importance of refrigerator essay

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History of the Refrigerator & Refrigerator Impact on Society

Importance of refrigerator: essay introduction, refrigerator impact on society: discussion, conclusion of refrigerator in our daily life essay, works cited.

The refrigerator is one of the most significant inventions as it has changed the entire world. Refrigerators are used everywhere: in houses, cars, laboratories, hospitals, and so forth. However, the importance of this invention is underestimated by the majority of people. The main goal of this paper is to argue that the impact that the invention of the refrigerator had on people’s lives is crucial as this appliance has become an essential element in multiple human activities.

To begin with, it is necessary to discuss the history of the refrigerator briefly. In the past, people used different methods to keep food (“The History of the Refrigerator”). For example, some kept provisions in cool streams. Other people used to snow or ice. Caves and cellars were other popular approaches. However, the absence of a convenient device for keeping provisions contributed to the invention of salted, smoked, and dried food. In the eighteenth century, people collected ice when it was cold and created icehouses. They wrapped chunks of ice in fabric and put them underground, so they remained frozen until summer (“The History of the Refrigerator”). Ice was a product for sale. For example, it was distributed in the United States during the Civil War.

One of the first scientists whose inventions were used to design the refrigerator was Dr. William Cullen. His studies described the evaporation of liquids (“William Cullen”). Other important figures were Michael Faraday, who performed experiments to liquefy ammonia, and Dr. Goorie, who created the first device that made ice and cooled the air for his patients. A compression system that is used in modern refrigerators is based on ideas developed by Faraday (Williams). The invention of refrigeration has drastically changed the entire world. Its impact on the economy, science, and culture is remarkable. Refrigeration allowed packing meat, fish, and dairy products. An American creator Sutherland designed the refrigerated railroad car in the mid-nineteenth century (Kalscheuer).

Due to his invention, such products could be delivered to remote villages and cities. This invention let people establish cities in Western territories. The fast-developing food distribution industry resulted in market expansion and improved the health of citizens (Craig and Matthew 85). Subsequently, such cars began to transport fresh fruits, vegetables, and berries. However, substances used in refrigerators were dangerous for people (“Sulphur Dioxide Refrigerants”). A toxic effect was so strong that it caused deaths. Afterward, refrigerator manufacturers began to use Freon, which was also banned in the mid-twentieth century as it damaged the ozone layer (Alter). Freon has been replaced with modern refrigerants that are safe for people and the environment.

The household refrigerator was another important accomplishment. Engineers made this device reliable, convenient, and not expensive. It has become one of the main appliances in every house and apartment. This device altered the way people ate, which changed the entire household. They could store provision at houses for a long time, and they did not need to buy ice anymore. This was one of the most significant changes affecting the way of life that occurred in the twentieth century. However, since then, the way how people treat and consume food has not changed much.

Refrigeration changed all aspects of modern life. In medicine, refrigerators are used to keep different materials, such as medications and vaccines. There are certain risks if some drugs are not stored in a cool environment. They are used to store blood products. A medical refrigerator is an important piece of equipment in laboratories as well. Laboratory refrigerators are necessary to cool different samples. Therefore, many scientific studies would be impossible to conduct if the refrigerator was not invented.

In conclusion, the invention of the refrigerator had a global impact. It changed the way of life as many traditions disappeared. The refrigerator has also improved the quality of life because meat, fish, and fresh fruits now can be transported to almost any place. Therefore, refrigeration is one of the most important inventions that have become an integral part of everyday life.

Alter, Lloyd. “Global Treaty Signed to Ban HFC Refrigerants.” TreeHugger , Web.

Craig, Lee A., and Matthew T. Holt. “The Impact of Mechanical Refrigeration on Market Integration: The US Egg Market, 1890–1911.” Explorations in Economic History , vol. 66, 2017, pp. 85-105.

Kalscheuer, Patrick. “A Brief History of the Refrigerated Railroad Car.” CreativeZest , Web.

“Sulphur Dioxide Refrigerants.” Ref-Wiki .

“The History of the Refrigerator.” Sandvik , Web.

“William Cullen.” University of Glasgow .

Williams, Pearce. “Michael Faraday.” Encyclopedia Britannica .

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Home — Essay Samples — Science — Invention — The Societal Impact of the Refrigerator: How This Appliance Revolutionized Food Storage and Lifestyle

The Societal Impact of The Refrigerator: How This Appliance Revolutionized Food Storage and Lifestyle

• Categories: Consumer Behavior Economic Development Invention

About this sample

Words: 805 |

Published: Dec 16, 2024

Words: 805 | Pages: 2 | 5 min read

Table of contents

The cultural shift: food and family, economic impact: from farm to fork, a health revolution: safe food consumption.

