HotBedInfo, 9/26/11
Did ancient people ever have the technology to refrigerate their items? How were they able to prevent their food from spoiling? Some of our ancient civilizations did in fact have refrigeration and used simple items they had on hand to create it.
In the past, the clay pot refrigeration technique kept food cool, (almost icy cold at 49 degrees) without electricity by using evaporative cooling. Essentially, a porous outer earthenware pot, lined with wet sand, contains an inner pot (which can be glazed to prevent penetration by the liquid) within which the food is placed. The evaporation of the outer liquid draws heat from the inner pot.
In a disaster where power is out, knowing essential skills on how to prevent foods from spoiling will help you survive longer and stay healthier. Further, having this simple device can also help you have a diverse diet during a disaster and prevent sickness. The best part is that making this device is incredibly cheap and doesn’t require any electricity, which is perfect for those disasters where the power is affected and have no fuel to power your generators.
All that is needed to create a clay pot refrigerator is two terra-cotta pots, one larger than the other, as well as some sand, water, and cloth. To make the “fridge”, you just put one pot inside the other, and fill up the spaces with wet sand, which keeps the inside of the pots cold. You will also need to put a wet towel over the top to keep the warm air and light from getting in.
That’s great, Anita!
Let me know how it ends up working out for you.
My fridge has broken down and I intend to use this technique to refrigerate my food.