How many reuse freezer bags over and over and.....

[kwormann]

A post on the "saran wrap thingys" thread made me wonder this. My mother did it growing up (we didnt have any money to spare) and now I do it. I wash out bags until they are no longer useable, (unless there was something sticky and gross) and I also re-use alumium foil. DH maks fun and hates the process, but I also feel it saves money, and now also the environment.

Kim http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/smile.gif

[SusanL]

Kim, I am with you on that! Always have a few bags hanging around the kitchen http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/wink.gif. Don't use much aluminum foil but do even reuse the small sandwich bags! Where do you store them after they are clean? I try to stuff them back into the box, but my drawers get stuck- that sounds strange and uncomfortable http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/eek.gif

[lindrusso]

I definitely reuse the ziploc! What a waste if I were to throw each one out - we use so many! And like Susan said, I always have several hanging around the house. And I too stuff them back into the box. The only time I don't reuse them is if they have had raw meat in them.

[funnybone]

I admit, I am wasteful. I never reuse a bag, foil or plastic wrap. I buy them on sale only and stock up

[Beth Y]

Me too. My husband and friends think I am crazy, but those things are so expensive. Plus, they are still perfectly good to use and I hate to be wasteful and non-environmentally sensitive. I do throw them away if they have meat in them, but, say if they have just had bread or cheese or something, wash and dry!!!!!!!!!!!

[donleyk]

I too, reuse. Cost is secondary to the enviroment. Same way with those nasty plastic bags the grocery uses. With California being in the news it just confirms how much we can contribute without trying very hard.... OK, I'll get down now. http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/smile.gif

[BethH]

I always reuse my freezer bags and usually the little sandwich bags too. (except for those that had held meat!)

I also take cloth bags with me to the grocery because I just hate accumulating all those bags! I feel like I have to save them and use them for something else and then all of a sudden I have a huge stack of them! Taking my own bags has really worked great for me--I just keep them in the trunk of my car. I also feel good about reducing my consumption for the environment's sake!

[KValley]

I'm a compulsive reuser of freezer and sandwich bags- makes my DH nuts as you can't open a cupboard door without several falling down when I hang them up to dry.

I once saw little device in a mail order catalog made especially for drying plastic bags- wish now I would have ordered it. Of course now I have no idea what catalog it was- anyone have an idea of where one could find such a contraption? Wine bottles also make good drying racks!

I don't do the cloth bag at the grocery store, but I admire those who do. I used to request paper bags when our old recycling service required those for separation and disposal of recyclables, but now I use plastic and just return them to Safeway or use them as garbage bags in the bathroom and my office.

So gang, paper or plastic?



[This message has been edited by KValley (edited 03-28-2001).]

[GayeC]

I do reuse them unless they had something too sticky in them. Or raw meat. But, I also try to package raw meat so that it doesn't touch the bag (wrap it well in plastic wrap). For some reason I don't wash foil -- only reuse it if it is basically still clean.

[karole]

i don't think it works too well to hang them up--at least not for me. i lay a washed bag on a terry hand towel then reach in & wipe with a clean dish towel. i keep like kinds clipped together with a plastic clothes pin in a drawer for them. does this sound like something you just would rather not do? it's funny how we all have our strange little ways.

[Terrytx]

I guess I am wastful too. The only thing I reuse is those Jumbo bags.

[MaryB]

I also wash and reuse freezer and sandwich ziploc bags. I try not to be wasteful and reusing the bags saves money and helps the environment. I just wash the bags in the sink and turn them inside out to dry. They then get stuffed back into the drawer that contains the storage bags, waxed paper, and saran wrap.

As far as grocery bags, I use paper which if you bring them back to the store (I shop at Sentry and Whole Foods) and
reuse they pay you 5 cents per bag. And the bags that I use for produce get reused for disposing of kitty litter.

