ungekühlt

Ungekühlt is a German term meaning not cooled, i.e., kept at ambient or room temperature rather than refrigerated or frozen. It is commonly used in product labeling, storage instructions, and technical descriptions.

In the food sector, "ungekühlt lagern" or "ungekühlt" indicates that a product does not require refrigeration and can be stored at room temperature. Typical room temperature ranges are around 18 to 25°C, but exact guidance depends on the product and regulations. Shelf-stable foods include canned goods, dried grains and pasta, cereals, oils, sugars, salts, spices, and many baked goods. Perishables such as dairy, meat, and cut fruits spoil more quickly at room temperature and generally require refrigeration or freezing, especially after opening. Labels may contrast "ungekühlt" with "gekühlt lagern" or "kühl über 4°C" to specify differing storage conditions.

In technology and engineering, ungekühlt describes devices or components that operate at ambient temperature without active cooling. A prominent example is uncooled infrared detectors (such as microbolometer arrays), which function without cryogenic cooling but typically offer higher thermal noise and lower sensitivity than cooled detectors. Other systems may explicitly specify ungekühlt operation, though thermal management remains important, as ambient temperature influences performance, stability, and longevity.

Overall, the meaning of ungekühlt is context-dependent: it denotes storage or operation without deliberate cooling, and exact requirements should be taken from product labels, manuals, or regulatory guidelines.