel of Rochester, N.Y., says: ''Would you believe, in the freezing compartment of my fridge I have a teething ring. It has been there since 1958. It was given to me at a baby shower. It is still in good shape and holds a spot of honor on the freezer door.''

Don't forget to watch next week for some more of these wonderfully aged keepsakes found in refrigerators around the world. -- Heloise

SEND A GREAT HINT TO:

Heloise

P.O. Box 795000

San Antonio, TX 78279-5000

Or fax it to 210-HELOISE

FRUIT LABELS

Dear Heloise: Your column in the paper is one I always read. Thank you for all the hints.

I've never written a hint to you, but today I was reading again about a frustrated person trying to remove the stuck-on labels on fruit.

I, too, used to have that problem until one day I lifted the bottom of the label and have never again had the problem. On all I've had since, it appears it isn't glued down. Hope this helps! -- Sylvia Muscavitch, Winneconne, Wis.

Also, some fruits have a little tab you can use to peel the sticker right off. Read below another hint about fruit stickers from Raymond J. Rundus of Hope Mills, N.C.:

''My clever, German-born wife is quite adept at picking out the best fruit. To remind me what apples, oranges, etc., I should get, she will affix the appropriate labels from previous purchases on the crystal of my wristwatch, where I will be sure not to lose them.

''So there may be some value after all to the consumer in these pesky little stickers.''