[RunnerKim]

I definitely re-use mine. My husband made me a drying rack - a piece of a 2x4 board with holes drilled in and dowel rods put in the holes - dry much faster that way. Not as pretty as the tulip ones you see in catalogs but it works. We go through a lot of bags, so it would be a big waste to not do this. I ziploc almost anything to keep it fresh (cheese for example). I do wash bags that have had meat in them - I feed my pets a natural diet and often buy meat in bulk on sale and package it up in ziplocs or those gladware containers. Only throw things away if they get a hole poked in them.

Kim

[aggie94]

I have to admit that I am one of the wasteful ones. I never reuse ziploc bags, even though I use a ton of them. I used to wash them out and reuse them, but then decided that the few cents I was saving on each bag was not worth my time and energy to wash and dry them.

[tobykitty]

I never thought about cleaning and keeping those ziploc bags until I saw my mother-in-law doing it. It made so much sense and now I have been using the same bags forever(seems like it anyway). Cant remember the last time I bought a new box.

[funnybone]

Originally posted by tobykitty:
I never thought about cleaning and keeping those ziploc bags until I saw my mother-in-law doing it.


LOL, seeing my mother-in-law do something would cause me to stop doing it, or not start at all. LOL

[makedah]

other than a homemade drying rack, how do you dry them after washing them?

[56grapeape]

LOL! we were just at MILs this weekend, and she re-uses EVERYTHING!! shes realy into crafts, so much of her "trash" becomes a craft item in some way! But she reused/washed her baggies too! My mom does this too, i've always thought it was gross. lol
But, i may start doing that! so many of you gals do! lol
I like to buy the big gallon bags for storing things in (non food items) as well as food. Luckily here, we have a $1 type store, and I can buy garbage, sandwhich, and lawn bags for .99 for like 20 bags, so i dont fret over $$, unless they ran out! lol

I reuse foil IF theres no food on it, and its not all crinkled up.

anyway, I'll have to start washing! I also reuse my grocery bags for mini waste bags.

rachelle ~:0)

Originally posted by tobykitty:
I never thought about cleaning and keeping those ziploc bags until I saw my mother-in-law doing it. It made so much sense and now I have been using the same bags forever(seems like it anyway). Cant remember the last time I bought a new box.

[SusieO]

Originally posted by MaryB:

As far as grocery bags, I use paper which if you bring them back to the store (I shop at Sentry and Whole Foods) and
reuse they pay you 5 cents per bag.

I had forgotten about this until now, but Albertson's used to pay $0.05/bag for plastic bags if you brought them in. I don't know if they still do it (it's been a couple of years since I lived near one), and it's not something they advertise, but it might be worth looking into for people who shop there.

[laughsandlaughs]

I reuse mine for environmental reasons....any less non-biodegradable plastic I can put in the land-fills the better. My friend has the "tulip dryer", I believe she got it from a Whole Foods grocery type place.

[SusanD]

We rarely use ziplock bags - we're still working on a box that I bought three months ago. We mostly use tupperware for transporting and storing food, but I'll admit that when we do use ziplocks they usually get thrown out. As for the plastic bags that come from the grocery store - we walk our yellow lab twice a day and they make very good "poop" bags (sorry to gross anyone out). Same goes for the plastic produce bags.

By the way MaryB - where do you live that you're shopping at Sentry?

[This message has been edited by SusanD (edited 03-28-2001).]

[comabri]

I'm just cheap. That's all there is to it. I re-use everything. All of my empty containers - milk cartons and jugs, pringles cans, drink boxes, bread crumb cartons, jars, bread bags, produce crates (especially the clementine ones), everything! I reuse everything. Luckily I have room for it all. I get a weird sense of accomplishment every time I use something used!

[funnybone]

I find the plastic bags from the grocery store are ususally ripped before I get them in the house. They don't make them like they used to. I used to use them for the trash, but I can't anymore. I take them back to the grocery store as they have a plastic recycling bin at the entrance though.

[lindrusso]

Originally posted by makedah:
other than a homemade drying rack, how do you dry them after washing them?


I just use wine bottles. Or I also have these two little blue bottles (I think they were some kind of carbonated water - one of those overpriced pellegrino (sp?) or something like that). I just hang the bags on these and they dry very nicely - you just have to make sure that they are fully opened and not sticking together.