• Social Interactions & Community Changes

The Environmental Considerations

Conclusion: a modern essential, social interactions & community changes.

• "History of Refrigeration." ASHRAE Journal.
• "The Impact Of Refrigeration On Agriculture." Journal Of Agricultural Economics.
• "Food Safety: The Role Of Refrigeration." CDC.gov.
• "Refrigerators And Their Environmental Effects." Environmental Science Journal.
• "Cultural Changes Brought By Refrigerators In America." Food Studies Journal.

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How Refrigerators Work

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The Purpose of Refrigeration

The fundamental reason for having a refrigerator is to keep food cold. Cold temperatures help food stay fresh longer. The basic idea behind refrigeration is to slow down the activity of bacteria (which all food contains) so that it takes longer for the bacteria to spoil the food.

For example, bacteria will spoil milk in two or three hours if the milk is left out on the kitchen counter at room temperature. However, by reducing the temperature of the milk, it will stay fresh for a week or two -- the cold temperature inside the refrigerator decreases the activity of the bacteria that much. By freezing the milk you can stop the bacteria altogether, and the milk can last for months (until effects like freezer burn begin to spoil the milk in non-bacterial ways).

Refrigeration and freezing are two of the most common forms of food preservation used today. For more information on other ways to preserve food, see How Food Preservation Works .

Please copy/paste the following text to properly cite this HowStuffWorks.com article:

• Home Improvement
• Kitchen Appliances

What Are The Benefits Of A Refrigerator?

In the 1920s, you could buy a Model T Ford for just $260, but to buy the first-ever Frigidaire home refrigerator would cost you around $750 — that's around $9,700 today. But the benefits of refrigeration were a game-changer for a family's ability to keep food safe for consumption for a longer period. So much so, in fact, that not only do 99.9 percent of American households have fridges today, but 23 percent of households have two refrigerators or more.

Why We Love Our Fridges

The importance of refrigerators may be taken for granted in North America, but elsewhere in the world, there are still those who've never had the privilege of cracking a cool can of soda from their kitchen fridge. Only 75 percent of the world's homes have fridges today. In 2015, BBC ran a story in which an Indian man named Santosh Chowdhury became the first-ever owner of a fridge in his village of 200, and the implications of buying one were life-changing. Now his wife could make extra food and have leftovers, reducing the amount of time spent on household chores for people who worked six days a week.

Visit places like Bangkok and you'll see couriers delivering blocks of ice to street hawkers all day long for preservation of their foods. The practice of ice delivery on a daily basis was once the norm for many households a century ago.

But heat can deteriorate far more than just a slab of beef. The uses of a refrigerator go far beyond just keeping the yogurt chilled and butter firm. It can be critical to keeping life-saving prescriptions cold in places like Chowdhury's village or even down on the bayou in Louisiana. Look into people's fridges and you'll often find batteries, since staying cold makes batteries stay packed with power for longer.

Benefits of Refrigerators

Any old refrigerator can make a world of difference in your diet if it simply keeps food in the healthy 32- to 40-degree Fahrenheit range. It means being able to safely consume meat beyond a few hours from purchase. It allows for keeping fresh food fresh or even enjoying leftovers. With longer safe-consumption periods, it's better for your home's budget as well as the planet's health.

The longer food lasts, the more chances it will be consumed. Good news, when food waste is one of the worst offenders for greenhouse gases, since the methane produced when food decomposes is 28 times more impactful on the climate than carbon dioxide is.

Unfortunately, the long shelf life can also encourage people to buy more than they need or can consume.

Customizing Your Refrigerator

The reason food gets wasted sometimes isn't because people are always irresponsible. Sometimes it comes down to organizational challenges. They open the door and there's all this stuff and it can be overwhelming for some. Finding a fridge that's best suited to your needs is easier than ever, so make sure the configuration works for how you cook and what you eat.

Smart door shelving might be necessary if you're decked out with every sauce from Peri-Peri to mayo. Maybe you're a wine fanatic and a wine rack shelf will keep you sane. Drawer-style freezers can be terrific for families that need to stock up or they have kids needing to access frozen snacks after school.

Consider what style doors you like best, because it really changes the function of your fridge. Are you into raw food and fresh veggies? The crispers should be your biggest consideration — are they large enough, and how easily do they open? On it goes.

Keeping Cool

There are more choices than ever before with fridges, and that's possibly the best benefit ever in refrigeration. Today, it's possible to not just keep your food cold, but to do so in a way that makes sense to how you cook, the way you like to organize things, how you live and even just your aesthetic.

• CNET: 5 mistakes to avoid when buying a refrigerator
• AJ Madison: Top 7 Important Refrigerator Features to Look For When Buying a Fridge
• USDA: Why is a refrigerator important for keeping food safe?

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