How Can I Live without Refrigeration

Updated on April 14, 2022

It’s understandable that you might ask, “Who in their right mind would want to live without a refrigerator?” People who opt not to use one do so for a variety of various reasons. It’s possible that some people just can’t afford one, while others may desire to live off the grid or lead a more sustainable lifestyle.

How Can I Live without Refrigeration

In addition, you may be surprised to learn that the vast majority of the food in your refrigerator is unnecessary. If you buy food from the grocery store that is kept refrigerated, it has about half the shelf life of food purchased at a farmer’s market on a hot day.

Despite popular belief, there are advantages to not having a refrigerator. In exchange for missing out on a refreshing glass of ice-cold water at the end of the day, you could be eating better and more locally sourced food. Additionally, you’ll learn how to portion out your food more like a true homesteader so that you don’t end up throwing away bad food. In a moment, I’ll demonstrate what I mean. On the subject of how to live without a refrigerator, we’ve got more.

Food Groups and Their Refrigeration Needs 

Fruit

Purchasing your fruit at a farmer’s market and not chilling it will extend its shelf life by several weeks. However, the shelf life of each fruit varies. Here are a few instances:

• Bananas are a great source of energy (7 to 10 days)
• Fruits of the forest (up to 7 days)
• Fruits such as apples and oranges (4 to 5 weeks)
• Pineapples are the fruit of choice (2 weeks)
• Papayas, pears, and avocadoes (10 days to 2 weeks)
• Fruits such as grapes ( 3 to 5 days) For your information, they’ll survive longer if their stems are stored in moist sand.

Vegetables and Herbs

As with fruit, vegetables and herbs that have never been cold or washed can be stored well without refrigeration. The following is a breakdown of how long each of these things will be around for you to enjoy. As a result, having a garden of any size is essential. SeedsNow is where I get all of my garden seedlings. The five 5-gallon buckets I recently acquired will be used to raise veggies. There are holes in the bottoms of the pots that Mark plans on drilling for drainage. I’ll be documenting the process with photos so you can see how it all unfolds.

• For up to two months, you can store onions and potatoes separately.
• Garlic, winter squash, and a variety of other vegetables are also included (1 month if wrapped in a towel)
• Cut the tops off your carrots about two weeks before you plan to use them. Soak them in water to soften them if they’ve grown sticky before peeling).
• Cauliflower, broccoli, and eggplant are all excellent vegetarian options (1 week)
• Other fruits and veggies can be found here (about a week)

Eggs

Fresh eggs can be kept on your kitchen counter for up to a week after they are delivered from the farm. It’s also possible to raise your own hens to supply your family with eggs, or to pickle the ones you got from a farmer.

My friend Harry told me that farm fresh eggs that haven’t been cleaned can last for up to a month or more on the counter. If they’ve been sitting on the counter for some time, a quick test in some cool water should suffice. Cook and eat the ones that don’t float first if they stand up. Toss them if they float.

Meat

Trying to live without a refrigerator is going to make it harder to eat meat. The reason for this is that fresh meat will not last long if it is not refrigerated. In order to save money, you might get your meat from the butcher in vacuum-sealed packaging. Then place it in an ice-filled cooler or freezer bag. This recipe is good for a week’s worth of beef. Here are a few alternative options if you don’t have a refrigerator:

• Buying and preparing fresh meat every day
• Foodstuffs in cans or dried form
• Do you ever consider preserving your own meat?
• Reduce your meat intake.

Condiments

• Dressings made using ketchup, mustard, or vinegar don’t need to be refrigerated if they’re used with a clean utensil.
• Shop for jars of jam and syrup in small sizes.
• After about two weeks, they start to grow mould.
• Instead of a large container of yeast, use the little packets.
• Make your own sourdough instead, which is much better!

Dairy

• In a cool place, butter and hard cheeses will keep for two weeks.
• After reading this helpful instruction on how to store food aboard a boat, I felt inspired to try some yoghurt experiments of my own.
• I discovered that yoghurt can last for up to seven days before it begins to mould.
• Make sour cream or kefir with the milk you buy the day you buy it. (For more information, see How to Make Yogurt Sour Cream and How to Make Easy Kefir Cheese ).

For a long time before I was brave enough to disconnect fully, I searched for others who did the same. I found this debate on Little Blog in the Big Woods, about living without a refrigerator, to be uplifting. I also made friends with parents who had successfully dry camped with their children for a long period of time over the summer. I’m sure I won’t be the last person to give up home refrigeration in this day and age.

How to survive without a fridge