Aussie father and son's invention to save $800 a year at the supermarket

It’s so annoying when you buy a load of veggies, and, days later, they’ve already gone bad. Slimy mushrooms, mouldy zucchini, brown avocados and the worst: wilted herbs that cost a fortune.

Not only is this a common complaint, but it is a factor that contributes to the $2,500 (!!) the average household wastes on food they don’t or can’t eat in a year. Yes, you read that correctly - Aussie families are essentially spending the cost of a return trip to London on food that ends up in the bin.

All that wasted food isn’t just bad for our pockets, either. Rotting food contributes to around 8 per cent of global greenhouse gas emissions. So even if you can inexplicably stomach the thousands of dollars down the drain, surely this statistic makes you want to spring into action.

There has to be a solution, and many people have found it with various crafty hacks to keep specific foods fresh for longer. However, one Aussie father/son duo has taken it a step further and designed a product that increases the shelf life of your fruit and veg and can save you up to a staggering $800 a year on groceries.

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The Fridge Friend looks like an ice brick and sits in your fridge to absorb the ethylene, bacteria, mould and mildew that make your produce spoil faster, with founder Jonathan Roberts telling Yahoo Lifestyle, “It will increase shelf life by up to three weeks."

“I know it works," he continues. "The strawberries in my fridge stay fresh, but we have so much confidence in the product that we have a 90-day money-back guarantee."

How does the Fridge Friend work?

Ethylene gas is a naturally occurring hormone that fruits and vegetables produce as they ripen. As ethylene accumulates in the surrounding air, it can lead to changes in the texture, colour and flavour of ethylene-sensitive fruit and veg, including causing them to become limp, wilted, or overripe.

That’s where the Fridge Friend comes in. Using a combination of 100 per cent natural minerals, it absorbs 79 per cent of the ethylene in your fridge. It also removes up to 80 per cent of airborne bacteria and mould that cause food contamination and potentially food poisoning.

“We’ve worked with Deakin University and had all the scientific testing done, but what really keeps me going is the reviews,” Roberts said. “We have 600 Trust Pilot reviews, and the vast majority are very positive.”

“It does work, month after month after month,” read one. “It has made a huge difference to how long my fruit and veg last in the veggie crisper in the fridge.”

“Best investment I’ve made,” said another. “Such a great invention. It’s taken a smell out of my fridge I couldn’t get rid of. Just bought another one to put with my veggies to keep them crisp.”

With the average Australian wasting one in every five bags of shopping each week, anything to prevent this is going to save you cash.

“We did the math and found that with Fridge Friend, you can save up to $800 per year,” Roberts said.

How to keep your food fresh for longer

While products like the Fridge Friend certainly help, experts also recommend some basics when choosing your fresh food to help extend its shelf life, too.

“Choose high-quality produce, avoid bruised or pest-infected fruits and vegetables, as they spoil more quickly,” food safety consultant from WA, Erina Male, told Yahoo Lifestyle. “Practice proper rotation and use older produce first to minimise waste.”

She also suggested “planning your meals to prevent excess purchases and buying only what you need.”

“Use preservation methods - techniques like pickling can help extend shelf life,” she added.

Tips for keeping fruit and veg fresh in the fridge

Once you've popped your Fridge Friend into your refrigerator, there are still other things that you can do to ensure your fruit and veg are given the best chance at lasting longer.

For example, berries can be washed in water and a drop of vinegar and then stored in a container lined with kitchen paper to keep them fresh for up to two weeks.

Spinach and lettuce

Leafy greens also benefit from a piece of kitchen paper - whether it’s lining a ziplock bag or a Tupperware container to keep moisture at bay.

Remember to remove your salad from its original packaging where there’s moisture, which will make it spoil, and pop it in a new container with kitchen paper to absorb any water and squeeze as much air out as you can.

Celery, carrots and cucumber

When it comes to celery, carrots and cucumber, you can try cleaning and cutting your carrots and celery into sticks and then store them in jars full of water in her fridge, like meal prep expert Kelsey Riley.

“I change the water daily until I eat them, which is usually within two to three days, but they can be stored this way for up to two weeks,” she says in one of her popular videos.

Storing uncut lemons and avocados in the same way is also a huge win and means lemons can stay fresh for a month.

Herbs

And, when it comes to figuring out how to make those previously mentioned (and expensive) fresh herbs have a shelf life that is longer than a day or two, Aussie food content creator Holly Wood says one hack has “changed her life."

When buying a bunch of herbs like coriander or parsley, trim the stems and put them in a jar of water. Next, cover the greens with a plastic sandwich bag and seal it as close to the jar as possible, squeezing out all the air.

“This will last over a month in the fridge, which is insane,” says Holly.

Location, location, location

One last thing to keep in mind is where you are storing food in your fridge to increase its life.

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“The coldest is the top, the middle and towards the back,” culinary scientist, Jessica Gavin, explains on TikTok. “The moderate zone is the front, middle and the bottom and...is where fruits and veg should be stored. Then there’s the high humidity zones, called the crispers. This is where you’re going to store high moisture fruit and vegetables to keep them crisp and juicy.”

And, of course, don't forget to add your Fridge Friend!

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