Food waste is a significant issue in the UK, with fruits and vegetables being some of the most frequently discarded items.
In fact, the UK tops the list for food waste production in Europe, with the average household squandering £470 on food that ends up in the bin each year. This is often due to improper storage or purchasing items with a short shelf-life.
Over the years, I’ve experimented with various storage hacks to prolong my food’s lifespan, but it wasn’t until I discovered Shelfy that I tried a device.
Shelfy is an innovative smart gadget designed to reduce fridge bacteria and eliminate unpleasant smells. Using air purification technology, Shelfy can extend shelf life by up to 12 days and decrease circulating bacteria by 99 percent within just 10 minutes.
The device also slows down the ripening process, delaying the onset of wilt and mould on foods. Additionally, this remarkable device removes odours, helping to maintain a clean-smelling fridge.
Setting up was a breeze, and it connects to an app which notifies you when to clean the filter and fridge, as well as providing the fridge’s temperature. The device also features a door opening sensor, tracking how many times the fridge door is opened daily to boost efficiency, reports the Express.
Users can control the device via Google Home and Alexa, as well as the Vitesy Hub app, which offers a plethora of food storage tips to maximise results with the device.
This gadget was exactly what I was after and it didn’t let me down in the slightest. Its sleek design is unnoticeable in the fridge and doesn’t take up much room.
I enjoyed using the app to monitor the fridge temperature and to know when it was time to clean the fridge and filter. But the real test was whether it kept my food fresher for longer, and it certainly did.
You can place it in various parts of the fridge, including the crisper drawer, but I kept it in the middle to help extend the lifespan of everyday produce. My fruits stayed ripe for many more days than usual, with blueberries staying firm, strawberries remaining mould-free, and raspberries looking as fresh as the day I bought them.
Even after 10 days, my grapes were still crunchy, which I’ve never experienced before. I also had some fresh onion in the fridge, which usually permeates the whole fridge with its smell, as well as other foods, but this was non-existent, which was amazing.
Thanks to the device’s photocatalytic technology, it doesn’t require replacement filters, which is a huge plus for me as it’s just the initial cost of the device. However, it’s not cheap, with Shelfy retailing at a hefty £149 on their website, but it’s currently reduced to £89.
It’s currently available on Amazon for £119 with free delivery, but if you have Prime, you can get it for £89.
I believe it’s certainly worth considering, given that the average household squanders over £400 worth of food annually. However, it’s undeniably a luxury item rather than a necessity.
I do wish the battery life was a bit longer as it only lasts three weeks, which comes around quite swiftly and it’s easy to forget to recharge it. There are several fridge deodorising products and items designed to prolong the freshness of food available on the market, but nothing quite like Shelfy that connects to an app.