
As someone who loves saving money and hates wasting food, I’m always on the hunt for practical ways to stretch the life of my groceries. Despite my best efforts to avoid food waste, I’ll admit that produce—especially herbs and lettuce—tends to meet an untimely end in my fridge.
When I heard about FreshPaper, an inexpensive product designed to keep produce fresh longer, I was intrigued. The idea is simple: just toss a sheet in with your fruits and veggies, and they’ll supposedly last two to four times longer. Could this little piece of paper really help me avoid throwing out wilted greens? I had to find out. Especially since they have 6,000 five star reviews on Amazon!
Once I tried them I was hooked! They absolutely work and now I have to have them. They last longer than you might think because you can cut them in half or in quarters depending on the size of the space. Even a 1 inch strip can go inside a loaf of bread. Yes one sheet can cover quite a bit!
What Is FreshPaper?
FreshPaper is made from organic, compostable materials and claims to naturally slow down spoilage, over-ripening, and wilting. You can use it by simply adding a sheet to your produce drawer or directly into a bag of lettuce or a container of berries. At just $11.99 for a pack of eight sheets, it seemed like a small investment worth trying to save on wasted produce.
Does FreshPaper Actually Work?
To put it to the test, I bought some kale and stored it in my fridge with one sheet of FreshPaper. Here’s what happened:
- After 1 week: The kale still looked almost as fresh as the day I bought it. While it wasn’t quite as firm, it still had a sturdy texture and was perfect for eating raw or cooked.
- After 2 weeks: The kale had softened a bit more but was still green and usable. This was a big win since my kale usually looks sad by this point.
- After 3 weeks: The kale started to wilt and had minor yellowing in spots, but it was still fine for cooking. Without FreshPaper, my kale wouldn’t have made it anywhere near this long.
How Do You Use FreshPaper?
It couldn’t be easier. You just take a sheet out of the box and drop it into your produce drawer. Each sheet lasts about 30 days and is reusable during that time. FreshPaper also offers options for bread, cheese, and even a beeswax alternative to plastic wrap called FreshWrap, so you can tackle food waste in other areas of your kitchen too.
The Bottom Line
If you’re like me and hate seeing your money go in the trash, FreshPaper is worth a try. It’s easy to use, compostable, and extends the life of your produce. At just $11.99 for eight sheets, it’s a small cost that could save you big in the long run. For me, it’s a no-brainer. Hope you find the same!