Book 24, Question 97 · Video
Why do root cellars keep food fresh?
A root cellar is a room dug into the ground or a hillside. A few feet down, the temperature stays cool and steady all year, even when the weather above is freezing or hot. It is also dark and a bit damp, which keeps vegetables from drying out. Before refrigerators, people stored potatoes, carrots, apples, and canned food in root cellars all winter.
Read the full answer →Watch on YouTubeSee the series on Amazon
What Crafty Clover says in this video
Intro
Hi there, curious minds! I'm Crafty Clover! Let's discover something amazing. Why do root cellars keep food fresh?
The Big Idea
Before refrigerators, how did people keep food fresh all winter? They used a room in the ground. It is called a root cellar!
In the Ground
Step one: In the Ground. A root cellar is a room dug into the ground or a hillside. The earth around it acts like a blanket.
Steady Temps
Step two: Steady Temps. A few feet down, the temperature stays cool and steady all year. It stays that way even when the weather above is freezing or hot.
Dark and Damp
Step three: Dark and Damp. It is also dark and a bit damp, which keeps vegetables from drying out. People stored potatoes, carrots, apples, and canned food there all winter.
A Closer Look
Let's take a closer look! Potatoes stay fresh. Carrots stay crisp. Apples sit apart. Jars line the shelves.
Quick Facts
Quick facts! Apples are stored apart from vegetables because they give off a gas that makes other produce ripen faster. Before refrigerators, many families used root cellars. Root cellars stay cool without freezing. Some homes still have root cellars today.
Think Like a Scientist
Now, think like a scientist! Use a thermometer to check the temperature in a basement or cool room. Then check the temperature outside. Do this at the same time each day for a few days. Which place is steadier? Make a chart of your results.
Outro
Root cellars keep food fresh because a few feet underground the temperature stays cool and steady all year, and the dark, slightly damp air keeps vegetables from drying out. Science is amazing! Keep wondering and keep exploring! Share what you learned with someone at home, and see what they think! Crafty Clover can be found on Amazon Books, Google Bookstore, and Apple Books. Available for purchase or download! Bye for now!