[56grapeape]

Hey! I used to work at a Sentry No. Ca.(in the deli/bakery about 7 yrs ago!!)

rachelle ~:0)


Originally posted by MaryB:
I also wash and reuse freezer and sandwich ziploc bags. I try not to be wasteful and reusing the bags saves money and helps the environment. I just wash the bags in the sink and turn them inside out to dry. They then get stuffed back into the drawer that contains the storage bags, waxed paper, and saran wrap.

As far as grocery bags, I use paper which if you bring them back to the store (I shop at Sentry and Whole Foods) and
reuse they pay you 5 cents per bag. And the bags that I use for produce get reused for disposing of kitty litter.

[kwormann]

I usually use baggies for unmessy things so they can be reused. I tunr them in side out then turn upside doen on my drainer. I usually use them again before I have a chance to store them, but I will put all of one size with in one of the same size (make sense??)

kim

[LGBurns]

My mom got me into washing my plastic bags and reusing foil. I dry them by putting them over glasses or bottles, whatever is also in the drying rack that will hold them out. I admit that I don't reuse the sandwich bags because they don't really hold up well to multiple use.

[AD]

I reuse ones with dry, plain foods like plain sliced bread, I usually throw them away if they have had meat or chicken. As for the other ones (greasy, sticky, odorous), I will keep them closed, save them and use them for trash that may end up smelling bad sitting in the trash before garbage pickup day.

[Beth]

Kim, I'm with you too. I wash and reuse until they have holes, pull apart or hide in the fridge until something grows inside. It's economy and environment for me, but I bought little Rubbermaid containers to handle most of the lunch box stuff. Last longer and easier to wash and dry, especially if they make it into the dishwasher.

[Wendy w]

I will reuse only if it has not contained raw chicken or meat (I often use these bags for marinating) or an aspiring "science project" http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/eek.gif .

[Pat]

I reuse them until they get holes in them. I use older ones (without holes) to crush crackers, graham crackers, cookies, etc.

[JillC]

When I grew conscious of how environmentally "unfriendly" I was being by throwing away plastic bags, I started reusing them. But I hate washing them! So now I think very carefully before using one and if I can use a tupperware type container instead, I do. I never put any of my lunch in bags anymore--I use containers that I bring home and put in the dishwasher. I reuse bags that had bread or cookies or something where I can just shake out the crumbs. For the rare times I use bags for wet or sticky stuff (like if I'm marinating something), then I just throw it away. http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/frown.gif I hate washing food containers that much.
Jill

[makedah]

Originally posted by lindrusso:

I just use wine bottles. Or I also have these two little blue bottles (I think they were some kind of carbonated water - one of those overpriced pellegrino (sp?) or something like that).

I think you're talking about Ty Nant. Lovely bottles. I have one here. I also have a Pellegrino bottle -but it's green and the neck isn't long enough for this purpose, I don't think.

[tobykitty]

Just so long as none of you tell my MIL that I thought she had a good idea we will get along just fine!! http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/biggrin.gif http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/biggrin.gif

Kidding! It made perfect sense to my penny pinching self, so I just I had to do it.

By the way, I turn them inside out and wash them and then just set them upside down on the drainboard overnight.

[MaryB]

SusanD -- I live in Madison, WI (where there are at least two Sentry grocery stores on the west side).

Someone asked how we dry the bags if you don't have a rack. Well, I just turn them inside out and air dry. Then turn it right side out and air dry the outside.

I too have found the plastic produce bags at the grocery too flimsy to pick up after my dog (there is nothing worse than having a hole in the only plastic bag that you brought on your walk!) so I actually buy bags for this. Put they do work nicely for cleaning out the cat's litter box!

[makedah]

maryB -- I'm in Madison, too. Near west side.

[Curleytop]

I too reuse the bags! I wash them, or at least use a papertowel to wipe the insides!
I ALWAYS REUSE THOSE VEGETABLE BAGS! They were discontinued a few years ago and I love them! I keep washed romaine lettuce, 4 baskets of strawberries, green beans and on and on in those babies. How do you keep your veggies in the crisper drawer? http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/wink.gif