Housekeeping and Home Organization

Saver Storage Bags

By Admin on February 27th, 2010

Saver Storage Bags

Having airtight food storage containers is very important to preserve the integrity of your food. Airtight containers prevent air, dust and insects from getting into your food and other items. They can also prevent freezer burn. Most packaging from the supermarket is not airtight. In fact, it is usually porous enough that over time it allows air into the package.

That is why you can open what appears to be a brand new package of cereal and have it taste stale. Have you ever bought a package of crackers and wondered why they have a stale taste? It's because less expensive products are usually packaged in cheaper more porous packaging that allows air to get inside the package. The air oxidized the crackers and gave it a stale taste. Even worse is when you open a brand new package and discover that the food inside is in-edible due to spoilage.

One way around this issue is to buy your foods in bulk from the store and store them in airtight food storage containers that will keep the product from oxidizing or spoiling. Additionally, many insects and rodents such as mice and rats find the packaging from the supermarket to be no deterrent at all and can easily chew threw the box or the plastic bag the food comes in. Good durable containers can save you money over the long run by keeping your food fresh and safe.

A Greener Alternative

Buying your food in bulk and placing it in quality containers that you have at home is also a greener way to buy groceries and dry goods. Every time you buy a box of oatmeal, cold cereal, or even spices those boxes, bags and plastic get thrown into a landfill. By using minimal packaging you decrease the amount of trash you are throwing away and putting in the landfill. Even small efforts have a large impact. For example, it's been estimated that plastic buried in a landfill will take 1000 years to start decomposing.

Airtight food storage containers can be used for a variety of foods. Spaghetti noodles, spices, oatmeal, sugar, flour, trail mix, and even potato chips can all be bought in bulk and stored in containers. Your containers can be used and reused over and over. By using reusable containers instead of plastic bags you are preventing more plastic from winding up in the landfill.

Containers are usually made from some variety of plastic. Inexpensive plastics may seal well at first but quickly crack, chip and usually prove to be a poor choice as they need frequent replacing. Consideration should be given to what purpose you plan to use the container for. If you plan to store oatmeal in an indoor pantry then a reasonable quality container will do. It doesn't have to be microwave safe. If you plan to use a container to freeze foods and then reheat them in the microwave you will want to be sure that the container can withstand the frequent temperature extremes that freezing and reheating will cause. The container should clearly state that it can go from freezer to microwave safely.

You will want to consider containers that are safe to go in the dishwasher. After all you won't want to wash them by hand. Plus, the dishwasher sanitizes dishes better than hand washing does. Better quality plastic and glass storage containers won't absorb the odors and discolor from the foods you store in them.

Another factor that you will obviously consider is cost. At first glance the cheaper containers will be appealing. After all, if it cost less and does the same thing then why pay more? The truth is that cheaper products can be a bad idea. Cheap containers crack easier, the seals often lose the ability to lock out air over time, and they can pick up odors or discolor easily. Also cheaper plastic products won't hold up as well to frequent trips between the freezer and the microwave. If you budget well and buy quality storage products they can prove to be quite affordable.

In summary, airtight food storage containers should be chosen based on where you plan to use them, how long you plan to use them, your preferences for eco-friendly products or "green products", and your budget.

Jesse Kesler is a practicing Nurse and Writer. You can see more food storage articles, tips and ideas at his website http://www.thefoodstorage.com.

Organization question for the mommies?

Has anyone used those space saver bags? Are they worth it?

We finally got a 3 bedroom so we will be moving but the storage is smaller and hubby doesnt want to dish out for off property storage so im trying to figure how to condense all this crap! Do the space saver bags work well for storing clothes as most of what i have is kids clothes and would love to be able to turn 5 bins into 2? lol... If anyone has any tips as well please share.
Thanks..

I use the spacesaver bags to store baby and kids clothes as well. My son is only 9 months but has older clothes that were given to us. I was able to store 5 large garbage bags of clothes into one big tote with the help of those bags. I just went through them this weekend to get out more clothes as he has grown up a size again and they were in great shape. The zipper closure on the top does come off if you are not careful and one of the bags ripped so I can't use it again. But if space is a problem, then I still think they are worth it! Hope that helps.

