Question 1

How do I add items to my FoodSavr inventory?

Accepted Answer

You can add items in four powerful ways: 1) Bulk Grocery Entry - Take a photo of your groceries and AI automatically identifies all items, estimates quantities, assigns categories, calculates costs, and predicts expiry dates. Add dozens of items in seconds. 2) Receipt Scanner - Snap a photo of your grocery receipt and AI extracts all items with prices and purchase dates. 3) Barcode Scanner - Scan product barcodes for instant recognition from a global food database. 4) Voice Input - Use premium hands-free voice interface to add items while cooking or unpacking (supports English and Tamil).

FoodSavr currently supports full app localization in English and Tamil with automatic translation. Your language preference is saved to your profile and applies across all features. Voice input for search and Sous Chef AI interactions works in both English and Tamil with automatic language detection, perfect for multilingual households.

Question 2

What is Sous Chef AI and how does it work?

Accepted Answer

Sous Chef AI is your intelligent cooking assistant that generates personalized recipes using ingredients from your inventory. The AI automatically prioritizes items that are expiring soon (within 3 days) to help reduce food waste. Features interactive recipe cards with cooking instructions and ingredient lists. Ask 'What to cook tonight?' and it will recommend recipes, showing how many ingredients you have vs. need to buy. Supports voice input in English and Tamil for hands-free questions - you speak and your question is transcribed to text, then the AI displays recipe suggestions on screen as text and images.

Question 3

How do I get notified when food is about to expire?

Accepted Answer

FoodSavr sends smart alerts when items are approaching their expiry date with color-coded visual indicators. You'll see 'Soon to Expire' items highlighted on your home screen with escalating urgency as dates approach. Enable weekly email notifications that summarize all items expiring in the next 7 days, helping you plan meals proactively. Notification preferences are fully customizable in your profile settings.

Question 4

Can I organize my inventory by categories or groups?

Accepted Answer

Yes! FoodSavr offers flexible grouping with 113+ food subcategories featuring intuitive emoji icons for visual identification. Organize items by: Category, Sub-category, Consumption level (¼, ½, ¾, Full, Not Consumed), or None with collapsible sections. Sort by purchase date, expiry date, or last modified date in ascending/descending order. Search functionality helps you find items quickly across all your kitchens.

Question 5

Does FoodSavr work on both mobile and web?

Accepted Answer

Yes! FoodSavr is live in production (v1.0.0+2 Mobile | v2.1.23 Web) across all platforms: 1) Web app at app.foodsavr.ca (live January 2026), 2) Android app launching March 2026, and 3) iOS app launching June 2026. Your data syncs seamlessly across all platforms via Supabase cloud backend.

Question 6

How do I track partially consumed items?

Accepted Answer

FoodSavr supports granular consumption tracking. When you use an item, mark it as ¼ consumed, ½ consumed, or ¾ consumed instead of just 'all gone.' This helps track waste accurately and understand your actual consumption patterns over time.

Question 7

Can I create and share grocery lists?

Accepted Answer

Absolutely! Create and manage unlimited shopping lists with Google Keep-style interface. Features include drag-to-reorder items, check off purchased items, auto-save functionality, and share lists with family or roommates via messages or WhatsApp. Items from recipes suggested by Sous Chef AI can be automatically added to your list for seamless meal planning.

Question 8

What is the voice input feature and how does it work?

Accepted Answer

Premium voice input lets you add inventory items completely hands-free using speech-to-text technology while cooking or unpacking groceries. Speak naturally and FoodSavr transcribes your voice into text entries. Features real-time voice visualization showing your spoken words as they're converted to text with instant processing (under 500ms). Works seamlessly in English and Tamil with automatic language detection. Perfect for when your hands are covered in flour, oil, or food residue. Say 'Add two cartons of eggs expiring February 15' and FoodSavr transcribes it into a text entry instantly - no typing, no washing hands, no interrupting your workflow. Note: This is voice input (speech-to-text), not voice conversation - the app displays text responses on screen.

Question 9

How do I track partially consumed items?

Accepted Answer

FoodSavr supports granular consumption tracking with five levels: Not Consumed, ¼ consumed, ½ consumed, ¾ consumed, and Fully Consumed. When you use an item, mark its consumption level to track waste accurately and understand your actual consumption patterns over time. The app calculates your real environmental impact and savings based on consumption patterns, helping you make smarter shopping decisions.

