“Well done! Your fridge status is excellent.” That little pat on the back makes me feel a bit smug. Amid the chaos of everyday life, at least my fridge is under control. Before anyone jumps to the conclusion that I have thrown away a chunk of money on a smart fridge just to soothe my ego, I haven’t; this is the work of Vitesy smart fridge purifier.
Food waste is a serious problem. In 2022 Ireland dumped 750,000 tonnes of food, equivalent to around 146kg per person. About 220,000 tonnes was down to households, which means a lot of money went into the bin too, not to mention the environmental impact.
We know what we are talking about. Wizened strawberries. Raspberries that turn to mush in a shockingly short time. The wizened tomato that seemed fine yesterday. I’m not saying I expect food to last for days – that way lies preservatives and stuff you would rather not have on your food – but 24 hours without rampant mould taking hold in the soft fruit you just bought would be nice.
So could Shelfy help? The device from Vitesy claims to keep your fridge in tiptop condition, smelling fresh and feeding you back the information via its hub app.
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The trusty tub of bicarb that usually deals with any pungent cheese or broccoli odours seems a lot cheaper and easier to manage. But Shelfy doesn’t just deal with odours. It also claims to remove bacteria and gasses from your fridge that could otherwise upset the delicate balance and lead to food spoiling more quickly.
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Vitesy has some experience here. It usually makes air purifiers for your home, removing voltaic organic compounds and other pollutants from the air. So it stands to reason that it would have the know-how to keep your fridge clean and fresh.
The device itself isn’t the most unobtrusive of things. Think a smartphone photo printer and you are on the right track, complete with USB-C rechargeable battery. It sits in a shell what ensures there is airflow around the device, no matter how packed your fridge is, although you should still pay attention to the tips on how to position it. And it can stand up to fit into the shelves on your fridge.
There are three modes: Eco, during which it will whirr away in the background and work for around three to four weeks; Crisper, which is designed for use in your fruit and veg drawer and has a battery life of two to three weeks; and Performance, which is intended to extend the shelf-life of your food.
You cycle through the three modes either in the app or by pressing the single lit-up button on the front of Shelfy.
The oddly long-lasting strawberries might stand as testament to its efficacy, but it is hardly scientific
First of all, it is bye-bye bicarb. Then Shelfy is charged up and slotted into my fridge. I’ve connected it to the app, but you don’t need the app for Shelfy to work; you just won’t get the nice pat on the back from when your fridge is at the right temperature without it. Or know how many times your fridge has been opened, for how long and how the temperature has fluctuated throughout the day.
Within a few days, my nice pat on the back goes to a finger wagging warning. It takes me a few minutes to figure out it is down to small children leaving the fridge door open for too long while they are getting a drink or mine-sweeping for fruit they might have missed. Within 10 minutes, I am back to my perfect rating.
Re-educating the troops might take a while. The other things that are in my control though are regular cleaning of the fridge – Shelfy reminds you to do that on a schedule – and proper food storage, both of which will cut down on food waste too.
But after a week I do start to notice a difference on how long food is lasting. The fridge is also remarkably odour-free, despite the presence of food that normally tips the balance. There are some strawberries – used as an experiment in this case, fruit rarely lasts more than a couple of days – that still look edible, rather than wrinkled at this stage.
Can I say it really works? The oddly long-lasting strawberries might stand as testament to its efficacy, but it is hardly scientific. Shelfy has a report that covers the scientific studies carried out on its devices, measuring how well it controlled bacteria in the fridge environment, dealt with odours and controlled the level of ethylene – the gas that is produced by ripening fruit.
The report gave Shelfy a thumbs up. The nectarines in my fridge that can still be used as a weapon agree.
Good
It deals with odours well, and food does seem to last longer. There is a reassuring amount of data fed back by the app to keep you apprised of the fridge’s condition – assuming you needed to know that.
It also nudges you towards better behaviour, and tells you how to make changes to make your food last longer in the fridge.
Bad
It isn’t as cheap as a bit of organisation and elbow grease. You could save yourself the expense and only buy what food you need for a few days, a cheaper option than buying a filter for your fridge.
Add in a fridge thermometer, and a regular cleaning schedule, and you will probably keep your fridge ticking over nicely without having to spend money or remember to charge a device on a schedule.
Everything else
The filter is washable, so there is no ongoing expense in replacing it.
Verdict
If you need a nudge, Shelfy will help you keep your fridge in good working order. As long as you remember to charge it.
