The Unexpected Freedom of Living Without a Refrigerator

Still Life with Apples, Paul Cézanne, 1893–1894. Courtesy the J. Paul Getty Museum, Los Angeles.

“The things you own end up owning you. It's only after you lose everything that you're free to do anything.” - Chuck Palahniuk

Several years ago, my refrigerator broke down.

It was a gradual process. First, the freezer stopped freezing. Then, slowly but surely, the refrigerator stopped working, too.

I wasn’t quick to get it repaired because it was a relatively new refrigerator, and I had a hard time believing that it had reached the end of its useful life.

I contacted neighbors to see if they had similar issues (I lived in a condo at the time, and we all had the same appliances). With all the different recommendations and estimates, I deliberated what to do.

Meanwhile, I was living without a refrigerator.

Settling into a New Normal

As time passed, I slowly got used to my new normal. The busyness of life took over, and I forgot that I was supposed to call for repair or go appliance shopping. I just settled into a life without a refrigerator.

The experience taught me a lot about food waste, my own personal consumption, and the best way to shop at a grocery store. After a while, it became a lifestyle. Much to nearly everyone’s disbelief, I lived without a refrigerator for well over two years.

How did I do it?

Daily Rituals, Better Shopping, and a Well-Stocked Pantry

First, I’ve almost always lived within walking distance of a grocery store. When I lived in this particular condo, I passed the grocery store on my daily commute. So, I made it a habit to stop there each day.

It became my rhythm and changed how I prepared and ate food. I did my meal planning that day—deciding what I wanted, going to the grocery store, and only buying what I could eat that evening.

My shopping habits significantly changed. I figured out how to get just enough food for one or two servings and not much else. Living this way, I produced way less waste.

Another key to my fridge-free lifestyle was a well-stocked pantry. I started eating a lot of beans, grains, and other things I might not normally have eaten. I figured out which foods are shelf-stable, as well as which fruits and vegetables you can easily keep.

Mindful Consumption and Rethinking Meals

I admit I miss it sometimes. I miss the simplicity of only buying what you need for a day, not planning for days in the future, not stocking up and filling your refrigerator to the brim, just buying what you need and throwing away very little. There was a certain elegance in its minimalism.

When we buy necessities like food, we tend to give ourselves leeway. If anything, we’re thinking about saving money, not necessarily the waste on the other side. But we should regularly reflect on all of our consumption, no matter the area of life.

Audit your grocery shopping habits and see what you find. Is there a different approach you can take? Are there certain meals that are more wasteful than others? Are there certain foods you tend to throw out all the time? (Hello, bag of washed spinach!) Share your experience on Instagram and tag me @hellosukio.