As science progresses, new things are invented and the refrigerator is also one of them. It helps in preserving our food for a long time.
Sometimes it happens that you don’t have a fridge or freezer to preserve your food or in case the electricity goes out then what will you do?
In the past, people relied on natural methods to preserve their seasonal food for a long time. Nowadays we use fridges or freezers for keeping our food cold. But in case of massive power outages, you have to learn these old ways to keep your food cold without electricity.
Preserving food for a long time by using old techniques depends upon your location. If you are living in a dry climate then you can keep your food cold for a long time.
But on the other hand, if you are living in a humid area then it is difficult to keep your food cold because you can’t rely on evaporation for keeping your food cold. As you know humidity recedes evaporation
Surprising Strategies To Keep Food Cold Without Electricity
Following are 9 useful methods to keep your food cold.
1- PORTABLE AND NON-ELECTRIC MINI FRIDGE
A fridge needs electricity to keep your food cold but you will be surprised to know that you can create your fridge by using some ceramic pots, water, and sand.
You know thousands of years before people were preserving food. In some parts of the world, people use the same technique to keep their food cold.
THINGS YOU NEED
- The first thing you need is unglazed ceramic pots. Make sure one should fit inside the other.
- Water
- Some sand
HOW TO MAKE
- The first step is filling the larger pot with a couple of inches of sand.
- Now you need a smaller pot. Put it in the larger pot.
- The space between the pots must be filled with sand.
- This time you need water. Pour the water into the sand.
- The last step is covering your pot with a ceramic lid. You can also cover the pot with a wet cloth.
- You can easily store your food in this mini fridge but one thing you have to do regularly adds water to the sand every day.
- This is the evaporation process that helps to keep the pot cool. In evaporation, water releases energy into the air and keeps the inside space of the pot cool.
2- WRAP YOUR FOOD
This is a very easy and simple way of keeping your food cold for a short period. You need a large piece of fabric and dip it in cold water and then wrap your food in the fabric. After that keep it in a shady and cool place. Keep in your mind this method won’t work for a long time.
3- MAKE AN EVAPORATIVE REFRIGERATOR
The natural process of evaporation is used to keep your food cold without electricity. This technique of keeping food will work very effectively if there is no refrigerator available.
Following are the steps for building an evaporative refrigerator.
- You have to build a box with wood. The first step is building a wooden frame.
- When the frame of the box is built according to your need then make shelves for keeping food. You can use slats or any other material that maintains the temperature, humidity, and air circulation.
- Now you need a stainless steel or nylon screen for stapling over the top and back of the evaporative box. This will help to keep bugs and flies away from your food.
- Now the next step is building the door of the box. You need a stainless steel screen for covering the door.
- Take a large pen and fill it with water. Now please put your box in it. This will also have to keep away ants.
- The last app is taking a large bed cloth and covering your box with it.
- Make sure the location you choose for placing Your evaporative refrigerator must be airy. Every time fresh air flows over the wet cloth then it will increase the evaporation. If you are living in a dry climate then this technique of keeping food will work best.
4- STORE FOOD UNDERGROUND
This technique was also used in the past to keep the food cold when there were no refrigerators and ice boxes. basements are the cooler part of your house. The idea of creating root cellars was very popular a century or two ago.
These are underground rooms where you can keep your vegetables and other food for a long time. In such rooms, natural properties such as insulating, cooling, and humidifying are used to make your food cold. The natural cool temperature of the ground will help to store your raw and pickled vegetables.
5- USE A COOL STREAM
This is another way to keep your food cold in case of a power outage. If there is a cool stream running near your home then you can keep your food cool.
This trick is used by campers who are camping near a stream. Preppers also know this technique for storing food. Running water is cooler due to the process of evaporation than standing water.
When you are using this strategy then make sure that you are using a waterproof, air-tight container for storing food to keep the water and aquatic animals out of your food. The water and fish can ruin your storage food so you must be careful.
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6- BUILD A SPRING OR WELL HOUSE
In ancient times, small buildings were built over springs or wells. These buildings are very unique because they are very significantly cooler, especially on hot days.
You can keep your food inside the spring houses because the water of the spring is very cold and keeps your food cold naturally without using electricity.
This strategy of keeping your food cold is costly because of construction and a lot of work. But this is a one-time expense as it lasts for decades.
7- MAKE AN ICE BOX
Before refrigerators were invented, an icebox was used to keep your food cold. Ice boxes are kept in the kitchen for storing food and keeping it cool for future use.
You need ice for making an ice box. In the past, ice was harvested and put in your ice box to keep your food cold. Now you must be thinking, what is ice harvesting?
In winter, natural ice is found easily. You should wait until a foot of ice is built on the water’s surface. This ice is also used in snow sculpture events.
First, you can select the area of snow where you want to harvest ice. Make sure you are not using the ice of the pond because of the poor water quality. When you choose the location then you can start your work clearing snow.
8- MAKE AN ICE HOUSE
If you want to keep your food cool in your ice box then you need a continuous supply of ice. For this purpose, you have to make an ice house.
For making an ice house, you need an underground space. Such an area is suitable for storing large pieces of ice. Make sure the room you select must be insulated enough so your food will be safe for a long time in future use.
This area must be deep underground to keep the heat out and the earth keeps cold temperatures locked. For making an ice house, you need large ice fragments, I know it is not an easy task.
9- MAKE A COAL OR CHARCOAL COOLER
This idea is similar to the mini non-electrical fridge that we discussed earlier. In the electrical mini fridge, we use ceramic pots to use an evaporation process to keep the interior temperature cool to store your food.
In the same way, the charcoal cooler can be made by using an open timber frame. You have to fill the side with charcoal and keep it continuously moist. When dry air flows through the moist charcoal then water starts evaporating and keeps the inside frame cool.
What Temperature Does Food Need To Be Kept?
When you are storing food without electricity, you must understand what temperature your food needs to be stored for a long time. When the temperature is not according to the requirement of your food then bacteria start spreading in the food which is not good for your health.
If you eat such food then you can become sick. On the other hand, if you keep your food at a very high temperature then it will increase the risk of contracting a foodborne illness.
Foods That Need To Be Stored At 40 F And Below
Now I am going to share with you a list of foods that can easily be stored at 40 degrees Fahrenheit and below.
- Seafood
- Meat
- Poultry
- Cooked foods
- Dairy product
- Eggs
- Sauces
Food To Store At Room Temperature
There are many food items that you can easily Store at room temperature. The following is a list of food items that don’t need a storage environment for storing.
- Honey
- Bread
- Coffee
- Tomatoes
- Butter
- Potatoes
- Bananas
- Winter squash
- Canned foods
- Rice and pasta
- Dried beans
- Oils