PURPOSE: To reduce the operation cost of the titled apparatus, by evacuating a storage chamber, cooling the content in vacuum and opening the inlet-side of an N2 gas introducing line to atmosphere via an oxygen-removing means.

CONSTITUTION: A fresh food in a storage chamber 1 is cooled by evacuating with a vacuum pump 2 and stored in N2 gas introduced through a line 4. The inlet-side of the line 4 is opened to atmosphere via an oxygen-removing means 5 composed of an oxygen absorber or a combustion apparatus. A valve 6 is opened after the evacuation of the storage chamber 1 to introduce air deoxygenated with the oxygen-removing means 5 and rich in N2 gas component into the storage chamber 1.