How can I cool something without a refrigerator?

Author: Mr. Layne Vandervort V  |  Last update: Tuesday, August 26, 2025

How to cool something without a fridge?

For instance, you could use an ice chest to keep food cool. Or you could put ice in a sink. For items that need to remain frozen, you could put dry ice in a cooler.

How can I refrigerate something without a refrigerator?

What can I use if I don't have a fridge?

Google ``Zeer pot'' or ``Evaporative Cooler''. Basically you can put your food in a metal cookie tin, wrap a damp towel around it, and stream the air from a small fan on the package. While it won't keep your food as cool as a fridge, it's great for food like fruit, butter and cheese.

What can I use as an alternative to a fridge?

You Can Live Without Refrigeration - Here's How

What did people use instead of fridges?

Icebox Instead of Refrigerators. Refrigerators in homes would not be seen until around 1913, and only in homes where the owner could afford one. Most people relied on an icebox to keep their food cold. Kept in the kitchen, an icebox resembled a piece of furniture.

How to improvise a refrigerator?

What to do when there is no fridge?

Just like fruits, veggies can be enjoyed without a fridge. You simply have to store them in paper bags to lengthen their shelf life and slow the ripening processes. Use air-tight containers to store your vegetables unless it requires aeration. Substitute cabbage for lettuce as they last longer.

What to use if you don't have a cooler?

Dry ice packs are excellent for keeping your food and drinks cold for hours. To use them, just soak the packs in water until the cells expand, and then freeze for up to 12 hours. Once frozen, place them with your cold food to maintain their cold temperatures.

What can I use a broken fridge for?

Reuse your fridge by removing its doors and shelving and turning it into an outdoor planter. You can also use your old fridge as a seedbed, or even as a giant compost bin or composter. Let your creativity run wild by using vinyl stickers and paint to give it the perfect look for your outdoor space.

How did people live without refrigerators?

Vegetables were often salted or pickled. Many fruits were dried or turned in preserves. These foods could then be stored in cool places, like cellars and caves. This allowed people to save food for times of need during droughts and famines.

Will a bag of ice keep a refrigerator cold?

An ice chest packed with ice or snow can keep food cold. Bags of ice or block ice can be purchased and placed in the refrigerator to keep food cold. Dry ice from a local ice company or grocery store can help save frozen food.

What food lasts longest without refrigeration?

How do you cool leftovers quickly?

What to do with food if fridge is not cooling?

How can I keep things cold without a fridge?

What to use as a makeshift cooler?

How to make water cold without a fridge?

Wrapping a wet cloth around a water bottle prevents the heat from outside from disturbing the temperature of your water bottle. This will keep the water cool for much longer. You can also carry your water in a jute or cotton bag which is believed to keep the water temperature cool.

What to use if you don't have a fridge?

Is there an alternative to a fridge?

If you're looking for a functional electric cooler at a low price, your best bet is Amazon. There, you can get functional portable fridges at about a third of the cost of name-brand units. Just keep in mind that they will generally lack the efficiency and durability of our primary choices.

How long can you go without a fridge?

Discard refrigerated perishable food such as meat, poultry, fish, eggs, and leftovers after 4 hours without power. After a power outage never taste food to determine its safety. You will have to evaluate each item separately—use this chart as a guide.

How to make an artificial fridge?

What can I use as a temporary fridge?

Just gather some ceramic pots, sand, and water, and you've got a portable, non-electric DIY mini-fridge with a time-tested design. After all, people were preserving food for thousands of years before you had to keep that leftover takeout from stinking up your college dorm.

How to make a natural refrigerator?