How to do without the refrigerator on board?
A refrigerator, what is it for? The refrigerator has become a must in our kitchens. Thanks to its low temperature, it prolongs the life of certain foods. What do we usually store in it? Vegetables, eggs, ready-made meals, meat or fish and dairy products.
So how do we get by without it?
By choice, we decided to do without a refrigerator on board our sailboat, on which we live permanently. Indeed, some of the food we put in the refrigerator does not need it. Fruits and vegetables are kept at room temperature in the supermarket, why not at home? Eggs, butter and some cheeses can be stored outside in temperate latitudes.
We keep all this food in a box on the deck, protected from the sun and rain without any problem as long as the outside temperature does not exceed 18 degrees. When it is warmer, they can be stored in the bottom of the boat, which, thanks to the sea water, remains at a suitable temperature.
And when you sail in warm waters?
When we were sailing in the Caribbean without a fridge, the most problematic point was the drinks. We were dreaming of a cold beer or an iced fruit juice. Fortunately, in these areas, it is easy to buy bags of ice. With a well insulated box, you can keep a few bottles cold and, depending on the quantity of ice cubes, you can last a few days.
A change of habit is necessary!
For the more fragile products, a change of habit is necessary. On the boat, we have changed the way we cook and compose our meals. We have reduced our consumption of meat and dairy products in favor of a diet richer in legumes and cereal products. We have also eliminated almost all cooked products, often industrial.
When we want to eat meat, we eat it immediately after purchase or we open a home-made can . For dairy products, we prepare our own yoghurts or dairy desserts with UHT milk which is perfectly preserved on board.
Fishing also allows us to diversify our meals although we do not have much experience in this area.
More environmentally friendly food
We are not yet vegetarians, but not using a refrigerator allows us to have a more environmentally friendly diet by limiting products derived from animal husbandry and industrial food.
By cooking more, working on seasonings and using spices, this food is just as tasty. Kids are happy to get their hands in the cookie jar and eat what they've made, especially when it comes to cakes!
