With the rather large selection of resealable plastic bags currently residing on supermarket shelves, it can be a little confusing at times to know exactly what you should buy. Of course, many people go with the regular tried-and-proven brands, but even at that, there are always other choices to make such as the size of the bag, and how big of a pack you should purchase.
Before getting into specifics, and as I have already mentioned well known brands, I did want to make one small suggestion. Depending on what you are using your plastic resealable bags for, it may not always be necessary to buy the most expensive brand available. My two daughters regularly take sandwiches for lunch and though it is important that they are non-toxic (obviously!) and that they close at the top, they do not need the more expensive ‘zipper’ bags, but a simple resealable bag that just flaps over and seals is perfect for what they need, and it is a lot cheaper. However, I also like to buy my meat fresh from a local butcher a few weeks at a time and then freeze it. I buy the most expensive and the thickest reclosable plastic bags for that, as they are much better to use in the freezer than the thinner sandwich bags. On the other hand, if I am going to use some bags to sort and organize when I declutter my house, I do not need expensive freezer bags. So, don’t be ‘brand loyal’, but buy what you need. If something cheaper will do the job, then buy that and save yourself some money in the meantime.
Always try to have a stock of different sized resealable bags on hand. If you don’t, you will find your big (expensive) resealable plastic bag you use for freezing meat in, ending up in the garage, with a few bolts stored in it. Providing enough variety in the sizes of plastic resealable bags will mean that people will be able to decide and choose the right sized bag. Again ,this will be a saving for you in the long run because people will (or should) choose the smaller bags for storing smaller items, while reserving the bigger resealable plastic bags for what they are truly needed for.
A somewhat related point: Evaluate the size of the plastic resealable bag you need, carefully. Use the right sized bag, as you do not want to put something away with a lot of extra space. Think “saving”. Don’t just grab the first bag you see, but be deliberate in your choices.
Many times regular plastic bags (not resealable plastic bags) can be used in replacement. They are quite a bit cheaper, and in a lot of cases you can just wrap an elastic band around the plastic bag rather than having to use a resealable plastic bag. Your little boy’s rock collection, for example, does not really need to go into a resealable plastic bag. The leftover apple sauce can also just as easily go into the freezer in a normal plastic bag, tied at the top. Save your resealable bags for when they are really needed.
Although I may have stated this before, it does not hurt to remind you again. If you are going to be freezing food in resealable plastic bags, make sure that the bag is actually okay for that. In other words, look for words such as “suitable to be used in a freezer” or “suitable for freezing food” on the package. To use a resealable plastic bag in a freezer it must be quite a bit thicker than many of the smaller bags. Also, if you are going to be freezing liquids, such as sauces, soups or juices, you need to ensure that you use high quality zipper resealable bags for this as otherwise the liquid may leak out of the bag prior to becoming frozen, and make a mess in your freezer or refrigerator.
One final tip: If you use resealable plastic bags quite a lot, you should look into buying bulk amounts as they really do turn out to be quite a bit cheaper this way. Generally, they will keep for a long time before deteriorating, so if it is feasible and you can find build resealable bags, I would recommend you buy them. It is much cheaper, and you will be less likely to run out of resealable plastic bags right when you need them.
You are doing the environment a favor by using resealable plastic bags, especially as many can be used several times providing they have not been used to store food in. In fact, there are even special drying racks available for people who are concerned about recycling and reusing their plastic bags. When it is time to dispose of them, try to make sure they are recycled properly by disposing of them in the proper location.
How to Choose Resealable Plastic Bags
With the rather large selection of resealable plastic bags currently residing on supermarket shelves, it can be a little confusing at times to know exactly what you should buy. Of course, many people go with the regular tried-and-proven brands, but even at that, there are always other choices to make such as the size of the bag, and how big of a pack you should purchase.
Before getting into specifics, and as I have already mentioned well known brands, I did want to make one small suggestion. Depending on what you are using your plastic resealable bags for, it may not always be necessary to buy the most expensive brand available. My two daughters regularly take sandwiches for lunch and though it is important that they are non-toxic (obviously!) and that they close at the top, they do not need the more expensive ‘zipper’ bags, but a simple resealable bag that just flaps over and seals is perfect for what they need, and it is a lot cheaper. However, I also like to buy my meat fresh from a local butcher a few weeks at a time and then freeze it. I buy the most expensive and the thickest reclosable plastic bags for that, as they are much better to use in the freezer than the thinner sandwich bags. On the other hand, if I am going to use some bags to sort and organize when I declutter my house, I do not need expensive freezer bags. So, don’t be ‘brand loyal’, but buy what you need. If something cheaper will do the job, then buy that and save yourself some money in the meantime.
Always try to have a stock of different sized resealable bags on hand. If you don’t, you will find your big (expensive) resealable plastic bag you use for freezing meat in, ending up in the garage, with a few bolts stored in it. Providing enough variety in the sizes of plastic resealable bags will mean that people will be able to decide and choose the right sized bag. Again ,this will be a saving for you in the long run because people will (or should) choose the smaller bags for storing smaller items, while reserving the bigger resealable plastic bags for what they are truly needed for.
A somewhat related point: Evaluate the size of the plastic resealable bag you need, carefully. Use the right sized bag, as you do not want to put something away with a lot of extra space. Think “saving”. Don’t just grab the first bag you see, but be deliberate in your choices.
Many times regular plastic bags (not resealable plastic bags) can be used in replacement. They are quite a bit cheaper, and in a lot of cases you can just wrap an elastic band around the plastic bag rather than having to use a resealable plastic bag. Your little boy’s rock collection, for example, does not really need to go into a resealable plastic bag. The leftover apple sauce can also just as easily go into the freezer in a normal plastic bag, tied at the top. Save your resealable bags for when they are really needed.
Although I may have stated this before, it does not hurt to remind you again. If you are going to be freezing food in resealable plastic bags, make sure that the bag is actually okay for that. In other words, look for words such as “suitable to be used in a freezer” or “suitable for freezing food” on the package. To use a resealable plastic bag in a freezer it must be quite a bit thicker than many of the smaller bags. Also, if you are going to be freezing liquids, such as sauces, soups or juices, you need to ensure that you use high quality zipper resealable bags for this as otherwise the liquid may leak out of the bag prior to becoming frozen, and make a mess in your freezer or refrigerator.
One final tip: If you use resealable plastic bags quite a lot, you should look into buying bulk amounts as they really do turn out to be quite a bit cheaper this way. Generally, they will keep for a long time before deteriorating, so if it is feasible and you can find build resealable bags, I would recommend you buy them. It is much cheaper, and you will be less likely to run out of resealable plastic bags right when you need them.
You are doing the environment a favor by using resealable plastic bags, especially as many can be used several times providing they have not been used to store food in. In fact, there are even special drying racks available for people who are concerned about recycling and reusing their plastic bags. When it is time to dispose of them, try to make sure they are recycled properly by disposing of them in the proper location.