When I first journeyed off the grid I had to learn about keeping food the so-called “old-fashioned way.” Shopping is a little different when you trade in your refrigerator for a root cellar. However, root cellars are actually quite efficient. It's not that you have to change the way you eat, you simply have to change the way you shop. Root cellars are underground storage areas that stay at cool temperatures, even in the summer. I think root cellars make one become more mindful about shopping and eating, making one especially aware of over buying and over consuming – 5 gallons of ice cream won't last long without refrigeration unless it's late winter.
There are many foods that are typically stored in a refrigerator when it's not actually necessary. As long as there is a cool enough place for them, they will be just fine – a root cellar or a cold-flowing creek will keep items fresh. One spring, I was using a pulley system and stored my milk jugs in the spring-fed cistern, which gave us almost 4 days of holding time.
Items that can be kept without refrigeration
Real Butter – If stored in a cool place, butter will keep without any problems. It is the margarine that is a little harder to keep – the vegetable oil separates and makes runny liquid butter.
Fresh Eggs - If you rub mineral oil on fresh eggs, they will last a week without refrigeration. If you are ever curious about your egg’s freshness, just use the float test. Take a bowl of water and gently place the egg in; if it sinks to the bottom it is fresh, if it is at the bottom and slightly floating it is a little older, and if it is floating then it is not fresh – discard it.
Cheese – It may be slightly softer coming out of a root cellar opposed to a refrigerator, but it will keep. Like with anything else, it must be sealed and stored properly. If it is kept in a place that's too warm, it can start to mold.
Fruits & Veggies – Putting fruits and vegetables in the refrigerator actually keeps them from ripening to their fullest flavor potential. Pumpkins, squashes, and many root vegetables can be stored in a root cellar through the winter.
Condiments – Ketchup, mustard, real mayonnaise and hot sauce all contain vinegar, which is a preservative. Just as with most other food products, if kept in a cooler spot these condiments will keep just fine without refrigeration.
Smoked Meats – If properly sealed, smoked meats and things like salami and pepperoni will keep for quite a while without a refrigerator (as long as they are sealed and stored properly).
All of these foods CAN be stored and kept without refrigeration BUT you have to be sure they are sealed and stored in the proper conditions, especially after they have been opened, because once oxygen hits the food items they begin to breakdown. Just like when you have a refrigerator, it's always best to check the quality of the food before consuming.
A properly functioning root cellar should always be around 52 degrees Fahrenheit and the humidity levels should remain between 85-95%, so it is important to have the proper gauges to measure the temperature and humidity. The humidity levels are important; they keep the produce from shriveling up and drying out. On the other hand, if there is too much moisture in the air it will cause mold and mildew.
In the colder months, milk and milk products could be kept in the root cellar. To be sure it was cool enough, we devised a pulley system that we used to lower the gallon of milk down into the cold water of the spring-fed cistern. There are many things that have a substitute; for instance, during the spring and summer months, we would purchase powdered milk or canned milk.
Knowing how to properly store food to get the most out of its shelf-life is really important. I grew and foraged for as much food as often as I could. Preservation is the key to keeping food off the grid. It is possible to store 50 pounds of meat without refrigeration; you just have to properly cook it and can it. These ways of preserving and storing are important to those both on and off the grid – a root cellar can be an addition to a home that has a refrigerator. Anything that can be done on the grid can be done off of the grid, you just have to do it a little differently. A little motivation can go a long way.
Cover Image Source: Wikimedia
