New online tool matches up unwanted fruit and veg into waste-free recipes

08 February 2023 , 13:13

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A tenth of the fruit and veg Brits buy every week ends up in the bin (Image: SWNS)

Swipe right – a new tool is helping the nation to combat food waste, by finding “soilmates” for their leftover veg.

The site lets people choose the unwanted vegetables sitting in their fridge drawers, and produces tasty and waste-free recipe suggestions which put them to good use.

It comes as a study of 2,000 adults found a fifth consider themselves a “fruit and veg snob”, with 21% admitting they even discard certain items because of how they look – despite being edible.

The average person throws away 10% of fruit and veg each week – despite nearly a third (29%) of their bill going on these items during their typical weekly food shop.

Oddbox, which is passionate about fighting food waste, created the dating-inspired tool to rescue and match lonely fruit and veg together, and inspire adults to get creative in the kitchen.

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New online tool matches up unwanted fruit and veg into waste-free recipes

New dating-inspired app Soilmates matches up unwanted fruit and vegetables into tasty, waste-free recipes (SWNS)

Heather Lynch, head of impact for the fruit and veg delivery company, which commissioned the study, said: “We want to change the destiny of thousands of vegetables, to help fight food waste and create tasty plates of food in the process.

“Not knowing what to do with leftover vegetables, or a lack of inspiration to turn them into delicious meals, is one of the most common causes of food waste at home.

““Soilmates” gives people the help they need to fight food waste in a fun and engaging way.”

Salad leaves, cucumber, and tomatoes are among the most common items to be discarded, with 38% doing so as a result of them going out of date faster than they expected.

Nearly one in six (15%) only need to use a few products, but can’t help that they come in a multipack, leading them to discard the not-needed – while 28% simply forget they are in the fridge.

But encouragingly, only 12% admit to buying things when they know it’s more than likely they won’t get eaten.

Nearly seven in ten (69%) of those who do this claim the intentions are there, while 47% just want to appear healthy.

Shamefully, more than a third (36%) only buy these healthy foods because they want their fridge to look colourful.

Of those polled, via OnePoll, making soup (43%) was the most popular option for what to do with any “ugly” fruit and vegetables, while 23% prefer to turn them into smoothies.

When thinking of the fruit and veg most likely to be uneaten, 28% would refuse an artichoke, and 21% would turn their nose up at an avocado.

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Bags of salad leaves are the most likely to end up in the bin (Getty Images)

Strawberries were voted the nation’s favourite food, with potatoes, bananas, and mushrooms following closely behind.

More than half (53%) admit they need to eat more fruit and veg than they currently do, as 55% say they want more variety when it comes to their overall diet and meal planning.

Nearly four in ten (39%) are guilty of often repeating the same recipes each week, with 21% saying they lack creativity in the kitchen.

However, 42% don’t let innovation issues get in the way, and will typically try to find a substitute if they are missing an ingredient.

Oddbox is working with internet sensation and food-waste disruptor, Martyn Odell – otherwise known as “Lagom Chef” – to demonstrate how easy it is to use up unwanted vegetables.

Martyn Odell said: “The new “Soilmates” tool is an amazing way to reduce food waste, and get people experimenting with fruits and vegetables they haven’t tried before.

“For example, something like beetroot isn’t on many people's weekly food shop, but there are many ways to use them, from soups to salads – and “Soilmates” will provide people with a range of recipes if they are unsure what to do.”

TOP 20 UNWANTED FRUIT AND VEGETABLES: