How Refrigeration Transformed The Way We Eat And Live

As we work our way toward summer, we at Icecool Trailers are expecting to work our fair share of weddings, outdoor festivals, corporate gatherings, etc. Even now, we are preparing our fleet of refrigerated trailers, freezers, and walk-in cold rooms so that we are ready for any contingency. As we prepare, however, we cannot help but wonder how refrigeration has changed the way we look at food. A little research yields some interesting results.

It is probably safe to say that we take refrigeration for granted in the modern era. While primitive forms of refrigeration did offer some benefits in the days of old, preserving food by keeping it cold was not the norm. Therefore, there was a greater emphasis on eating foods that were as fresh as possible. Such is not the case today.

How Refrigeration Shapes Modern Food Consumption Habits

The advent of refrigeration technology has profoundly transformed food consumption habits, offering numerous benefits that have reshaped our daily lives and culinary practices:

More Food Choices All Year Round

Refrigeration has enabled consumers to enjoy a diverse array of foods throughout the year, regardless of seasonal constraints. Many food items suitable for refrigeration - like fresh fruits, vegetables, and other perishable goods - can be stored and transported over long distances without spoilage, allowing for a varied diet. This access to a wide range of food options has enriched our nutritional intake and culinary experiences.

New Ways of Eating

Refrigeration has introduced new ways of eating, such as the popularity of frozen and chilled ready meals. These options cater to busy lifestyles, providing quick and easy meals that are still nutritious and tasty. The ability to store ingredients and prepare meals for extended periods has also led to the rise of batch cooking and meal prepping, which saves time and reduces daily cooking efforts.

Less Food Waste

One of the significant impacts of refrigeration is the reduction of food waste. By preserving perishable items, refrigeration extends their shelf life and prevents spoilage. This not only helps households manage their groceries more efficiently but also contributes to a broader effort to reduce food waste on a societal level. With better storage, less food is discarded, which has positive economic and environmental implications.

Convenient Food Options

Refrigeration has given rise to a multitude of convenient food options, such as pre-packaged salads, cut fruits, and dairy products. These items cater to the modern consumer's demand for convenience without compromising on quality. The ease of access to such products has streamlined meal preparation and snacking, making healthy choices more accessible.

Mobile Cooking Made Easier

With access to a quality refrigerated rental service, cooking on the move has become more manageable and versatile. Mobile cooks can store a variety of ingredients, experiment with new recipes, and prepare meals in advance; the ability to keep leftovers and ingredients fresh means less frequent shopping trips and more efficient use of time and resources.

Older Methods of Preservation

Refrigeration is by no means the only method of preserving food. Prior to the invention of modern refrigeration, people used a variety of other ways to preserve what they could. For example, meats were cured through dehydration, smoking, or salting- we still cure some meats today! However, there is nothing like throwing a non-cured piece of meat onto the barbecue or into the oven using a family recipe passed down over multiple generations. Refrigeration makes that possible.

Another old method of food preservation is that of pickling. And, of course, people have been canning fruits and vegetables for hundreds of years. So how has refrigeration changed the way we look at food? By giving us the opportunity to enjoy food products that might not necessarily be fresh but, through the use of refrigeration, still taste as they were intended to for lack of being preserved through curing, pickling or canning.

Refrigeration has also changed our shopping habits. Consider that most of our grandparents likely went down to the market or local shop on a daily basis to get the day's meat, a few vegetables and fruits, and some dairy products. People got to know the vendors by name because they saw them every day. Vendors also got to know their customers, including each of their preferences for the products they sold.

Today, shopping for food is a much more impersonal process. Refrigeration has enabled the establishment of supermarkets which, in turn, make it possible for us purchase enough food to last for a week. We no longer know our grocers the way our grandparents did.

Icecool Trailers: Part of Progress

None of this is to say that modern refrigeration is a bad thing. It's not. In fact, refrigeration is just one part of the progress we have made over the last 100 years or so. It is not bad; it is just different. Moreover, if it were not for modern refrigeration, companies such as ours would not exist.

The need for refrigeration allows Icecool Trailers to take advantage of an excellent business opportunity. It enables us to invest in the local economy, employ local workers, and meet the needs of other local businesses. We are grateful for those opportunities.

For more than 20 years, Icecool Trailers has been offering scheduled and emergency service in London, the Thames Valley, and throughout south-central England and southern Wales. We provide freezer and refrigerated trailers and walk-in cold rooms and freezers for a variety of needs. Each of our units is meticulously maintained by our on-site staff of technicians while our 24-hour call out service ensures reliable cold storage around the clock. Contact us for more information or call us on 01635 250 950 and we'll be pleased to help you.