od.
- If you’re using central cooling, keep your food that needs a lower temperature closer to the vents. Most cooling vents go as low as 20 degrees less than the set temperature in order to combat the stagnant air in the room. You can leave food that doesn’t need to be as cold a little bit further away from the vents.
- Add an exhaust pipe to remove heat from the earth and running machines (humidifiers, thermostats, vents, hygrometers, etc.). Place the exhaust pipes closest to root vegetables and other foods that don’t need to be as cold as others.
As far as controlling the temperature in a single, unseparated root cellar, it’d be quite challenging. Other than proper vent and exhaust pipe placement, there’s not much you can do other than separating them. If you’re truly concerned, try to jar some of the food to keep it separated.
Additional Storage Tips for Root Cellars
Maintaining a root cellar is very simple once you get everything started. The hardest part is controlling the environment, but you can easily do it with the proper tools. If you’re trying to figure out how to keep the temperature where it needs to be, try these five helpful storage suggestions:
- Never try to make a root cellar in a shed or any other area where you can’t completely adjust the temperature and humidity. If you only have a shed to use, insulate it as much as possible. The wood and metal that most sheds are made out of are awful for insulation and temperature control, not to mention they can corrode and rust.
- Don’t short yourself on the humidifier and cooling system. They’re both very crucial to the effectiveness and longevity of your root cellar. You should predict that the biggest portion of your cellar’s maintenance will go towards repairs for those parts more than anything else, though they don’t need to be fixed often.
- Dirt is an incredible insulator. If you’re able to do it, make your root cellar underground. Dirt has been used to build houses and huts for centuries, so why not use it as an inexpensive way to control the temperature and humidity of your root cellar?
- Consider adding fans inside of your root cellar to circulate the cool air. You can use this technique to reduce the temperature of specific spots over others, although it’s not as effective as a separate room.
- Be mindful of the types of lights that you use in your cellar, if any are present. Some lights, including incandescent bulbs, get very hot quickly. You can end up overheating your food that rests directly underneath the lights. Instead, try to carry a lantern or a flashlight whenever you go inside.
Root cellars need to maintain a stagnant cold temperature and humidity in order to preserve everything inside of it. Once you have your cellar set up and ready to go, you’ll be able to control the environment with very little effort or money.
Here are a few takeaways from the post:
- A root cellar should be between 32 to 40 degrees Fahrenheit.
- Vents, pipes, and fans can be used to adjust the internal temperature.
- You need top-notch insulation to prevent external ambient temperature from changing the root cellar’s environment.
- Consider separating your root cellar into small rooms or closed shelves to house multiple temperatures.
Recommended Root Cellar Maintenence Products
I took the time to list some things you might need for a root cellar. Here are a few Amazon products that you may find helpful:
- Hygrometer– For measuring temperature and humidity.
- 5-Gallon Gasket Sealed Plastic Buckets– The perfect size for my long-term storage needs.
- 5-Gallon Mylar Storage Bags– Fill these bags, seal them, then put them in the bucket for ultra-long-term storage.
- Root Cellar Storage Bins– For storing most veggies.
- Airtight Storage Containers– For short or mid-term use.
- Storage Labels– Logging the date and contents is important.
For more, don’t miss What Is a Root Cellar? Why They Work & What They Are Used For.
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