Keeping some foods cool is paramount in delaying the growth of harmful bacteria. Temperatures above four degrees Celsius are the optimal conditions for many bacteria and fungi to grow and spoil food. If food is stored below that temperature, its longevity can be increased.
Across thousands of years, humankind has developed different methods of refrigeration to battle bacteria and store food safely. The ancient Greeks dug snow pits to store food, and during the 18th century Europeans used salted ice as a natural freezer. However, it wasn’t until the early 1800s that refrigerators similar in design to today’s kitchen essentials were developed.