Photograph: Kat Merck
I was not able to discern any difference between the two models, either physically or in performance. I started out using the original Shelfy but immediately switched to testing the Shelfy 2 when it arrived. Since most testing was conducted with the 2, all references to “Shelfy” henceforth refer to that device.
As for how the photocatalysis works, a fan draws air into the device, where it is forced between the treated ceramic filter and 12 blue LED lights and “cleansed” by a reaction caused by the two. A video from Vitesy compares the process of photocatalysis to chlorophyll-based photosynthesis, in which water and carbon dioxide are transformed into purified air.
Photocatalysis is increasing in popularity for both water treatment and air purification, so a refrigerator does present an interesting use case. The 2023 report I was sent shows a test Vitesy ran with Vicenza, Italy-based chemistry lab Chimicambiente, which found that a Shelfy-equipped 180-liter refrigerator experienced a 99 percent reduction in microbial load within 10 minutes. This is noteworthy because microbial contamination, including bacteria, yeast, and mold, can account for “up to 15 percent of post-harvest decay in fruits and vegetables,” according to Vitesy. (I assume this test is also applicable to the Shelfy 2, given that it was sent in reference.)
Shelfy’s fan makes a noise when it’s running, but it’s not super loud or audible outside the fridge, nor is its size (about 7 x 5 x 3 inches) particularly obtrusive. The ceramic filter also never has to be changed; it just has to be rinsed and air dried. The device also uses the Vitesy Hub app to indicate the “health” of your fridge based on the temperature (which it also displays) and how many times a day your fridge has been opened. (Most of the time my fridge health was either “Good” or “Fair.”) In practice, I only used the app to notify me when the device needed to be charged, which happens via USB-C. More on that below.
Shelfy via Kat Merck
I used the Shelfy in my LG Studio smart French-door refrigerator. The device can be put anywhere in the fridge, so I tried it out in both the main fridge compartment and the crisper drawers. I not only used it in the course of my family’s day-to-day life, I once intentionally put the Shelfy on the same shelf as a bowl of uncovered chopped onions, to see if it could keep things smelling fresh. I also ran a side-by-side crisper test with apples.
That Smell
Many people—especially those who grew up in the ’80s or before, when cooking at home was standard—are familiar with the ubiquitous box of baking soda most families kept in their refrigerator to neutralize and absorb odors. It cost less than a dollar and it worked until it didn’t, at which point you’d buy another one, tear the top off, and carry on with your life. This baking soda “air freshener” has since been proven not to work too well, and there aren’t a lot of other options for fridge freshening aside from charcoal deodorizers or constant cleaning. Thankfully, Shelfy excels in the odor-elimination department. Stinky fish leftovers, that uncovered bowl of chopped onions, strongly scented sauces—none of it was detectable or transferred to other foods or liquids as long as Shelfy was in the fridge.
As for produce, however, the results were less dramatic. Anecdotally, I noticed some produce seemed to last longer without melting into a puddle of black sludge, but it was mostly herbs and other loose greens, and this was likely due more to the drying action of the fan and airflow than anything else. Enclosed boxes or bags, like power greens or a tightly tied plastic bag of fruit, didn’t seem affected either way, but a bunch of Italian parsley I bought the week before Christmas was dried to a crisp by February, the paper towel I had wrapped around it stiff as cardboard.
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