Cool (not fridge) storage options

[NoXion]

Inspired by the ketchup thread in another subforum, what are the options for storing food and drinks that are cooler than a typical cupboard, but not as cool as the fridge? There are apparently a number of things I've been storing wrong.

 

[two sheds]

Bowl of cold water with a damp tea towel over the top? I'd check with a thermometer though. When I were a student I had a cold store type thing that was made of expanded polystyrene type material that you poured water in the top and it kept things cool. Seemed to work ok in general.

 

[cesare]

In the absence of the pantry that was referred to (US with sometimes more space options) I'd check for damp first - you don't want that. Then as two sheds says, check temperatures with thermometer. First place I'd look at is under the stairs if you have stairs.

 

[pug]

Just dig a hole in the floor and pop a paving slab over it

 

[platinumsage]

A mountain stream

 

[platinumsage]

Just dig a hole in the floor and pop a paving slab over it

A big hole and fill it full of ice in the winter, should last until next winter if big enough.

 

[farmerbarleymow]

what are the options for storing food and drinks that are cooler than a typical cupboard, but not as cool as the fridge

A fridge with the thermostat turned up to warm.

 

[danny la rouge]

In the winter, a plastic bag hung out of the window.

 

[Epona]

My parents live in an early 20th century agricultural worker's cottage and it has a pantry which is very handy as a cool dark space for storing food.
Not much option for that in a modern flat!

 

[NoXion]

My parents live in an early 20th century agricultural worker's cottage and it has a pantry which is very handy as a cool dark space for storing food.
Not much option for that in a modern flat!

Yeah, this is the issue for me; I live in a small flat which gets pretty warm in the summer. I don't think I have a space which maintains "pantry" temperatures at that time of year.

 

[DotCommunist]

You can buy cooler bags that have inserts for ice blocks. I've used these for camping before, they do the job. You do have to refreeze the iceblocks periodically though.

 

[pinkmonkey]

I don't have my fridge freezer on in winter, it normally gets switched off in mid october and goes back on in March (I'm off grid, solar is shit in the winter). I use a big metal bread bin with a tight fitting lid and keep it outside. You have to use metal or rats will chew through it. If you've got nowhere outside in the shade then it'll be tricky.
I bought this book Storing Food Without Refrigeration eBook : Shearlock, Carolyn: Amazon.co.uk: Books and it's pretty good - some things, that you'd think would spoil are ok out of the fridge. For instance Babybels stay fresh for ages, it must be the wax.