This is kind of a cool idea...
(Note-The weekly baking post will be up tomorrow, because I still need to take some pictures for this week's subject matter. )
When I was looking up prices on the Vollrath baking sheet, I came across this nifty little thing.
It's called a Days Ago Digital Day Timer and it tells you how long it's been since you opened a particular food item.
I can see where this would be really helpful when you're storing something like leftover canned fruit (I always lose track of how many days mine has been around!). And, it's really cute! However, I see a couple of downsides to it as well.
I think the best way to determine a food's freshness is by observation...if it smells funky, if it's slimy, if it's an off-color, it's probably not safe to eat, even if your day-timer only says it's been a day since it's been opened. On the flip side, even if your salsa has been open for 15 days, as long as there's no mold, slime, or stink, it's probably completely safe to eat.
If you really wanted to keep track of days, though, you could accomplish something similar without the use of a digital device. You could label foods with masking tape, you could write directly on the jar with a black marker(an SOS pad will take it right off when you're done), or you could keep a list of opening dates on your fridge. These methods, while not as cute as the timer, are practically free and require no batteries (I, however, lack the organization/motivation to maintain either of those habits).
I mostly employ other anti-waste techniques, like going through my refrigerator regularly ( I try to take a peek through it each day at lunchtime, to remind myself of what I need to use soon), and planning meals so I know what and how much to buy. I also combine those two strategies by doing a fridge inventory before I plan my meals. If I see an open jar of salsa, for instance, I try to plan a meal using that item so I won't be greeted by fuzzy mold the next time I unscrew the lid.
What do you think? Is this a helpful tool in the fight against food waste, or just another unncessary plastic device?
Neat idea, but I vote unnecessary plastic device.
I also go through my fridge regularly and plan meals around what's in there. My big issue is with pantry items. I have a few that are probably still ok, but have definitely been in there for a long time. For example, I have an opened box of cake flour that my husband bought over a year ago to make a special cake for a work function. It's probably just fine, but since we don't make that kind of baked good often (we're both trying to watch what we eat and cake is a major temptation!), it's just sitting in there.
I think it depends on how organized you are. For me, that would be an unnecessary plastic device, as I'm already very good at keeping track of the contents of our fridge and using up items accordingly. But I can see how it would be helpful--particularly for those who aren't very organized or who have kids always opening things and making it hard to keep track of how long things have been in the fridge.
I agree, the nose and eyes do pretty well for free. I can see some much better uses for such a gadget. How about on the bathroom cleaner so when husband says "I just cleaned in there" you can say, "nope, look you haven't used the cleaner in the last 10 days, here you go"!
Useless plastic device. Use a Sharpie.
Can you go into more detail about your lack of motivation/organization re using a black marker? I'm rather hoping it's a lack of organization, because I'd like to foster the Sharpie habit. Some of those who would greatly benefit also lack organization. Perhaps if you could articulate why you don't, I'd understand better and thus be better equiped to help others prevent waste.
It would be less expensive to save your plastic tubs and mark them "Throw out on "Day"". Get one for each day of the week. When you have leftovers, put them in the correct throw out day.
In the words of Alton Brown, "uni-tasker"! Therefore a waste of money if there can be only one use for an item. Observation by sight and smell are the best dating method for me. Scanning the shelves and having an inventory of the freezer posted on the fridge helps keep it from becoming a graveyard of wasted food.
Dear Engineering Mom, I noticed your comment about the cake flour. I store my 'occasional use' flour in the freezer. I keep my whole wheat flour in its original bag and store it in a Ziplock bag. This has worked for years. I also store my regular flour in the freezer. A triple purpose is served - its safe from spoilage, more room for canned items on the pantry shelf, and the freezer functions better when full.
@EngineerMom
I think this is an unnecessary item. When I know something in the frig will need eating soon, I put a note on the item IN the frig and a note on the OUTSIDE of the frig. Teenagers and husbands need LARGE visual aids. ;o)
It's unnecessary for me. I use a Sharpie and my nose. I am currently having an English muffin (from the freezer) with cream cheese for breakfast each day until I use up the cream cheese that's past its date (or until it starts smelling bad, whichever comes first). Looks like there's enough for only one more serving, which is good, because I'm kind of tired of it. But I'm the only one in the house who will eat things that are past the sell date and I don't want to throw it away 'cause it's still good. (And I'm still alive, there's the proof!)
An item that looks good, but you would use it once, realize that it is a pain in the butt, and throw it in the drawer with all the other things that you used just once...like the strawberry huller, the sandwich crimper, the bamboo tongs to remove toast from the toaster...etc.
i think its very helpful...it tells you how long its been there, plus its easier then writing it down...
I think it is really cute and nifty. At one time, in another financial life, I probably would have bought just because I thought it was cute!
But I agree it is just another item taking up space. I just use my nose and eyes and sense of touch to determine if food is safe. My family always shoves everything under my nose to determine if it is still okay to eat!
Cute, but the kind of thing I find in the bottom of a drawer of crap, forgetting when/why I bought it. Like my "grapefruit spoons".