For many people, the fridge has become a guessing game. More than half of Brits (56%) admit they’re unsure where different vegetables should be stored, and that uncertainty is coming at a cost. With over two thirds (68%) regularly throwing away produce that has spoiled prematurely, and only a third (33%) feeling they’re storing food correctly, it’s clear the nation is muddling through rather than feeling in control.

And the problem isn’t just down to habits. Sebastian Goff, Brand Marketing Lead at Samsung UK says: “Fridges that don’t maintain a consistent temperature throughout form part of the problem, leaving items at the back prone to freezing while others sit too warm. This inconsistency accelerates spoilage.”

As a result, people feel forced to eat food that’s not fully fresh to avoid waste, with 70% admitting they’ll “give it a go” even when vegetables show signs of going off

To help households achieve the stable environment fresh food needs, Samsung’s Twin Cooling Plus technology uses two separate air flows and precise temperature control to maintain optimal humidity levels in the fridge. This stops vegetables from drying out, prevents odours mixing, and keeps produce fresher for longer – helping to reduce the very waste so many households are struggling with.

And that confusion isn’t just costing money – it’s sparking conflict at home. A striking 71% of Brits say they have argued with someone over correct storage.

Carrots have emerged as the most divisive item in the storage debate, splitting the nation perfectly down the middle with 50% insisting they belong in the fridge and 50% arguing for the cupboard. Other everyday staples also spark strong disagreement, with several foods showing similarly dramatic fridge versus-cupboard divides:

“As households begin planning their festive meals and the shopping for them, the debate over where to store vegetables feels particularly timely,” continues Sebastian. “Proper storage can extend the life of vegetables by up to 50%^[1], but most people don’t know how to get it right, ending up wasting an equivalent of 37kg^[2] of potatoes every year – that’s over 200 portions^[3].”

The research also reveals that many people aren’t using their fridges to their full potential. Over one in four (26%) never adjust their fridge temperature at all, and almost half (42%) don’t use any of the specific settings designed to keep different items fresher for longer.

It’s no wonder 62% of Brits say they’d like a fridge that automatically tells them where to store their food. Confusion over the right way to store food is having a real impact on what ends up in the bin – often long before food should spoil. Everyday staples are taking the biggest hit, with vegetables like salad leaves, carrots and cucumbers forming the top three items most likely to be wasted.

THE UK’S TOP 10 MOST WASTED FOODS:

1. Lettuce / salad leaves
2. Carrots
3. Cucumbers
4. Tomatoes
5. Broccoli
6. Potatoes
7. Onions
8. Avocados
9. Peppers
10. Spinach

To help households reduce waste and minimise the cost of spoiled food, Samsung is highlighting the science behind food freshness.

Sebastian adds: “We want to help consumers take the guesswork out of refrigeration, so they can feel confident they’ve got the perfect environment for storing fresh food. Incorrect moisture levels are often the reason vegetables spoil prematurely, which is where features like Humidity Fresh+ can help. It automatically adjusts the moisture in the fridge by opening or closing a vent, keeping humidity at optimal levels for fresh produce, meaning families can save money, reduce waste and feel more confident in their kitchens.”

Formula for fresher food, for longer

1. Know your zones:
   Different areas of the fridge naturally run at different temperatures. The top and middle shelves are best for everyday items like cooked food, dairy and drinks, while the bottom shelf is the coldest, making it ideal for raw meat and fish. The door is the warmest spot, suited to condiments rather than fresh produce.

1. Humidity control matters:
   Green vegetables last longer in higher humidity, whilst root vegetables prefer dryer conditions. Keeping them in the crisper drawer helps maintain the right moisture levels – closing the vent for leafy greens and opening it slightly for produce that prefers drier conditions. Samsung’s Humidity Fresh+ drawer, available in all classic fridge and freezers, adjusts this automatically, removing the guesswork.

1. Don’t overpack:
   A fridge needs space for cool air to circulate. When it’s too full, warm patches develop and food spoils faster. Aim to keep your fridge no more than two-thirds full to maintain consistent cooling throughout.

1. Let technology guide you:
   Smart features can offer reminders, show the ideal place to store different foods and help maintain optimal temperatures. Samsung’s connected fridge technology is designed to make storage simpler, reduce waste and extend the life of fresh ingredients.

* £88 = average amount that is self-reported to be wasted on thrown away vegetables per household, per year based on research question asked ‘Approximately how much would you estimate you throw away in spoiled vegetables each month?’

