Fix common kitchen problem by reusing old coffee grounds

Advice comes from Neighbourhood Coffee Roasters in Liverpool, which revealed five clever ways to reuse old coffee grounds instead of throwing them in the bin straight away. In the clip, a woman can be seen placing a small container of old coffee grounds inside her fridge as a simple approach to combat unwanted smells. The grounds reportedly help neutralise lingering odours from items such as cheese, fish or leftovers, with this uncomplicated trick involving placing the used grounds in an open container and putting it inside the refrigerator.

Specialists suggest there’s scientific evidence backing this. Used coffee grounds contain nitrogen and porous organic compounds, which can help absorb and capture odour molecules in a comparable way to bicarbonate of soda, according to research published in Food Science and Technology.

This means the grounds can work as a natural deodoriser rather than merely concealing unpleasant smells. According to sustainability specialists, the porous structure of spent coffee grounds allows them to absorb certain airborne compounds that generate unwelcome odours.

It could also help tackle an escalating waste problem in the UK. Britain alone produces over 500,000 tonnes of coffee ground waste each year, with much of it ending up in landfill sites, according to Recycling Magazine.

Once discarded, this waste can release methane – a greenhouse gas roughly 25 times more powerful than carbon dioxide. Globally, the statistics are even more staggering. Experts estimate that millions of tonnes of spent coffee grounds are thrown away worldwide annually, despite retaining valuable nutrients and compounds.

Neighbourhood Coffee’s video also highlighted numerous other surprising applications for the leftovers. Among the most popular is adding them to compost, as the nitrogen-rich material can enrich soil and encourage plant growth.

They can also serve as a natural fertiliser for certain plants, enhancing soil quality due to their mineral and organic compound content. Other suggested uses include utilising the gritty texture as a gentle cleaning scrub for pans or surfaces, or even integrating them into homemade skincare scrubs to exfoliate skin.

Therefore, next time you prepare your morning brew, it might be worthwhile pausing before disposing of the grounds. That humble leftover could help maintain your fridge’s freshness whilst simultaneously cutting down on waste.