Invention idea - Fridge that knows how old your food is, would you buy this?
By vivasuzi
@vivasuzi (4127)
United States
January 25, 2008 12:14pm CST
Ok, my husband and I have a problem. We buy lots of healthy foods... then forget about them... then they go old... then we have to through them out. Sometimes we think "this fruit SHOULD still be good b/c I THINK we bought it only 4 days ago" but we can't recall so it usually ends in the trash.
So I thought, wouldn't it be cool if your fridge had some kind of scanner attached to it. You could scan or enter in your groceries as you buy them and the scanner would remember the date of purchase, perhaps even the date of expiration. Then your fridge could have a computer screen on the front that would display alerts
"Alert: fruit is 5 days old and will expire in 3 days" just to remind you of the food so you eat it before it goes old.
I obviously haven't worked out all the kinks, but assuming a company did the proper work on this, would you buy it? What other suggestions would you have for making sure your food doesn't go to waste?
1 person likes this
5 responses
@lorelai (1558)
• Italy
25 Jan 08
I wouldn't buy it for me because I usually eat everything that I buy and I pay attention that the food don't expire but I would buy one for my Mum. Sometimes when I visit her I find a lot of stuff that has expired some time a go. Her fridge is always full and she only takes what's in the front and doesn't care for what's behind. Sometimes that really make me angry because I find expensive stuff not only expired but even smelling. I tried to talk to her but she doesn't really care for it. I think that if you spend money on something you should eat it otherwise it's just waisted money and nobody has money to waste.
1 person likes this
@vivasuzi (4127)
• United States
26 Jan 08
We try not to overflow our fridge with food for that very reason. It's not that I want to waste the food, it's that I'm forgetful and even with only a few things in the fridge, I'll forget about those oranges in the bottom, or won't see the cottage cheese on the top shelf in the back. Then next thing I know, I find the oranges but I can't remember how old they are or if they are good. Since I'm worried about eating old food, I end up throwing it away.
@dvschic (1795)
• United States
25 Jan 08
LG already made something very similar, it doesn't have a scanner, but you enter in the food and then it tells you when you've run out or when you should toss it. its pretty expensive, as its also a computer and such in it.. i dont think it sold too well, cause i can't find it anymore... now people want their tv built into the fridge... i like the concept but wonder if i'd do it, after i got home from grocery store, lugging all those groceries, would i really want to scan it again... probably not
@vivasuzi (4127)
• United States
26 Jan 08
Yeah maybe that one was too much work if you had to enter it in yourself. A scanner would be awesome, and I'm sure costly at first :) If I could just scan it like I do when I'm purchasing it (like when you use self check out at the grocery store), it would be easy!
@thedogshrink (1266)
• United States
26 Jan 08
I'd love something like that -- especially if it also kept inventory and printed out a grocery list when you need it too! This is a cool idea. I'd buy it if I could, but to be honest, no I wouldn't be able to afford it I am certain!
@gamemasterking (7)
• United States
26 Jan 08
I already know how old my food is. Just open the fridge and smell it!lol.
@gamemasterking (7)
• United States
26 Jan 08
Oh one more thing. I dont want my fridge to be smart because it might turn against me and take over the world!
@anapoc (16)
• Latvia
25 Jan 08
There is such things already. Saw once fridge in which you enter date when you bought your stuff and ending date if its mentioned and then fridge gives an ERROR if stuff is too old :)
