FROSTBITE How Refrigeration Changed Our Food, Our Planet, and Ourselves

Journalist and podcaster Nicola Twilley has dedicated years to the study of refrigeration. Twilley's delivery is most notable for her English accent; words such as "garage" and "tomato," "vitamins" with a short "i," and "aluminum" with a long "u" may distract the listener. Nonetheless, this audiobook demonstrates how important her reporting and research are as it reveals the significance of cooling food and the cost to the environment of doing so, as well its effect on flavor. Twilley is witty and ably simplifies science. She describes the elements of the "cold chain"--the trucks, trains, and massive container ships that have enabled us to have "seasonless" produce--but bemoans how the convenience of the fridge often displaces flavor (think long-hauled tomatoes) and sacrifices vitamins. A.D.M. © AudioFile 2024, Portland, Maine [Published: AUGUST 2024]