What are baggies?
I'm sure you know what baggies are. I just thought it would be funny to include this because it seems like nowadays, every single article on the Internet has a "What is" section describing the most basic of things!
Anyway, let's skip to the good part! TL:DR incoming...
What can reusable baggies be used for?
The best use of these baggies is for food storage. They are also amazing for storing broths and leftovers in the freezer long-term! You can label each with a Sharpie marker to keep track of what's in your freezer and how long it's been there.
Even though they make for great airtight food storage, there are lots of other places for these baggies to be useful. Other uses around the house can include:
toiletry storage
homemade ice packs
battery organization (this is always a pain, right?!)
hardware storage
cosmetics storage
and more
The Pros
1. A baggie, but better
You get the familiarity and convenience of baggies without the toxicity of plastic. That's a win-win! They work just as well as plastic baggies for common food storage needs such as lunches, leftovers, frozen meals, and more. They may be a little more pricey on the front end than buying a big pack of traditional baggies, but they will last you a much longer time.
Disclaimer: When I first started writing this article, I already had a little army of reusable bags that I love. Recently, though, I found out that the brand I bought in the past was marketing their bags as being made out of silicone, but after a more recent search on Amazon, I've found that they are actually made from PEVA, a safer alternative of PVC.
What's considered non-toxic is the absence of phthalates and chlorine, making their manufacturing and consumer usage processes safer. Although there is more research to be done about the long-term effects of PEVA, it is proven that they are a safer alternative than normal plastic. There's an important lesson here about making informed decisions. Read on!
2. Freezer safe
Like their plastic cousins, these PEVA-based bags freeze very well. They're just the non-toxic cousins whose molecules won't stay in your bloodstream until the end of time.
3. Easy to label
Also, you can easily label these bags with a marker, so that you always know what is inside and when it was put there. No science experiments in the back of the fridge! Well...maybe. But at least you'll know what it used to be.
Why make the swap?
If you've ever heard of microplastics, you probably know that the Internet is crazy about them right now! Plastics of many types have been related to hormone disruption, reproductive harm, and so many other things that the human body shouldn't have to endure. I discuss even more harmful effects of plastic here.
With common household items like plastic tupperware and leading brands of plastic baggies, the food that is stored inside them absorbs the chemicals given off by the plastic, and there's no way to expel them from your food or your body. If you're wanting to make some healthier changes in your home, this is a great place to start because the dangers of many plastics are pretty evident in the kitchen.
Dos and Don'ts of Care
This part is actually really easy. You just wash the bag with soap and hot water, just like a regular dish, then hang it over a clean cup, mug, or kitchen utensil with a long handle to air dry. You can't fully dry the inside of the bag with a paper towel or drying towel. There will still be tiny little water droplets inside that can cause the bag to mold if not fully dried. Even though the care instructions say that they can go in the dishwasher, I wouldn't chance it. The water inside the dishwasher might be too hot and may break the seal of the bag.
I haven't tried putting these in the dishwasher myself, but the reason I advise against it is because one day, I made a bunch of chicken broth. I waited for it to cool to finger-warm temperature, then began to pour the broth in. Suddenly, all my delicious broth was leaking out of the bottom of the bag and into the sink! The seal had melted just enough to spill that chickeny goodness all over the place.
The product will also say that it's microwave safe. Don't believe the hype! I once heated my leftovers in the microwave at work, and halfway through heating, the bag started to melt! Thankfully, the melted mess separated easily from my lunch, and I just finished heating my food on a plate.
On more of a cosmetic note, certain foods will stain these bags, especially over time. Some of those foods include turmeric, tomato sauce, and some soups. These stains don't come out, but they also don;t affect the integrity or cleanliness of the bag. If you'd prefer not to have stained-looking bags, avoid foods that may cause discoloration.
Overall, this product's functionality and durability are great. I personally love using these bags for everything food storage from snacks to leftovers to random frozen broth. I also love that they are non-toxic, so I know our food isn't absorbing a bunch of harmful chemicals. Just hand wash, and let your food cool before storing. It's that simple!
