Is it possible to live without a fridge?
A few years ago, on a perfectly normal Tuesday, we had a moment of revelation. There was nothing special about this particular Tuesday, nor anything amazing about the lunch that we had. But, as I was putting a bottle of tomato sauce back into the fridge, I noticed the light bulb flicker on in this cold cupboard. This in turn sparked a flash of an idea as I had a light bulb moment. Could we live without a fridge?!
We, as a couple and as consumers, have been convinced that we NEED to keep these condiments in the fridge, we have also been conditioned that we needed a fridge!
We, as a couple and as consumers, have been convinced that we NEED to keep these condiments in the fridge, we have also been conditioned that we needed a fridge!
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We have been living fridge free for almost two years now, and would like to share some of the top tips of fridge free living that we have gained.
So what would you normally have in the fridge?
So what would you normally have in the fridge?
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Fresh fruits and vegetables - Root veg stores perfectly well in a cool dark cupboard or within a crate of sand. Salad, such as lettuce and celery lasts even better if the base is dipped in a bowl / glass of water and left on the countertop.
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A bowl of fruit
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Rustic bread rolls
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Bread and cakes - A sure fire way of making your bread and cake go stale is to put them in the fridge, so you can extend their shelf life by leaving them out (although, they do get eaten more quickly as they are not hidden away!)
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Leftovers - We found that storing leftovers was not a problem - we simply adapted our portion control so that we had no leftovers. With dogs and chickens on the homestead, if we had leftovers there were always willing mouths!
Condiments - Well, these were originally created as a method of preserving food without refrigeration. The high content of salt, sugar and vinegar in most condiments mean that they can be safely stored out of the fridge - as was their original purpose.
Meat and fish - It is perfectly safe to cook meat from frozen, although it does take a little longer, but this can be overcome with a little forethought and prior preparation. Normally however, a chicken goes into the oven once it has been plucked and a rabbit gets hung in the cool room for a few days before cooking.
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Eggs - NO! Just please. . . NO! Eggs will have a shorter shelf life if they are kept in the door of your fridge, so this is counter intuitive. As eggshells are porous, they are susceptible to being tainted by strong flavours and smells from within your fridge. If you happen to keep your eggs next to that onion (which will sprout more quickly in the fridge), there is a high chance that your boiled egg will taste onioney!
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Eggs in egg cups
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Cold beer
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Beer and Wine - Ok, you have me there, there is nothing better than a pint of cold home made beer, or a pint of chilled homebrewed wine, however, in our two years without a fridge we have made, drunk and enjoyed many cold beers and wines. There are simple methods to cool items down, such as the terracotta pot or hessian sack fridge. We will write up these methods at a later date.
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What do you keep in your fridge?
What is in there right now? Could survive without your cold cupboard? Let us know in the comments below! |
Refrigerator - a luxury or a necessity?
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