Do you have a refrigerator with an ice machine built into it, or an under counter unit. If so you’ve probably gotten pretty used to the luxury of filling up a glass with fresh ice. It’s a luxury that has only relatively recently been possible, and the history of that seemingly commonplace appliance has more twists and turns than a mountain switch back road. You will appreciate the many people that helped make it all possible in our series of “Ice Machine History” Blogs
In the Beginning
Before modern refrigeration and freezing technology, people around the world used a variety of resourceful ways to get, store and make ice. Persians create a marvelous facility called a yakhchal.
The conical structure with a subterranean pit was used to store and make ice as far back as 400 B.C.Egyptians used to set out clay pots filled with water to freeze on chilly nights. In colder climates natural ice was harvested and stored in underground places that would keep the ice from melting. The task of harvesting ( as a matter of fact ,all modern ice machines have a harvest cycle which drops the ice into the bin) could be very dangerous and would probably be a great show for TV today.
Demand for ice increased as people realized the importance of ice for tasks including refrigerating food to prevent illness and, cooling storage buildings and preserving medicine. In addition, people were starting to like cool treats like chilled beverages and ice cream.
Don’t Miss our next blog “The first ice machine”
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