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You buy a bunch of produce, put it in the fridge and look forward to using all the yummy ingredients soon after. More often than not, you end up throwing some or most of it out because you didn’t get around to using everything. These innovations were designed to help solve that problem by making fresh produce last longer leaving you more time to enjoy it.
1. FRESH PAPER
WHAT: Specially designed paper that when placed in a bag, fridge drawer or container can double or even quadruple the shelf life of produce.
HOW: The biodegradable and recyclable paper contains a secret mix of herbs that inhibit bacterial and fungal growth, as well as degradative enzymes. Kavita Shukla is the brains behind FreshPaper and it was while visiting her grandmother in India that she discovered the secret mixture of edible organic spices that had the power to keep food fresh.
2. BEE'S WRAP
WHAT: A reusable beeswax-and-cloth alternative to plastic wrap.
HOW: Based on an old-fashioned method of infusing cotton muslin with the natural preservatives beeswax and jojoba, Bee's Wrap acts as a natural seal. You simply use the warmth of your hands to mold the wrap, then cover the food you want to preserve and when cool, the wrap stiffens holding its shape.
3. FOOD HUGGERS
WHAT: Colorful and washable silicone covers that prolong the life of fresh produce.
HOW: The stretchy silicone forms a seal around the cut end of a fruit or vegetable, preventing it from going bad.
4. BANANA STORE
WHAT: A cool little storage bag that makes bananas last longer and ripen more slowly.
HOW: When placed in the fridge, the bag provides bananas with the exact amount of insulation and air needed to stop the flesh from over-ripening. The bag has space for about 5 bananas and keeps the fruit fresh for around two weeks - twice its normal lifespan.
5. EXTRA LIFE PRODUCE SAVER
WHAT: Handy pods that preserve fresh produce in the fridge by neutralizing a freshness-sapping gas.
HOW: When fruits and vegetables begin to ripen, they release a gas called ethylene which builds up in the fridge and causes produce to spoil quickly. The produce saver pods neutralize this gas and turns it into harmless water vapor so your fruits and vegetables ripen much slower.
6. CHEESE KEEPER
WHAT: An earthenware keeper that prevents cheeses from developing mold or drying out.
HOW: The handmade keeper, which is made from food-safe clay that has been fired at low temperatures, has the ability to regulate the moisture around it. When placed along with any hard or soft cheese in an airtight container, the cheese keeper works it magic to keep things fresh.
7. HERB SAVOR
WHAT: A sleek looking contraption that will prolong the life of your fresh herbs for up to 3 weeks.
HOW: Thanks to a cool design feature, herb stems sit slightly submerged in a controlled amount of water, which keeps them fresh for much longer if they didn’t have this access to moisture.
