Multitasking kitchen: hi-tech gadgets for home chefs
The carbonator for water and cocktails, the containers that extend the life of food, the stainless steel extractor. Improving performance with professional allies.
by Rhodri Marsden
3' min read
3' min read
As a parent of an exuberant two-year-old, I often have to handle large quantities and varieties of food that are rejected on a whim. I put them back in the fridge and repurpose them at close quarters, but it often happens that I have to throw them out. Result: my compost bin has never been so full. More ecologically conscientious parents will have developed structured strategies to minimise waste, but I prefer simple solutions. This is why I have come to appreciate DRO!D, a clean and particularly efficient conservation system.
The manufacturer, B!POD, is a branch of the Italian company Saes, which has been at the forefront of vacuum technology since the beginning of the 20th century. Its know-how has been incorporated into televisions, particle accelerators, medical instruments and quantum computers, and now into a range of microwaveable bowls and lids made of Obp (Ocean Bound Plastic), plastic recycled from waste that risked ending up in the seas. The lids are fitted with a valve from which air can be sucked in, right through the DRO!D, a small wireless unit, similar in shape and size to a mini binocular. You place the food in the bowl, close it with the lid, place the DRO!D on the valve, press a button and the contents are vacuum-packed to 150 millibars (or 50 millibars for longer-lasting storage). A screen on top of the DRO!D warns when the process is finished (about 5-10 seconds of vibration and buzzing).
It is suitable for all kinds of food - cooked or raw, liquid or solid, dry or fresh - and according to B!POD it extends the shelf life by five times. In my case it worked: slices of fruit that would have ended up in the compost lasted another day, as did pasta sauces and salads. And there's a plus: vacuum storage is also recommended to speed up the process of marinating food.
DETails B!POD DRO!D, 340 €, bipod.co.uk.
