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As a recipe developer and food photographer, you can be sure my refrigerator is always full. While I do my best to work through my inventory to prevent food waste, I must admit, there are still casualties. It’s always my produce that loses the battle, with fresh herbs and lettuce taking the most damage.
Recently, I was told about a product that might solve my food waste dilemma. An inexpensive solution called FreshPaper that could easily slip in the drawer with my produce to prolong its life. Was this paper what I needed to help my leafy greens make it past one week? I set out to find the answer.
What is FreshPaper?
FreshPaper is plastic-free paper made with organic and compostable ingredients that “naturally slow down spoilage, over-ripening, and wilting.” According to the website, simply add a sheet to your produce drawer or toss it with a bag of lettuce or clamshell of berries and your produce should last at least two to four times longer than if you didn’t use it. This all sounded too good to be true, so of course, I had to test it.
Is FreshPaper Effective?
To test the product, I bought some lacinato kale and added it to my already full produce drawer, along with one sheet of FreshPaper. I stored the kale in the drawer for three weeks and was amazed by the results. After one week, the kale looked nearly the same as it did the day I bought it. It wasn’t as firm but still had some sturdiness to it. After two weeks, it was noticeably softer but still green and firm enough to eat raw or cooked.
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While it had started to wilt by week three, it still looked good with only minor yellowing in some spots, meaning the kale could still be used in cooked recipes. Usually after a week or so, my kale looks pretty sad. This time around, it looked about as fresh as when I bought it at the store. My overall impression is that the paper works, at least for leafy greens.
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How to Utilize FreshPaper?
As the brand promises, using the paper was easy. I opened the box, pulled out a sheet, and dropped it into my vegetable drawer. Since it’s reusable for up to thirty days, I’m keeping it in there for at least another week, along with the kale, to see what happens.
Just a quick note: I tried out the Produce Saver Sheet, but the company also offers sheets specifically for bread and cheese, in addition to a cotton and beeswax option called FreshWrap, which serves as a substitute for plastic wrap.
The Key Takeaway
I’m always looking for ways to reduce food waste and FreshPaper seems to be an easy way to keep food fresh for longer. It’s simple to use and completely compostable. At $11.99 for eight sheets, it’s a minor future investment I’m happy to make.
