How to extend the freshness of food: useful tips and tricks
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Keeping your fruits and vegetables fresh longer is key to reducing food waste and saving money. But achieving this can be tricky without the right knowledge and tools. In this article, you’ll learn practical tips and proven strategies on how to extend the freshness of your food, avoid spoilage, and keep your fridge smelling fresh.
- Why extending food freshness matters
- General tips to extend freshness of fruits and vegetables
- Specific storage tips for common produce
- How Shelfy helps keep food fresh longer
- Additional tips to avoid common storage mistakes
Why extending food freshness matters
Food waste is a major global challenge, with a large share caused by premature spoilage at home. By extending the freshness of your produce, you not only save money but also reduce environmental impact from wasted food.
Common problems include bacterial growth, odors, and ethylene gas buildup, all of which accelerate spoilage inside the fridge.
General tips to extend freshness of fruits and vegetables
- Control temperature and humidity: keep your fridge between 0-4°C (32-39°F). Use crisper drawers with humidity controls to suit different produce types.
- Use breathable containers: avoid airtight plastic bags that trap moisture; use perforated bags or containers lined with paper towels.
- Separate ethylene producers: fruits like apples, bananas, and tomatoes release ethylene gas, which speeds up ripening. Store these separately from ethylene-sensitive veggies like potatoes and leafy greens.
- Clean your fridge regularly: reduce bacteria and odor sources by wiping shelves and removing spoiled food promptly.
Specific storage tips for common produce
- Potatoes: store in a cool, dark place, ideally outside the fridge to avoid moisture buildup.
- Onions: keep dry and separate from potatoes to prevent sprouting.
- Carrots and zucchini: best stored in a high humidity crisper drawer wrapped loosely in plastic.
- Tomatoes: store at room temperature for flavor; refrigerate only when fully ripe.
- Strawberries: highly perishable; keep in a breathable container in the fridge’s crisper and wash only before eating.
How Shelfy helps keep food fresh longer
Shelfy uses a washable ceramic photocatalytic filter to destroy airborne bacteria, molds, and volatile organic compounds like ethylene gas, the culprit behind accelerated ripening. Shelfy actively circulates purified air, reducing fridge odors by up to 80%, and can double the shelf life of fruits and vegetables on average by up to 12 extra days.
With smart sensors and Wi-Fi/Bluetooth connectivity, Shelfy adjusts to your fridge conditions and reminds you via the Vitesy Hub app when maintenance is due. It also supports voice commands through Google Home and Alexa, making it easy to control. Learn more about Shelfy at vitesy.com/shelfy.
Maintenance tips to keep Shelfy and your fridge effective
- Clean the ceramic filter under running water monthly without removing it from its back shell to reduce handling.
- Use the Vitesy Hub app to track filter cleaning schedules and battery life.
- Wipe the ABS plastic shells with a cloth.
- Recharge Shelfy every 3 weeks in ECO mode using the included USB-C cable.
Additional tips to avoid common storage mistakes
- Don’t wash produce before storing, it adds moisture and encourages mold.
- Avoid overcrowding shelves, which blocks airflow and accelerates spoilage.
- Separate fruits and vegetables that produce ethylene from those sensitive to it.
- Regularly inspect food to remove spoiled items promptly.
Extending the freshness of your food is easier when you combine proper storage techniques with smart technology like Shelfy by Vitesy. By reducing bacteria, molds, and ethylene gas inside your fridge, Shelfy helps your fruits and vegetables last longer while keeping your fridge odor-free and hygienic.
Share this article to help others reduce food waste and enjoy fresher food every day!
