It’s hard to say when people first figured out that cooler temperatures keep food fresher, but the practice of refrigeration has been going on for thousands of years. On a fundamental level, refrigeration inhibits the growth of bacteria. That’s it. It also slows down the development of mold on some foods, but bacteria is the primary threat to food safety.
Most of us don’t worry about it too much, and our biggest concern with a refrigerator is finding enough room inside after a trip to the grocery store. But for anyone living off grid, alternatives to refrigeration crucial. And for any of us confronted by a power outage, it becomes a primary concern once we find the flashlights and the candles.
Regardless of the reason, it’s worth looking back at how people stored food before refrigerators were invented. Some of these techniques are fairly simple and surprisingly obvious. Others require a bit of planning, effort, and materials. What’s important is that whether they’re simple or complex, they all work. READ FULL ARTICLE