Kitchen gadgets aimed at reducing waste are all the rage right now. Earlier this week we introduced you to Vitesy's Shelfy, which keeps the air in your fridge cleaner and your food fresher for longer. This month we're using the B!pod Dro!d, a new device that helps prevent food from going stale.
If you can ignore the silly name, Dro!d is actually pretty cool: it's the first high-performance consumer vacuum device, and it uses innovative technology to keep food fresh up to five times longer than traditional storage methods.
Food waste is a serious problem in the UK, with the UK population throwing out 9.5 million tonnes of food every year, 70% of which comes from households.
This latest innovation from B!pod consists of two parts: the vacuum device, Dro!d, and a specially designed container.
By removing the air inside the container and halting the oxidation process, Dro!d aims to preserve the flavour, colour, texture and aroma of all kinds of foods, whilst working to reduce food waste.
As I mentioned at the beginning, I've been using Dro!d for nearly a month now and I'm very impressed.
Background: My toddler eats fruit as fast as Winnie the Pooh eats honey, so my fridge is always stocked with grapes, raspberries, strawberries, blueberries, cucumbers, etc. largely I'll do it all during the week, but inevitably there'll be some left over…
Now, instead of throwing out moldy fruit at the weekend, B!pod's stylish containers (which come in a variety of eye-pleasing colours) keep it fresh.
It's really easy to use: just place your food in the container, connect the vacuum and press the button to start the process. In just 30 seconds, Dro!d removes 95 percent of the oxygen molecules, stopping the oxidation process in your food. This extends the shelf life of the contents without affecting the smell, color or texture of your food. It also doesn't crush your food like vacuum sealing does.
The containers can be stored at room temperature, in the refrigerator, or even in the freezer.
When it's time to remove your food, simply open the valve on top to break the vacuum seal.
I've found it very handy for fruit and salads and it's a lifesaver when you have a toddler who is crying and demanding food as you can prepare the food before sealing it up.
We also find the size very appealing: the Dro!d is roughly the size of a pair of binoculars, while the B!pod claims it can perform on par with an industrial vacuum cleaner ten times its size.
It's so compact that I actually took the Dro!d and the container with me strawberry picking, and because it's battery operated I was able to seal it in the field to maximize freshness.
As part of the UK launch of the B!pod I took part in a cookery class to learn how to get the most out of the device, as although it is primarily for food storage it can also be used during the cooking process.
It's amazing how quickly it soaks, mixes, and marinates: In class, we sealed blanched asparagus stalks, baby artichokes, lemon juice, and oil dressing in a vacuum container and left them to marinate for just 20 minutes instead of overnight.
When marinating, reducing the pressure allows the marinade to penetrate the ingredients more effectively and quickly. Again, it was all very impressive and the results were delicious (thanks to the chefs at The Langham Hotel).
Now, to sound like a Tupperware salesman, B!pod containers are microwave and dishwasher safe, and are BPA-free.
The Dro!d Starter Pack includes three reusable bins (0.5L, 1L, 1.5L), a Dro!d vacuum cleaner and a charging base. The starter pack costs £319 (currently on sale for £271), with additional bins priced from £20.
Though it's obviously quite pricey, the Dro!d and container feel like a premium product – however, if I could change just one thing, I wish it charged via USB-C rather than a dedicated charging base.
But all in all, there's no denying that the B!pod Dro!d is a game changer, and I plan on vacuuming up all my food from now on.
If you liked this, check out our guide to the best smoothie makers for a refreshing summer day.
