“They feel like Ziplocs.” She uses (Re)Zip for everything - bulk shopping, storing leftovers, and freezing food. Wen-Jay Ying, founder of the café and farmers’ market Local Roots NYC, likes PEVA-based (Re)Zip bags. Material: PEVA | Closure: Pinch double seal, zipper, roll top | Size: Mini (½ cup) to 40-cup pet-food-storage bag | Care and maintenance: Hand-wash You might also find that they absorb fragrances and off-flavors from dish soap or the freezer: To neutralize those, you can bake silicone for an hour at 350 degrees. “I wouldn’t use them for anything that usually stains silicone (like tomato sauce) or is especially oily since I hate dealing with the sticky residue that develops on silicone,” she says. Strategist senior editor Winnie Yang bought several sizes three years ago and uses them mainly for snacks and lunches. When frozen, the bags can be difficult to open. Online reviewers say that the seal can get moldy and is difficult to open and to clean and that the thick material can make it challenging to hold bulkier items. And the convenience of being able to run them through the dishwasher makes them worth it for many.

You can use the stand-up mega bag to microwave popcorn. Frozen food retains its flavor, and there’s no freezer burn. Food stays fresh longer in these silicone bags than when stored in plastic. Online reviewers note the bags are sturdy and leakproof. Silicone is the one material that will handle all things hot and cold, and Stasher is the undisputed leader of the pack (as well as a Strategist favorite). oz.) | Care and maintenance: Dishwasher safe Material: Silicone | Closure: Pinch seal | Size: Pocket size (4 fl. Sturdier PUL (polyurethane laminate) fabric, coated with a thin layer of water-resistant, pliable plastic (usually BPA-free), can be used for carrying a sandwich or storing things like cosmetics, but this coating can wear off over time and with use or washing. But it’s also breathable and light, which may be preferable for food shopping in bulk or storing produce in the fridge.

Products made from platinum silicone cost more than those made with PEVA.įabric - cotton, polyester, beeswax coated, etc. Platinum silicone, the purest grade of silicone, is fabricated with platinum, which creates a stable, nontoxic material that can withstand heat up to about 400 degrees Fahrenheit. On the other hand, PEVA can’t handle heat, so you can’t cook with it, microwave it, or throw it in the dishwasher, as you can with silicone. Nor does it develop a slick, oily coating like silicone, which absorbs oils it comes in contact with that then become difficult to wash off. PEVA bags tend to be both lighter and more affordable than silicone bags, and dust and hair don’t stick to PEVA the way they do to silicone. Food-grade silicone made from sand and PEVA, non-chlorinated vinyl, are both FDA approved and last an eternity. Reusable food-storage bags require some heft to maintain a longer life span.

Large storage ziplock bags