Photo by Filipe Soares Dilly
People stop at convenience stores to grab an ice-cold drink all the time. How did people live without the walk in coolers that we take for granted?
It is just amazing how any of us survived without refrigerators. Lets face it, we all take refrigerators, electricity and even phones for granted. Of course, the walk in cooler that so many people rely on today hadn’t even been conceived over 100 years ago. So, how did people survive?
Country folks were more self-sufficient many years ago. They grew and harvested vegetables and fruit trees. Vegetables were pickled or canned, and fruits were often made into tasty jams to keep them preserved. Meats could be kept for longer periods of time by salting and smoking. City folks purchased only enough food to last for a day or two. This ensured it didn’t get a chance to spoil.
Cellars
To prevent food from spoiling, new homes were designed with root cellars for storing food. Cellars were cool and dark, and they helped to keep food for longer periods of time. Although, many of the homes that had cellars belonged to more affluent people.
Ice Boxes
After a while, people began using ice boxes. These were actually boxes designed out of metal or wood. They kept food and ice in the boxes, which kept food cool. Ice was delivered with horse-drawn wagons by the ice man.
Today
Some homeowners, stores and restaurants enjoy the large amount of space provided by a walk in cooler. They come in a variety of sizes, and they are easily customized for customers.
Obviously, our ancestors did survive. Thanks to technology and creative people, we can all benefit from coolers in restaurants, groceries and convenience stores.