[1] Modelling the impact of shelf‑life extension on fresh produce waste in UK homes, March 2025: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2772912525000089?via%3Dihub

[2] £88 (Average amount that is self-reported to be wasted on thrown away vegetables per household, per year) / £2.32 (average UK retail cost of potatoes per kg) equals ~38kg (37.93) kg of potatoes per household. https://www.soilassociation.org/farmers-growers/market-information/price-data/horticultural-produce-price-data/

[3] Based on 37kgs of potatoes, one side portion is 150 g (0.15 kg):   n = 37/0.15 ≈ 246 portions

London – Friday, December 6, 2024: As Christmas draws closer, new research from Samsung found that leftovers are a consistent headache for Christmas cooks, keeping our fridges jam-packed throughout the festive season, with one in four (80%) of households admitting to being left with surplus supplies after the main Christmas dinner or lunch.

Turkey was the main offender, with one in four households having leftovers, followed by the humble potato and the much-maligned Brussel sprout.  Gravy, carrots, and chocolates tie at 15%, while indulgent treats like Christmas cake (14%) and cheese (13%) also make the list.

The top ten ingredients most commonly leftover:

1. Turkey (25%)
2. Potatoes (20%)
3. Brussel sprouts (16%)
4. Gravy (15%)
5. Carrots (15%)
6. Chocolates (15%)
7. Christmas Cake (14%)
8. Stuffing (14%)
9. Chicken (13%)
10. Cheese (13%)

From Surplus to Scrumptious: How Samsung Food Transforms Christmas Leftovers

To solve Christmas cooking challenges, Samsung’s innovative home appliances can take the stress out of every Christmas meal, whether cooking fresh or with leftovers, leaving hosts to enjoy the day with family and friends. From smart appliances like Samsung’s Dual Cook oven that allows different dishes to be cooked at different temperatures or for different lengths of time, through to innovative AI-powered solutions that automates cooking decisions, Christmas can be prepped on autopilot.

Dan Barfield, Director of Digital Appliances at Samsung Electronics UK and Ireland, said: “If you are hosting at Christmas it can often feel like a never-ending task, with preparation for the main Christmas dinner starting days, if not weeks, beforehand. Every year we face the same challenges around the big day – striving to make the dishes we share perfect and on time, for friends and family.

“That’s why our latest features focus on how we can make our customers’ lives easier. Whether it’s leftover menu inspiration, checking the oven whilst you watch the Christmas movie, or cooking two different dishes at different temperatures in the same oven, our innovative features can take the stress out of any cooking endeavour. It’s just like having your very own sous chef!”

• Your own personal sous chef with AI Pro Cooking: Available on the latest Samsung models, it optimises cooking settings, recommends mode, temperature, and time for recognised dishes, and allows real-time monitoring via the SmartThings App’s View Inside feature.

• Dual Cook Steam Oven turns two cooking tasks into one: With two independent cooking zones, it lets you cook multiple dishes at different temperatures without flavour transfer, ideal for turkey and dessert prep. Energy-efficient features reduce usage by over 25% and preheat 52% faster^[1], saving time and streamlining holiday cooking.

• Samsung fridges deliver maximum flexibility when space is at a premium: When it comes to keeping a stocked-up fridge fresh, Samsung fridges are perfect for busy kitchens at Christmas, combining innovative features to maximise freshness and storage. Humidity Fresh crisper drawers preserve fruits and vegetables with adjustable settings, while Space Max technology offers increased capacity without increasing external size^[2]. Twin Cooling Plus ensures separate cooling for fridge and freezer, preventing flavour crossover, while Smart Conversion lets you switch the freezer to fridge mode—ideal for hosting large groups during the festive season. Select models also feature AI Vision Inside, an internal camera^[3] that can identify certain fresh food items^[4] when put in or taken out and allows you to manage a food list, helping to reduce waste.

• The Samsung Food app provides effortless menu inspiration – an AI-powered, personalised food and recipe platform available across multiple devices including your phone, tablet and TV and on Android or iOS – can help Christmas cooks plan each meal, compile ingredient lists, compare prices for shopping across popular supermarkets, and even adapt recipes to cater for different dietary requirements.

[1] 25.3% energy savings and 52% faster pre-heating based on using only the top half of the oven. Internal testing on Series 5 NV7B5675LAK, upper vs. whole compartment for small cake baking at convection 165℃  (IEC-60350)

[2] Samsung fridge freezer capacity is 84.5L larger than the market average capacity based on all other wide combi models in the market (70-83cm width) sold in major UK retailers from February 2024. UK shopping bag average of 19.1L capacity.

[3] Red light will turn on when camera is working. User’s appearance can be captured, but surroundings other than food item will be automatically blurred.

