Plastic is contently building up and damaging our environment.
Recently taxes and bans have been sweeping the nations due to the damage single-use plastic is having on the planet.
People don’t think about what plastic sandwich bags are doing to the environment. The problem is, plastic is hard to clean and reuse, and it’s bad for the environment.
I guess the question is, what is the most environmentally friendly way to store sandwiches for lunch?
One of the best reusable lunch bag should be you’re starting point; it can dramatically lower your carbon footprint.
Contents
What Are The Best Reusable Ziplock Bags?
I’ve already mentioned that Stasher are the best reusable sandwich bags on the market, which is why I’m not going to review any reusable bags other than Stasher.
Let’s take a look at their range of reusable bags:
Stasher Half Gallon Bags
The silicone bag weighs 5.6 ounces and is 10.25″ x 8.25″ x 1.5″. This seriously large reusable bag can hold 64.2 fluid ounces, which is big enough to store any family batch cook.
Stasher bags use 100% pure, non-toxic platinum grade silicone, which is a massive step up from food-safe sandwich bags.
And unlike other brands of reusable, Stasher Contains no BPA, PVC, or latex. Their bags are also freezer safe and can lock out freezer burn.
Key Features
- Holds 64.2 fluid ounces
- Weighs 5.6 ounces
- Comes in two colors
- Dimensions: 10.25 x 8.25 x 1.5 inches
The half-gallon stasher bags work perfectly for my batch cooking; there’s more than enough room in there. The color options are excellent, and give you the ability to see what’s in the bag. I have never had a problem with any of the seals; I’m sure it was just a manufacturing issue.
Pros
- BPA Free
- Easy to clean
- Keeps food safe
Cons
- Too big for everyday use
Stasher Sandwich Bags
Stasher’s sandwich bags weigh 4.8 ounces and have the dimensions 7.5 x 1 x 7 inches. Overall the bag can hold up to 15 fluid ounces.
Stasher was created to be a healthy alternative to plastic storage. Now, their sandwich bags are the first self-sealing non-plastic bag.
You can rest assured your food is safely locked away from contaminants lurking on the outside of the bags.
Key Features
- Seven Colors to choose from
- Weighs 4.8 ounces
- Dimensions: 7.5 x 1 x 7 inches
- Holds 15 fluid ounces
I love my Stasher sandwich bag; I use it for my lunch every day. I do agree it can be hard to get a large sandwich out of the bag. But, they do work perfectly for storing fruits, cereals, and other food. Their food bags are perfect for day to day use, and they keep your food fresh.
Pros
- Great Seal
- Multi-use
- Perfect to potion food
Cons
- Hard to remove a large sandwich
Stasher Snack Bags
The dimensions of the container are 4. 5 x 7. 5 x 1 inches and can hold up 9.9 fluid ounces.
They give you plenty of space to carry your daily snacks around, without being too cumbersome.
All of their reusable bags feature a pinch lock seal system, allowing it to seal air tight. This enables you to keep your food fresh, or marinate, and sous vide.
Keep all the foods flavor locked in by burping the stasher and removing the excess air.
Key Features
- Range of six colors
- Dimensions: 4. 5 x 7. 5 x 1 inches
- 9.9 fluid ounces
- Weighs 2.4 ounces
My snack bags are always with me on long journeys. It allows me to eat fresh fruit and nuts while on the move. The corners can tend to fill up with leftover food. But if you hand wash the bag before putting them in the dishwasher, you’ll be fine — a great addition to the kitchen.
Pros
- Easy to open and close
- Air tight
- leakproof
Cons
- hard to clean the corners
Stasher Stand-up Bags
The dimensions are 7. 75 X 7 X 3 inches and can hold 56 fluid ounces. Which is large enough big packed lunches.
The platinum silicone bags are all cook safe, which means you can microwave them, boil them, or stick them in the oven up to 400 degrees Fahrenheit.
Whether you use it for storing food or cooking, they’re an excellent reusable storage bag to have in your kitchen.
Key Features
- Comes in two colors
- Dimensions: 7. 75 X 7 X 3 inches
- Holds 56 fluid ounces
- Weighs 6.4 ounces
The self-standing nature makes it perfect for storing food, and any stains quickly come off in the dishwasher. I’ve used them as sandwich and snack bags when I go to the beach. The high-quality seal stops any sand sneaking in — great reusable storage bags for any occasion.
Pros
- Self-standing
- Oven safe up to 400 degrees Fahrenheit
- Can be used as a lunch box
Cons
- Thick and heavy
Why Use Reusable Ziplock bags?
There are several reasons we should all start using reusable storage bags. To begin with, it helps to eliminate plastic out of your kitchen.
It’s estimated that every year, 500 billion to 1 trillion plastic bags are used around the world, which is an astonishing amount of plastic being consumed.
So we cut down on waste, but why else should we use reusable sandwich bags?
When you start your search for a reusable food wrap you’ll notice the following things keep popping up:
- Durable
- Microwave safe
- Sous vide ready
- Oven strong
- Dishwasher safe
- Fridge friendly
But, there’s more:
It also opens up a whole new world of storage and cooking opportunities; you can sous vide your food or confit in the oven. You can find a lot of Stasher bag recipes online.
They have some great lunch and dinner ideas out there, check out some I found on Pinterest.
Most sandwich and snack bags will have at least a couple of the features I’ve listed above, but very rarely does one come with all the accessories.
That was until Stasher came around and smashed the competition out of the park.
What Are Reusable Ziplock Bags Made From?
I’ve seen reusable sandwich bags in various materials ranging from food-grade silicone to cotton coated with beeswax. But the best bags are always made silicone (sand and carbon).
Stasher stepped up the game here. They use 100% pure platinum grade silicone, which is higher than food grade. Stasher’s reusable sandwich bags are made with the purity of glass and guaranteed to keep your food fresh.
The reusable sandwich bags have passed all US environmental standards and the even stricter European standards. The platinum grade silicone bags can also be recycled if they become damaged over time; they turn them into pebbles for kids’ playgrounds.
What Makes Silicone Better Than Plastic?
Silicone is better than plastic for multiple reasons. To start with, it’s safer and more sustainable than plastic. It also contains no harmful toxins such as BPA, an estrogen-mimicking toxin.
Reusable sandwich bags made from silicone are also a lot more durable than their plastic cousins. Not only is it more durable than plastic; but, it’s even more ocean-friendly. Silicone doesn’t leach chemicals like plastic does, perfect from a health perspective.
Silicone Bags Vs Plastic Bags | ||
---|---|---|
Feature | Silicone | Plastic |
Ocean Safe? | Yes | No |
Food Safe? | Yes | No |
Oven Safe? | Yes | No |
Incinerator Safe? | Yes | No |
Washable? | Yes | No |
Durable? | Yes | No |
Recyclable? | Yes | Yes |