slo’s THURSDAY 4/24 poll - Reusable Snack/Sandwich Bags

[Micca]

I voted other. We have various bags, Tupperware, "disposal" containers, but I'm not sure we have what Sandy is asking about.

 

[_19disnA]

Have never used them and have no interest. Many companies advertise their product as being reuseable/good for the environment as a marketing gimmick. Most of those cost a LOT more than the one time use freezer bags. Washing/drying them between uses is also a pain and if you don't let them dry completely, can see an issue with getting moldy.

Even things supposedly recyclable and 'good for the environment' have to be cost effective to process. To recycle plastic you have to transport it to a processing facility, have workers to deal with it and then be able to sell your output at a profit to make it all economically viable. No company is going to be in the 'recycling' business very long if they lose money in the process.

 

[Dan Murphy]

I know we don't have the type discussed here. As others have said above, we might reuse a plastic bag if it's not messy after it's use. We do use ziploc bags for things, but nout small, sandwich size.

 

[Lumpy1106]

Sounds gross - how do you get them truly clean, and is it even worth the effort? Same goes for re-useable straws.

 

[NYCgrrl]

I wrap to-go sandwiches in wax paper (yes, it’s still on the bottom shelf of supermarkets, lol) and really have no use for the new silicone bags. Great idea though

 

[fla4fun]

I don’t use them, but when I pack a lunch it is usually leftovers, not sandwiches, so it travels in a reusable container with a lid.

I do reuse bags that I have placed other items in, like cookies, crackers and baked goods, and bags used as secondary wrapping for the freezer.

I also use regular ziploc sandwich bags for making hamburgers and portioning out meat for the freezer. Those bags are not reused for sanitary reasons. This is my biggest use of disposable bags, but still not a huge one.

 

[dizneegirl]

Sounds gross - how do you get them truly clean, and is it even worth the effort? Same goes for re-useable straws.

It's really not difficult to wash either. Many reusable straw sets come with a brush for washing the insides.

 

[Lumpy1106]

It's really not difficult to wash either. Many reusable straw sets come with a brush for washing the insides.

Yeah, but how do you dry the inside of a straw?
No big deal, if you like them have at it. They just aren't for me.

 

[LoveDaisy]

I don’t use them. I use reusable containers and mason jars for most of my storage. I’m not opposed to them but I have a tiny kitchen and it would be another thing to store.

 

[RedAngie]

I'm old; I'd probably stick with my Tupperware containers.

Or if someone is REALLY old, they might have “reusable” margarine or potato salad containers.

 

[Peaseblossom36]

I had some reusable silicone bags that I used for preschool snacks but after a few washes the zippers stopped working. Now I use bumkin cloth sandwich bags. I wash them when doing the dishes each night and they're dry by morning. So far they've worked well.

 

[dizneegirl]

Yeah, but how do you dry the inside of a straw?
No big deal, if you like them have at it. They just aren't for me.

I mean, both ends are open... if you put them in a silverware strainer, lay them out on a drying rack or mat, or whatever, they dry. You do you. It's just not difficult.

And probably less gross than washing underwear and then wearing, if you really want to think about it...

 

[jo-jo]

Or if someone is REALLY old, they might have “reusable” margarine or potato salad containers.

I guess I fall into that category, but then I got tired of having 400 different size lids and containers. I bought several packs of the flat containers that you get from take out places. Went from 400 sizes to about 10 different ones. Used all the odd ones to give leftovers/cookies/etc away. I hardly ever got them back anyway.

I do save any I might get when buying ingredients for a family dinner and use them first for giveaways. But if they aren't gone after the meal, they will leave the house one way or another.

 

[VandVsmama]

My husband bought some of these a couple of years ago. I hate them. They are a royal pain to clean. Used them a couple of times and threw them out. Never going to use them again.

 

[Lumpy1106]

I mean, both ends are open... if you put them in a silverware strainer, lay them out on a drying rack or mat, or whatever, they dry. You do you. It's just not difficult.

And probably less gross than washing underwear and then wearing, if you really want to think about it...

Also, you have to purchase a straw, then purchase the brush to clean then straw, then clean the straw every time you use it. add to that, you have to remember to bring the straw with you every time you go to a fast food place. Seems like a lot of added effort and cost. You could just take the lid off if you really don't want to use the disposable straw
Whatever you do, for God's sake don't force paper straws on the rest of us. Hate those things.

 

[snowwite]

I wrap to-go sandwiches in wax paper (yes, it’s still on the bottom shelf of supermarkets, lol) and really have no use for the new silicone bags. Great idea though

That’s how my nana did it. Wax paper and a brown bag.

 

[tinkerbellandpeterpan]

We use glass "tupperware" for a lot. DH and I work together and get to work early and tend to be more grazers/snackers until we eat dinner so we bring a "snack bag" to work. For dry items like cereal I just reuse the same bag until that box of cereal is done. Same thing with chip-like things. When small bags of chips are on sale I buy them now and then but usually buy pretzels/chips in the large bags and portion out into smaller sandwich bags each day and a time and just refill. We rarely use a ziploc just once.

 

[Imzadi]

I picked no. But I don't use single use plastic bags either - at least not on a regular basis. We use small tupperware containers. Fruits, veggies, hummus, sandwich, crackers, cookies, all of it goes in tupperware. And then those can go in the dishwasher, and dry out better than those bags would. Plus they won't allow things like sandwich to get smushed or crackers to get crushed as could happen in a bag.

The single use plastic bags I'll occasionally use are almost all for freezing things like chili or soups. I'll also use one when traveling with things like sunscreen, so it doesn't end up all over my clothes.

I use storage containers, mostly. We have a collection of "smalls" for snacks, lunch "sides," and some sandwich sized containers. I really don't like the idea of washing used bags.

I could have written these two posts. They look awkward to wash and reuse. I can't imagine they would be better than a simple Tupperware/Rubbermaid container with an easy seal lid and can easily go in the dishwasher, or be swished clean with a soapy sponge easily and set aside to dry without having to baby it to be sure it dries properly.