Kylskåpskocken
Fridge Chef
A concept app that helps people reduce food waste by cooking with what they already have
Ux/UI design
Project
Self - initiated UX studie
Date
2025
Location
Malmö
Concept Summary
Modern life is busy, and food waste is a growing problem — not because people don't care, but because they lack time, inspiration, or simply forget what’s in the fridge. Kylskåpskocken is a self-initiated app concept that helps users cook smarter by using what they already have at home.
It’s not about meal plans or strict routines. It’s about small, realistic steps toward less waste and more everyday ease one fridge-friendly recipe at a time.
01. The Spark
It started with a fridge full of ingredients and no idea what to make.
After a long day, I opened the fridge to find scattered items nearing expiry. Nothing went together, and I didn’t have the energy to plan.
I thought: "What if there was an app that just looked at what I have and told me what to cook?"
That moment led to Kylskåpskocken Fridge Chef a UX case study focused on helping people cook spontaneously, reduce food waste, and feel more in control of their kitchen.
02. The Problem
In Sweden, the average person throws away 17 kg of edible food every year. Despite good intentions, most people lack the time, inspiration, or overview to make the most of what they already have. Existing apps focus heavily on meal planning but what about the spur-of-the-moment decision to cook with what's already in your fridge?
03. Research & Discovery
I interviewed 5 people in different life situations a student, a parent, a home cook, and someone who dislikes cooking. My goal: to understand how they made everyday cooking decisions, what made them waste food, and how tech could help.
Key Insights:
– People want simplicity: “Just tell me what I can make.”
– Planning is exhausting, spontaneous tools are missing
– Users wanted flexibility: dietary preferences, time, skill, etc.
– Guilt around food waste is common, but not a strong motivator
I also reviewed existing apps (e.g. Matlistan, Tasty, Supercook) to identify usability gaps and opportunities.
04. Defining the Vision
How might we help people cook tasty meals with what they already have
— even when time, energy, or ingredients are limited?
I shaped the product direction around that user mindset: spontaneous, tired, a bit hungry, and looking for quick wins. Kylskåpskocken - Fridge Chef had to feel faster than opening Pinterest, but smarter than guessing.
05. Design Strategy
I started by mapping out core user flows and pain points:
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Ingredient input: Manual or barcode scan
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Recipe suggestions: “You can cook” and “Almost there” options
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Expiry tracker: Food nearing spoilage
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Smart grocery list: Add missing items directly from recipes
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Filters: Diet, cooking time, skill level
Early wireframes focused on speed and minimal friction — no long onboarding or planning steps.
06. High-Fidelity UI
Once the UX was solidified, I brought the concept to life in Figma.
The visual direction was designed to feel clean, fresh, and calming — a relief after a chaotic workday. I used muted colors inspired by natural ingredients, friendly rounded shapes, and clear hierarchy to support quick scanning. CTA buttons were big, bold, and friendly.
Interactive prototypes simulated flows from ingredient entry to recipe suggestions.
This is where users start and can manage their account.
Easy access to all app sections.
Explore a library of ready-to-cook recipes directly in the app.
This is where users start and can manage their account.
The Outcome
Fridge Chef is a fully conceptual case, but it’s rooted in real behavior and real needs. It explores how design can support spontaneous cooking, reduce waste, and ease decision-making in a small but meaningful way.
This project allowed me to apply the full UX process from user interviews to high-fidelity prototypes and pushed me to design something helpful, fast, and emotionally intuitive.
My Role
I led this project from end to end as a solo UX designer.
Tools: Figma, Miro, Google Forms, Notion
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Process:
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Research
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Synthesis
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UX Flow
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Wireframes
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UI Design
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Prototyping
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Feedback
What I Learned
People don’t want to plan — they want help in the moment
Emotional tone matters — design can relieve stress
Simplicity beats features in daily-use tools
The best ideas come from your own frustrations
Thank you for reading
Designing Kylskåpskocken - Fridge Chef was a reminder that even small, everyday problems can inspire meaningful solutions.
If this project resonated with you — whether you're curious about my process, want to collaborate, or just want to talk UX — feel free to reach out.
