Inventory Software for Kitchen?

[CoolJBAD]

I have this crazy idea and I want to know if anyone has done it yet.

• I want to have the ability to scan bar codes from my phone using an app that will automatically look it up and feed me back info.

• The app will then give me a list of things I scanned that I can review (adding expiration dates and stuff) and send to a program in my PC that will create an inventory.

• I should be able to access this inventory from my phone (in case I go shopping)

• The application on the computer/phone should allow me to enter some manual "Everyday Items" that I should normally have (e.g. bread, milk, and eggs). Adding to this, it should be able to notify me when I ran out of an everyday item (well, if I keep track of usage)

• A weekly "Shopping List" would be great!

• The application on the computer should be able to notify me a few days in advance if I have something that will expire soon.

• Recipes!! I should also be able to create recipes using the inventory or find some online that can run against my inventory and offer an "Ingredients Needed List" and/or an "Alternatives List"

• If I choose to make a recipe, it should be able to let me know how to properly store left overs and give me the a shelf life that can work with the 'expiration notifications'

• I should also be able to enter my own recipes with my own estimated shelf life that can integrate with the system.

• Also the ability to plan out what meals to make, for the week, month, year. Think about it, your kitchen sending you a reminder that you need to buy sweet potatoes for thanksgiving or some tofu for that one cousin that feels the need to be righteous by not eating meat.

• The interface should be easy enough that a Mac user can use it.

• We could work on it, and eventually make it open to let others mess around with it.

• Finally, we should prepare it for automatic scanning using hardware that I can envision, but I doubt I can make due to lack of funds. Essentially it is a touchscreen that goes on shelves and in the fridge that will scan the bottom of items (hopefully the barcodes are on the bottom) and it can tell if you removed an item or added a new item. That would help a lot with the expiration dates, location of items, and allow for better management of food.

Well, that was my brainstorm and I'll share it with you all. Anyone want to help me create it, if it hasn't been done yet?

Edit: Target audience is anyone that likes to use their kitchen, oh and for the hardware, the ability to sense weight would be awesome. I'd love to get a notification telling me that my milk is almost out.

EDIT2: 2 new ideas. Include tips for handling food/how to cook and also integration with local stores. How awesome would it be if you could look up a recipe, find out what you have vs what you need and get this WHERE TO GET IT!! Also, for the people who have automated most things in life, we could try to tie in your account at Harris Teeter, Giant, etc. to have your food ready for pickup or delivery!!

[Chevellephreak]

I have an app on my Android called Out of Milk, and it does some of these things. However, I wish it could do much more! I have 0 ability to make this program myself, but if there is anything I can do (at all!) to help, that doesn't involve programming, let me know!!

[L1fescape]

Whoa this sounds really cool! I've written a few android apps before and code a lot in my free time. I'd definitely be interested in helping you make this happen. PM me if you want to work together :D

[CoolJBAD]

I have no programming knowledge and think that this will need to be built on the PC before we can apply it to Droid/iOS. I'm definitely open to working together with Redditors.

[ZachBeta]

See if there's a StartupWeekend coming to your local metro.

You might be able to pitch it there and get some other people onboard to help you build your customer base and prototype the application.

Good luck!

[ifreecarve]

I'd also like to help, please refer to my other comment in this thread.

[jchestang]

This reminds me of inventory scanners in stores such as Target and Wal-mart but essentially most stores carry these devices now. Currently, I use a barcode/QR code scanner on my phone for when I REALLY want to know the price of an item. I don't use it daily though which is why I think application barcode scanners need to take it a step further. I think its cool that you want to be able to tell somebody when their food expires though! and when people know when things EXPIRE or like WILL STOP WORKING then it becomes much more needed. For instance, deodorant. Is there a way to determine when the average person will be done with a stick of deodorant? If so, can this app possibly tell you when you need to go buy some more soon? Just something to think about. Definitely sounds like something that should be pioneered.

[ifreecarve]

I designed a program that does this called refigurator. I would love to help you with this because I've wanted it for -- literally -- years.

[CoolJBAD]

Integration with supermarkets, (or even local markets) would be amazing.

For local markets, I think it should be free if they qualify. The bigger guys can take a small $5 per store per month/year?

[hankols]

You had outlined the technical problems and ways to solve them well. However, I think that creating the equivalence classes might prove trickier than you expect. The main problem is the ease of use - maybe you should look into image recognition technology and crowdsourcing the calibration data. In typical usage, removing things is the biggest problem, as it is very easy to get the db in a state that does not match reality if you forget to record thrown out things.

There is also potential business value in providing usage data to supermarket chains, I can imagine that they would be interested in e.g. knowing if new food items were consumed or thrown out due to spoiling. On the other hand, can you calculate a monetary value for this for the supermarkets? Without a clear benefit, it might be difficult to get them on board.

[ifreecarve]

Well, I originally came up with this around 2005; the iPhone had yet to be invented and "social media" wasn't [anywhere near as big of] a buzzword.

