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NY BUCKS
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# Posted: 17 Oct 2016 15:49
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Hi everyone,
Wondering what others have done to keep refrigerator working properly in a unheated cabin. I am in the process of running electric the 300' from the road and would like to add a fridge. I would like to keep fridge stocked while cabin is unattended and unheated during the week. (We are there most every weekend). I am aware of "Garage Refrigerators" that will fool the thermostat into running compressor so freezer will stay cold. Any other considerations for unheated fridge? Temps down to around 0 degrees at the coldest.
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jrbarnard
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# Posted: 17 Oct 2016 16:50
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Well, we have 1 inside and 1 outside. The A/C does not run when we are not at the cabin. We have lost electricity one time... well, I think the breaker tripped on a used fridge actually) and let me tell you what.. we left the doors closed on the fridge and did not open it ever.. EVER.. lol
We now have brand new fridges and we do NOT keep perishable food in them unless it is sealed in something that will not explode, degrade, or rupture in any way.. heh
Also, keep a strong Ziploc bag of ice cubes in the freezer. If you get there one day and find the cubes are one solid piece, you know you lost power for an extended period of time and the food may be bad.
Russ
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hueyjazz
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# Posted: 17 Oct 2016 20:02
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My cabin is in Western NY so similar but colder. Gave up on running fridge full time and not because I couldn't keep it running.
We found remoteness of cabin translated to frequent outages.
Since we were mostly using the cabin on weekends and often pass farm stands going there we bring the perishables with us. We found ourselves tossing out a lot of food being a week old.
We now keep the cabin well stocked with beer, soda, water, can goods and staples.
We both work and don't eat well weekdays but weekends are cabin days. We eat well and fresh. We get world's best sweet corn and squash local to cabin. Part of the cabin perks
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jrbarnard
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# Posted: 18 Oct 2016 13:36
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Oh yea, we cook like crazy when we go to the ranch. Food tastes better there.. heh
We debated all the fridge etc.. but if we have electricity, we figured, "why not?"
We also installed a 42ft tall antenna and are working on wifi throughout the ranch. We then put live cams around the ranch so that when we cannot get there, we can remote in and watch the animals.
I had a woman tell me, "you added wifi and now my husband won't get off his phone!" and I was like, "we added wifi... getting him off his phone is your problem.." lol
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bldginsp
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# Posted: 18 Oct 2016 14:27
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Quoting: hueyjazz We now keep the cabin well stocked with beer, soda, water, can goods and staples.
I've read that you should not store canned goods in a cabin that will freeze. The frozen can expands, bursts the seal, then when it thaws the contents are compromised. You might not notice it, and botulism can result. Dry goods, different story.
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jrbarnard
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# Posted: 18 Oct 2016 14:31
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We keep the outside fridge stocked with drinks, the inside is for food. We empty out perishables from inside, but tend to keep the outside one pretty full and leave them out there for the next time.
Rotating them out is the key.
We do a LOT of beer rotating :P
R
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MtnDon
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# Posted: 18 Oct 2016 14:33 - Edited by: MtnDon
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Quoting: bldginsp I've read that you should not store canned goods in a cabin that will freeze. The frozen can expands, bursts the seal, then when it thaws the contents are compromised. You might not notice it, and botulism can result. Dry goods, different story.
Correct. On the plus side is that the salt in most canned foods will lower the freezing point. However, there is danger from cans developing hairline cracks in a joint and the food spoiling.
And yes, the standard residential fridge is not designed to work properly at low temperatures. If it is absolutely necessary to keep perishable food in a fridge in a cold environment you need a special fridge designed for that.
I like the idea of keeping a bag of ice cubes in the freezer as an indicator for extended power outages.
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FishHog
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# Posted: 18 Oct 2016 15:05
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freeze a small container of water, drop a coin on top once its froze. If the coin isn't still on top your next trip, it thawed out. Doesn't have to be big, a shot glass works.
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hueyjazz
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# Posted: 18 Oct 2016 18:18
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When it comes to deep freeze time we keep nothing at cabin that will freeze. Food, cans, dish soap, shampoo, etc.
We have a travel bin for the regulars.
Even if you could keep the fridge running you would have to add heat as soon as the temperature goes below freezing.
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bldginsp
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# Posted: 18 Oct 2016 18:58
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Left some hair conditioner over the winter, when I used it in the spring it made my hair stand straight up. Ruined my whole day.
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bldginsp
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# Posted: 18 Oct 2016 19:02
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Who knows what the proper conditions are for long term apple and fruit storage? The commercial suppliers keep apples for up to a year in temperature and humidity controlled warehouses, but what is the practical way to do so for small scale operations?
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Wendigolake
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# Posted: 25 Oct 2016 19:44
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bldginsp...I grew apples for 18 years with my own storages. Long term storages are all Controlled Atmosphere storage's. The oxygen levels are drastically reduced and CO2 levels are monitored and maintained at low percentages. Not practical for a small scale operation since the room would have to be air tight, oxygen and co2 monitored constantly and atmosphere is controlled by a nitrogen generator these days. The best thing for a small operation is just a cold storage with normal atmosphere. Pick your apples before they get over ripe and they will last for 3-4 months at around 34 degrees F. PM me if you need any specific info on storing apples.
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