live without a fridge / freezer

want2bmortgage3

i am questioning what things we really need to purchase, and wondered if a fridge freezer is really essential. especially as i eat mainly a plant based diet so have no need to store dairy or meat products?

just wondered if anyone does ok without one?

Murphy2011

I'd struggle tbh, over Christmas I popped stuff outside overnight as fridge was bursting at the seams but I'm not sure I would trust all the local wildlife not to work out a way yo access stuff long term!

Also this is fine in the winter but not so sure about summer? Mind you, if your diet is mainly plant stuff then probably not such an issue!

Mr_Singleton

I could probably live without a fridge but find a freezer to be essential. I often over cook putting excess in the freezer for days when I don't have time to cook but want a healthy nutritious meal.

beedeedee

You could do without a fridge if you have a nice cold larder. My Mum never had a fridge or freezer ever.

Austin_Allegro

It's worth remembering that people have lived for millennia without fridges. They only came into widespread use in western countries in the 50s/60s. It was part of the major push towards the consumer society that happened after the war.

With the obvious exceptions of things like fresh milk, cream cheese, ice cream etc most foods, including butter and hard cheeses, don't require refrigeration, just a reasonably cool place for storage. If you drink a lot of milk use powdered milk, you get used to it eventually.

There are also ways to keep food cool without a fridge. One way is an evaporative fridge or Zeer Pot which can be made easily yourself very cheaply. These are in widespread use in Africa. Google it to find out how it works.

Meat can be kept fresh for several days by marinading - this is known as 'the poor man's fridge'.

Then of course there's always the student method of keeping food on the windowledge, which works well most of the year in chilly Britain!