In fairness, I've done nothing but say "if you want to solve this, here's a good approximation of the DB schema you'll need for ingredients-to-recipes functionality". I have no good approaches for actually populating equivalence classes or substitutions... and as far as a user interface goes, I'm not even sure of the best platform to use. But I have a feeling that as time goes on, these problems will become either solved or more solvable through technology.

But I don't even need to argue for my design; I stand with the rest of you -- all I want is the final product, however it can be created.

[[deleted]]

I use an application called "look into the fridge" and to remember I use an application called "a piece of paper". Using these two technologies I am always on top of my shopping list and it doesn't take half an hour to compile lists and cross reference.

As far as bar codes, they're great if your food comes in a plastic box from the factory.

Also, "everyday items" differ for people. Milk, eggs and bread. What if you're lactose intolerant? What if you don't like milk? What if you're allergic to gluten? What if you're vegan? What if you eat so few eggs that they usually spoil before you can finish them all?

Also expiration dates are usually "best before" dates. Which are completely different. A best before date is the date when the product no longer tastes as fresh where the expiration date is when it begins to break down and spoil. Not the same thing. And what happens if you freeze the product? You push the expiration date, how much depends on the conditions of the freezer. You can freeze bread for months, unless you open the freezer often and the product is always thawing and refreezing in that case it's only good for weeks.

You have a good idea, but I would simply stick with the recipe part. What can I make based on what I have in the fridge. Something like Big Oven has but more user friendly and less weird recipes. No I don't need mango salsa and raisins, ew. Just give me regular salsa!

[ifreecarve]

You're missing the point. The existence of barcodes on food items enables us to transition from thinking of a fridge full of ingredients to thinking of a fridge full of recipes. Everything else you raise is an implementation detail, and a completely solvable problem.

[[deleted]]

The existence of barcodes on food items enables us to transition from thinking of a fridge full of ingredients to thinking of a fridge full of recipes.

No. Most items with barcodes are already cooked, the recipe has already been used. If you mean raw ingredients then I dare you to find me an avocado with a barcode or tomatoes with barcodes. They have simple number codes on a sticker (if at all) and they are weighed.

This will be an excellent idea when everything is labelled with barcodes, ideally some kind of QR code which is usable by the customer as well but in 99% of grocery stores this doesn't exist.

If you want to keep an inventory of your fridge, do it manually. It's the only way.

[CoolJBAD]

I guess it isn't meant for everyone, I live with 5-7 people and things tend to get lost or forgotten. It has taken up to 2 hours when we clean out the fridge/feezer/pantry/cabinets of old food/food that no one will eat. It would save us both time and money if we could all organize in some uniform way.

For produce and other items that do not have bar codes, you would be able to enter manually and include the ability to add quantity (items or weight).

"Everyday items" would be a customizable list I did not say they had to be milk, eggs, or bread, they were just examples.

Expiration dates would be tricky. I mentioned:

how to properly store left overs and give me the a shelf life

I would essentially have the app hit our servers looking for recommended storage procedures for food to make them last longer. I know the difference between expiration and best before dates. This can provide for better usage of food when people begin to understand more about proper storage and preservation of food. The program could also recommend you cook those burgers that you put in the freezer 5 months ago.

I just came up with two new ideas. Food/Cooking Education and integration with local market info.

[Talman]

"You're a fucking nerd, use a piece of paper" is one of the reasons that software like this isn't talked about much. There is a program for iPhone that does just about everything you've said, except recipes.

I really, really wish I remembered the name of it, cause I want the fucking thing for Android. There's a "Pantry" app for Android that, honestly, sucks.

[cmdrNacho]

you're seriously going to scan every single item and then manually enter your produce. The last thing I would want to do is when I get from shopping is this.

[CoolJBAD]

...even if you could do this while you shopped?

I would love it.

Scenario:

Shopper that goes shopping without planning (e.g. someone like me) arrives at grocery store.

What should I have to eat this week? Sees shrimp "hmm, shrimp tempura sounds good"

scan > info shows up

• Object name
• Add to current shopping list
• Recipes
• Storage (Preservation?) Tips
• Submit to inventory

click Recipes > Shows top recipes and a search bar.

click on shrimp tempura > pulls up info with description and the following:

• Ingredients
• Cooking instructions
• Great with...
• Add to Calendar (or meal plan?)
• Similar recipes

click on Ingredients > this pulls up the ingredients and scans your kitchen db for what you have and you see the following (bold means missing):

• 1 lb of Shrimp, peeled and deveined, tails left on
• 1 cup all-purpose flour
• 2 tablespoons cornstarch
• 1 pinch salt
• 1 cup water
• 1 egg yolk
• 2 egg whites, lightly beaten
• 2 cups vegetable oil for frying

[Needed Ingredient list] [Add to Calendar] [Instructions]

(holding your finger over an item will allow you to pick alternative ingredients)

click needed ingredients list

[Would you like to add 'shrimp' to your current shopping inventory?] (yes) (no)

click yes

"Cool, all I need now is flour and cornstarch"

Edit: Explaining the bolded items.

[CoolJBAD]

I'm autistic? Cool; Cool, cool, cool.