Google reveals money-saving Boxing Day ‘fridge trick’ and says millions of Brits can now use it
GOOGLE has revealed a clever trick to save you time and money on Boxing Day.
All it takes is sending a single photo to its app, according to the tech giant.
It works using Google‘s Gemini AI chatbot, which is a virtual helper like ChatGPT.
Google says Gemini can analyse a photo of your fridge – and then tell you what you can make with any Christmas Day leftovers.
“Gemini can help solve post-Christmas cooking conundrums by providing inspiration on what to do with your leftover sprouts, cheese, turkey, and cranberry sauce,” says Google.
The search engine giant also noted that those are some of the most “leftover” ingredients, according to research.
So how does it work? First download the Google Gemini app, which is totally free.
It’s available on both Android via the Google Play Store or iPhone through the Apple App Store for iOS.
Then you can enter text and ask questions about anything – not just leftovers.
But if you want to make the most of all of that food you splashed out on, go and snap a photo of the inside of your fridge.
Then upload the image right into the Gemini app, and ask it to help you decide what to make with your Christmas dinner leftovers.
Google says that the app “will deliver original and tasty meal inspiration to suit all tastes and requirements”.
You can even be specific, asking it for quick recipes, something for dessert, meals that only require one pan, or any other request that you’ve got.
Of course the success of the feature will depend on the quality of your leftovers. If your fridge has nothing but sprouts inside, you might need to pop to the shops.
Google-backed research suggests that 44% of Brits over-buy food for Christmas, with around a third “struggling to know what to do with leftovers”.
“Cooking for friends and family, while using up leftover ingredients weighs on many minds over the Christmas period,” said Google’s Serge LaChapelle.
GOOGLE'S CHATBOT IDEAS
Here are some prompts that Google reckons you should try tapping into the Gemini app...
Prompt 1: “I’m hosting a Friendsmas party and want to use up all my leftovers from Christmas Day. I have a mix of food items left, including turkey, potatoes, stuffing, brussels sprouts, and cheese, and would love to create some refined finger food. Can you help with suggestions?”
Prompt 2: “I am craving something sweet and I have so many leftovers from Christmas dinner I need to use up. Can I have some ideas on hown to transform these leftovers into a yummy dessert? I have cranberry sauce, chocolate, and Christmas pudding.”
Prompt 3: “I’m looking for fun recipe ideas using Christmas leftovers in my fridge to enjoy between Christmas and New Year. I have brussels sprouts, potatoes, and stuffing. I love Mexican-style food. Can you help with fun small plate recipe suggestions?”
Picture Credit: Google
The Google product boss added: “What to do with all those sprouts? Ask Gemini for different ways to create something delicious.”
If you don’t want to take a photo of your fridge, you can also just describe what leftovers you have to Gemini to get a similar effect.
But taking a photo will be much faster and save you having to type out all of your potential ingredients.
It’s worth noting that you can also use this feature at any other time of the year just to help you plan meals.
Google’s research suggested that the top five “leftover” ingredients are turkey, potatoes, vegetables, stuffing, and cheese.
The Sun tried plugging those ingredients into Gemini, and it recommended a Boxing Day Pot Pie that takes 20 minutes to prep and 40 minutes to cook.