Space Bag receives Approval from Good Housekeeping

Space Bag BR-86123-4 Vacuum-Seal Cube-Shaped Storage Bags, Set of 3, Large, Extra Large, and Jumbo $15.99 Space Bag Storage Cube 3 Piece Set Store four times more in cardboard boxes and plastic bins with this set of three vacuum seal storage bags. New Space Bag storage cube has a square bottom and compresses into a stackable cube. Storage cube vacuum seal bags are ready to store inside moving boxes or plastic bins. And they can be stacked on top of one another in a closet. Airtight, waterproof, and ...

FoodSaver FSFSBF0534 8-Inch-by-20-Foot Roll of Food-Storage Plastic Bagging Material, 3 Pack $24.03 8" x 20'. FoodSaver Rolls have all the same great features as FoodSaver Bags plus one rolls allow you to make custom-size bags so you can always have just the right size bag on hand. Most FoodSaver users like to keep both bags and rolls handy for the greatest packaging convenience and flexibility....

FoodSaver FSFSBF0226 1-Quart Food-Storage Sealer Bags, 44 Count $14.95 Keep your food tasting fresh by vacuum packaging with our patented FoodSaver Bags. Fill your refrigerator and freezer with healthful home-cooked meals that can go right into the microwave or boiling water to heat and serve. You can also keep your non-food items safe from air and dampness....

ExtraLife Produce Preserver Disks - Set of 3 $14.91 ExtraLife works naturally in the refrigerator crisper bin to prolong freshness by neutralizing the ethylene gas released by fruits and vegetables as they ripen. Set contains 3 disks...

Household Essentials 01822-3 Hanging Canvas Shoe and Sweater Bag $16.37 Two storage solutions in one, this hanging organizer from Design Trend keeps sweaters organized and shoes off the floor. Crafted from durable canvas in a natural color, the unit attaches to a closet dowel with a wide Velcro sleeve. Three flat shelves hold approximately six mid-weight sweaters, while the lower square pockets hold up to ten pairs of loafers, heels, or flats (not really suitable for ...

Household Essentials 01822-2 Ten-Pocket Double Canvas Hanging Shoe Bag $12.20 Get your shoe collection off the floor and out of the way with this handy hanging shoe organizer from Whitney Design. Built to store shoes at an easily visible height, the organizer features double-wide rows of boxy storage units--ten pockets in all. Each pocket holds a pair of loafers, heels, or flats (if you're hoping to store several pairs of bulky shoes, look for a more spacious design). The e...

iTouchless Bag Re-Sealer (2-Packs) $12.99 These iTouchless Bag Re-Sealers provide inexpensive and easy way to perfectly reseal unused portions of food in seconds. It creates an airtight seal that locks in freshness. You simply seal along the edge of any bag and it is sealed airtight in seconds. You will not only save on storage bags, but you can save even more buying bulk at warehouse clubs. Just use Bag Re-Sealer to reseal any unused p...

Evert-Fresh Food Saver Green Bags (10 bags) Large 1 & 1/2 Gallons $10.00 Most fresh produce releases an ethylene gas that accelerates decomposition and causes it to go bad. Evert-Fresh Bags absorb and remove this gas to prolong food life and reduce vitamin loss up to 50%. An anti-fog surface minimizes moisture, thereby inhibiting bacterial growth. Each bag can be reused 5-10 times. Large (10 - 1 gallon bags, 3/8" deep). Imported....

Hefty One Zip Sandwich Bags $1.18 Hefty One Zip Sandwich Bags One Zip Slide, Locks Every Time Box Of 13 Discovery Nbr, Sup All items sold new in original packaging...

Lewis N. Clark Blanzza Digital Luggage Scale Designed to satisfy the travel accessory needs of men and women whether on a business trip or vacation. Products offer high performance, stylish design and rugged durability....

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