🌿 The Zeer pot: the ancestral ingenuity of an electricity-free fridge

At a time when we are trying to live more frugally and the energy transition is forcing us to rethink our consumption habits, an invention that is as simple as it is ingenious is making a comeback: the Zeer pot, or desert fridge.

Used for centuries in North Africa and the Middle East, this environmentally-friendly refrigeration system operates without an ounce of electricity, thanks solely to the natural laws of evaporation. Here's a closer look at this sustainable, economical and surprisingly effective solution.

🌬️ The scientific principle: cooling by evaporation

The Zeer pot operates on a fundamental physical principle: evaporation consumes thermal energy, resulting in a drop in temperature.

Just imagine: when water evaporates, it takes heat from its surroundings. It's the same phenomenon that cools us down when we sweat. The Zeer pot exploits this property through two terracotta pots, sand, water... and that's it!

🏺 How do you make a Zeer pot at home?

Materials required:

• Two unglazed terracotta pots, one smaller than the other (for example, 25 cm and 35 cm in diameter)
• Clean sand
• water
• A damp cloth or lid
• Possibly a tray to catch the water

Steps to make:

• Place the small pot in the large pot. There should be a space of around 2 to 4 cm between the two.
• Fill the space between the two pots with sand.
• Add water to the sand until it is saturated (without overflowing into the small pot).
• Moisten a cloth (clean tea towel, fine cloth) and place it on top as a lid.
• Place the Zeer pot in a well-ventilated, shady spot, preferably outside.

And finish: as the water in the sand evaporates through the porous walls of the pots, it cools the inside of the small pot.

❄️ How effective is it? What food can be stored in it?

A Zeer pot can lower the inside temperature by up to 10 to 15°C below the ambient temperature. At the height of summer, this means that food can be kept at around 15-20°C, which is enough to slow the growth of bacteria.

You can store:

• Fruit and vegetables: tomatoes, peppers, apples, courgettes, etc.
• Dairy products such as yoghurt or fresh milk for 2-3 days
• Cheese and eggs
• Drinks to refresh

Things to avoid:

• Raw meat and fish, which are too sensitive and require lower temperatures.

🌱 Why adopt the desert fridge today?

The Zeer pot ticks all the boxes for ecological resilience:

• ✅ No electricity required
• ✅ Made from simple, natural and cheap materials
• ✅ Zero carbon emissions
• ✅ Durable and repairable
• ✅ Quiet and aesthetically pleasing

It is particularly useful for:

• Households in a situation of energy sobriety or autonomy
• Homes in rural areas or without access to electricity
• Gardeners who want to store their crops in a cool place, close to the vegetable garden
• People who want to reduce their carbon footprint

Using a Zeer pot is also about making a powerful statement: taking back control over the way we consume, preserve and live.