[4] As of March 2024, AI Vision Inside can recognize 33 food items. If the food is not recognisable, it may be listed as unknown item. AI Vision Inside cannot identify or list any food items in the fridge door bins or freezer. It recognises food items based on deep learning models, which may be updated periodically to improve accuracy.

Samsung’s ‘Resonance’ Exhibition at Milan Design Week 2019

London, UK – April 9, 2019 – Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd., today announced that it will hold its design exhibit, showcasing its user-centred design philosophy at Milan Design Week’s Fuorisalone 2019. The venue is located in Via Bergognone 26 in the Tortona Design District. As Samsung Design Centre’s exhibition, ‘Resonance’ will showcase Samsung’s design philosophy under the new slogan, “Be Bold. Resonate with Soul.”

The company’s Digital Appliances Business is also showcasing “The Samsung 24hr Kitchen,” a unique installation that celebrates the kitchen as the heart of the home. The exhibition merges aspirational design and visionary food installations with Samsung’s refined built-in kitchen appliances. The 24hr. Kitchen is located at Brera Site in the Brera Design District.

“Our design philosophy is always inspired by people. With millennials representing a growing demographic and changing the consumer culture in unique ways, Samsung is reinterpreting its user-centred design philosophy in a modern way,” said Don Tae Lee, Executive Vice President and Head of Corporate Design Centre at Samsung Electronics. “One way in which millennials show their distinctive lifestyle is how they constantly yearn to discover new things and take on challenges, which calls for bold approach and creative designs. We aim to install our authenticity and emotional resonance into our designs that permeates through people’s daily lives.”

The design showcases with “Be Bold. Resonate with Soul.”

Millennials bring new values, lifestyles, and mindsets to daily living. Samsung has long been committed to design excellence and suited for ever-evolving consumer tastes, putting people at the centre of its design philosophy. With millennials becoming more influential culturally, Samsung is bringing new design concepts and application to reinterpret its core design philosophy.

Samsung’s ‘Resonance’ exhibition will showcase advanced connectivity and a multi-sensory experience built on the company’s technological leadership. The exhibit at Milan Design Week 2019 will take visitors to a maze-like space filled with iridescent lights where they can directly interact with the exhibition based on daily behaviors, such as breathing, talking, and touching – ultimately becoming a part of the exhibition. This is the resonance between artwork and the audience that Samsung is pursuing by enhancing interaction between people and objects.

Redesigning the heart of the home with a 24-hour kitchen

Samsung’s Digital Appliances Business is also attending Fuorisalone as an exhibitor for the first time. The exhibition will celebrate the kitchen as the heart of the home with the Samsung 24hr. Kitchen concept, an interpretive installation that features Samsung’s advanced built-in kitchen appliances. The exhibition is designed to demonstrate how the kitchen has become a dynamic hub at the centre of consumers’ 24/7 daily routines.

Samsung 24hr. Kitchen Exhibition at Milan Design Week 2019

Designed in collaboration with internationally-acclaimed food designer Laila Gohar and the U.S.-based design consultancy, 2×4, 24hr. Kitchen showcases a single day spread across three connected rooms representing each phase of the day: morning, day and evening. The three phases of day will be seamlessly connected with a specially designed kitchen counter that twists from one room to the next, representing a full 24-hour cycle. The exhibition features Samsung’s latest built-in products, including the Dual Cook Flexä oven, Induction cooktop, Twin Cooling Plusä refrigerator, and WaterWallä dishwasher. Visitors can also experience Samsung’s three built-in package lineups —Smart Kitchen, Black Stainless Steel, and Silver Stainless Steel. Each lineup combines Samsung’s technology with a modern, simple and sleek design approach. Samsung also integrates various TV products including The Serif and The Frame within the context of its 24hr. Kitchen exhibition.

“The kitchen has become a core part of millennial homes. It is the hub of their home, where they cook, eat, and connect with friends and families,” said Harry Choi, Senior Vice President of Digital Appliances Business at Samsung Electronics. “By showcasing the Samsung 24hr. Kitchen at Fuorisalone, we hope to strengthen the brand power of our built-in kitchen appliances while continuing to develop product innovations for consumers, whose lifestyles are continually evolving.”  

Samsung’s ‘Resonance’ exhibition, open from April 9th to April 14th, is located in Via Bergognone 26 – Tortona Design District, Milan – and is free entry from 10 am to 8 pm.

The Samsung 24hr. Kitchen, open from April 8th to April 14th, is located at Brera Site — via delle Erbe, 2, Milan – and is free entry from 10 am to 8 pm.

For more news, photos and videos, please visit Samsung Newsroom during 2019 Milan Design Week.