This $30 OXO Produce Keeper Helped My Greens Last 3 Times Longer

• Value: 19/20
• Functionality: 20/20
• Quality/Ease of Use: 19/20
• Aesthetics: 15/20
• Eco-friendliness: 19/20
• TOTAL: 92/100

As someone who usually despises single-use kitchen appliances (you know, except for a garlic press), I can’t quite tell you what compelled me to purchase the OXO Good Grips GreenSaver Produce Keeper. Oh wait, yes I can: It’s because I’m no longer able to run to the store for fresh leafy greens the night I plan on eating them. So I was skeptical at best when I loaded the contraption—which looks like a rectangular salad spinner—with a bunch of Lacinato kale and nestled it into the very back of my already packed refrigerator.

Fast forward two-and-a-half weeks later. I still haven’t returned to the grocery store and I’ve also forgotten about that poor kale in favor of pizza bagels, pasta and the frozen dumplings I keep on hand for “emergencies.” I had been hoarding a few cans of coconut milk just to make the infamous Alison Roman chickpea stew, which calls for a generous helping of hardy greens before serving. I remembered the kale I had basically left for dead in the fridge.

It’s probably sludge by now, and if not, maybe I can revive it in cold water, I thought. I dug out the produce keeper, and by some stroke of magic, the kale was as crisp as the day I had bought it. What a roller coaster of emotions. 

It’s not actually magic, but here’s how it works: The storage container features an activated charcoal filter tucked inside its lid, which absorbs ethylene gas (that’s the gas all produce emits that normally leads to spoilage). The basket insert, along with a few adjustable vents, allows for better airflow and prevents excess moisture from building up on your produce by controlling humidity. Voilà, no more sludgy greens (or soft carrots, wilted herbs or wrinkled cucumbers, for that matter).

The GreenSaver Produce Keeper comes in a few sizes (I like the 5-quart for bundles of greens, but the small size is ideal for berries or herbs), all of which are BPA-free. The brand also makes a similar crisper insert, which contains the same filter but might be better suited for a small fridge—we won’t deny that this container is a bit bulky. And while you’ll have to replace those filters every three months, it’s a relatively small amount of waste compared to the amount of sad produce (and money) you would be otherwise throwing away—hence the high eco-friendliness rating.

Would it be too dramatic to say this thing has changed my life? Maybe. But my kale begs to differ.