Living without a fridge

vizcacha

you could make LOTS of soupy/stew type things for days when you can't shop and have with nice crusty bread.

Potatoes, onions (fry in a little oil first for flavour), butternut squash, barley,split peas, dried lentils, are great in soup
and don't need putting in the fridge- even if it's a bit more humid than you'd like Add tins of kidney/pinto beans etc, tinned tomatoes, dried herbs veggie stock, marmite and add any tinned veggies you fancy. Add a handful of dessicated coconut or some dried almonds for a creamy flavour in curried/spicy meals for

make sure you have plenty of fruit which store for a while ok such as apples, pears, kiwis

porridge for breakfast - you don't need milk if you chop up lots of apple and banana and sprinkle with cinnamon - yum

nuts, seeds, dried fruit etc are all useful things to add, too

ONE good thing - at least this happened after our heatwave ! can you imagine?!

Good luck

halloweenqueen_2

My freezer broke down on xmas eve a few years ago, just as I came home with all the shopping, luckily none of it was frozen so we put in on the garage floor and it was fine until we went and got one in the xmas sales!
As you're in a flat for things like milk could you put in a bucket of water or in water in the bathroom sink. Maybe tinned veggies would help you out for a couple of days?

Guapa1

While I was in a clinic my fridge freezer decided to stop working! I came home to find everything warm in the fridge and completely defrosted in the freezer. As I've been away for three weeks I don't know when it died so had to throw everything away to be on the safe side. I have no money to replace it, or even to pay the excess on my insurance right now, so I'll be living fridge less until I can afford to get one or someone answers my ad on freecycle!

I'll be going to get some powdered milk tomorrow, and will be learning proper portion control! Any other tips?

ifonlyitwaseasier

aww hun, our's died last sunday but because we rent the landlord replaced it, took 4 days tho, i found that the best thing to do was live on soups (veggies don't need refirgerating) and have toast, spread/butter will stay cold if you leave it on the windowsill (at least it did here!! brrr)
pasta and tinned toms worked well, and you can have enough for the next days lunch too.
if you have a look on mysupermarket.co.uk you can see that the marvel dried milk works out cheaper than a lot of the value/basic brands.

got my fingers crossed for you x

Smashing

A typical student-y thing to do with fresh milk is to tie a bit of string around the handle and hang it outside your bedroom window. No, really.
You have more options than you think - we've never put eggs in the fridge and we're not dead yet. Butter usually stays out otherwise it's too hard. Veg will keep in a dark cupboard.

Staple carbs are all fine out of the fridge - bread, pasta, rice, couscous, potatoes etc.
Dried/tinned pulses and lentils, tinned chilli etc. Dried soya mince for bolognese/chilli/shepherds pie etc.
Tinned fish
Cheese always tastes better unrefridgerated IMO

Honestly I'd miss the freezer more than the fridge. They are usually quite frequent on freecycle, but you should be able to last a while at least - more faff, but you won't go hungry.

Guapa1

Aww thanks a lot. I wish I could hang things out my window, but it's impossible for me. As I try to be positive, I'm looking forward to the challenge. I didn't know that cheese could be kept out of the fridge. That has made my night that has!

oystercatcher

Do you have a neighbour who could freeze the blue freezer blocks for you to keep in a cool box and swap over daily? That way you could have a few bits kept cool . We always do this when camping.
Would involve expense if you don't have a freezer box though.

Oystercatcher

missbargain

If you live in a flat, this is a bit harder as you may not have cool enough room to store things in.

If you are in a house, find the coldest room in the house and store potatoes, onions, carrots and similar. Even better in a cold, dark but dry cupboard. I guess most things bar fresh milk, fish and meat will last for a while without the fridge. You can also buy single portions of long life milk to use in your coffee/tea. A bit more expensive, but at least no waste. You just have to make sure that you don't buy too much of perishable goods so that it goes off.

But I would think that it is certainly managable, at least for a while. I mean, how did people keep their food before fridges existed at all?

chunkytfg

uht milk is fine if you buy in small cartons and doesnt need to be refridgerated.

Do you have a garage? ours is now cold enough to leave bottle of coke etc in without the need to put them in the fridge. veg aswell

suep

I remember when I was young , staying with my Nan who was a homehelp. She took me with her once to this old ladys home and all I remember is being fascinated that she didnt have a fridge, she kept her milk in a bucket of cold water and everything else in her larder.
sue