Refrigeration and Food

Refrigerators are one of the most important inventions for keeping food fresh. They work by keeping food cold, which slows down the growth of bacteria that cause food to spoil. Before refrigerators were invented, people used ice boxes, root cellars, and other methods to keep food cool. Today, almost every home has a refrigerator.

How Refrigerators Work

A refrigerator uses a special liquid called refrigerant to remove heat from inside the box. The refrigerant moves through coils and absorbs warmth from the air inside. Then it releases that heat outside the refrigerator. This cycle keeps repeating to maintain a cold temperature inside. Most refrigerators keep food at about 37 degrees Fahrenheit.

Before Refrigerators

Before electric refrigerators, people had to be creative to keep food cold. They used ice harvested from frozen lakes and stored it in insulated ice houses. Root cellars dug underground stayed cool even in summer. Salting, smoking, and drying food were common ways to preserve it. The first home refrigerators became popular in the 1930s and changed how people ate.

Fun Facts

• Before refrigerators, ice was cut from frozen lakes and delivered to homes in wagons.
• The average American opens their refrigerator about 15 times a day.
• Albert Einstein helped design a type of refrigerator in 1926.

Did You Know?

The first electric home refrigerator cost about in 1927, which would be over ,000 in today's money!