Question 10

What languages does FoodSavr support?

Accepted Answer

FoodSavr currently supports full app localization in English and Tamil with automatic translation. Your language preference is saved to your profile and applies across all features. Voice input for search and Sous Chef AI interactions works in both English and Tamil with automatic language detection, perfect for multilingual households.

Question 11

Can I manage multiple kitchens?

Accepted Answer

Yes! FoodSavr supports multiple kitchen inventories. Manage separate inventories for home, office, vacation property, or any other location. Switch between kitchens easily and keep track of food across all your locations. You can also edit kitchen names and delete kitchens with cascade delete functionality.

Question 12

What subscription tiers are available?

Accepted Answer

FoodSavr offers three subscription tiers: Free, Plus, and Pro plans with varying limits on AI-powered features (bulk photo recognition, receipt scanner, barcode scanner, Sous Chef AI). Upgrade seamlessly through integrated Stripe payment processing. Fair billing ensures you're only charged for successful AI scans that actually find items - if a scan fails to detect anything, no charge. Subscription details and upgrade options are available in your profile settings.

Question 13

How much money can I save by reducing food waste?

Accepted Answer

The average Canadian household wastes approximately $1,000 worth of food annually. By tracking expiry dates, planning meals around existing inventory, and using Sous Chef AI to cook with what you have, FoodSavr users typically reduce waste by 40-60%, saving $400-$600 per year.

Question 14

What environmental impact does food waste have?

Accepted Answer

Food waste contributes significantly to climate change. When food decomposes in landfills, it produces methane—a greenhouse gas 25x more potent than CO2. Globally, food waste generates 8-10% of greenhouse gas emissions. FoodSavr helps you track your carbon footprint reduction as you waste less food.

Question 15

What are the most commonly wasted foods?

Accepted Answer

In Canadian households, the top wasted items are: 1) Fresh produce (vegetables and fruits) - 25-30%, 2) Bread and baked goods - 15-20%, 3) Dairy products (milk, yogurt, cheese) - 15%, 4) Leftovers - 10-15%, and 5) Meat and seafood - 8-10%. FoodSavr's expiry tracking helps prevent all these categories from going to waste.

Question 16

What's the difference between 'best before' and 'expiry date'?

Accepted Answer

'Best Before' dates indicate peak quality—food is still safe to eat after this date, though flavor or texture may decline. 'Use By' or 'Expiry' dates are safety indicators, especially for perishables like meat and dairy. FoodSavr tracks both types and provides context to help you make informed decisions about food safety.

Question 17

How can I reduce food waste beyond tracking expiry dates?

Accepted Answer

Key strategies include: 1) Meal planning with Sous Chef AI using existing inventory, 2) Proper storage (FoodSavr provides storage tips per item category), 3) Understanding portion sizes to avoid over-purchasing, 4) Freezing items before they expire, 5) Composting unavoidable waste, and 6) Sharing excess with neighbors or food banks. FoodSavr's analytics show which food categories you waste most, helping you adjust purchasing habits.

Question 18

Why is FoodSavr focused on Calgary and Alberta?

Accepted Answer

FoodSavr was founded in Calgary by Subramanian Narayanan, who experienced firsthand the challenges of managing a busy household kitchen while minimizing waste. Alberta has a strong sustainability culture and growing awareness of food security issues. The app's features (like currency support for CAD, regional pricing data, and local food bank partnerships) are optimized for Canadian users, though the platform works globally.

Frequently Asked Questions

📱 App Functionality

How do I add items to my FoodSavr inventory?

What is Sous Chef AI and how does it work?

How do I get notified when food is about to expire?

Can I organize my inventory by categories or groups?

Does FoodSavr work on both mobile and web?

How do I track partially consumed items?

Can I create and share grocery lists?

What is the voice input feature and how does it work?

How do I track partially consumed items?

What languages does FoodSavr support?

Can I manage multiple kitchens?

What subscription tiers are available?

🌍 Food Waste & Sustainability

How much money can I save by reducing food waste?

What environmental impact does food waste have?

What are the most commonly wasted foods?

What's the difference between 'best before' and 'expiry date'?

How can I reduce food waste beyond tracking expiry dates?

Why is FoodSavr focused on Calgary and Alberta?

Still have questions?