With reusable produce bags becoming so popular, you might be wondering how to choose the right produce bags. There are really three types of reusable cotton produce bags: mesh (or net)bags, gauze bags and cloth bags. All of these bags are lightweight and easy to use and store. Simply wash/rinse, as needed, in cold water and hang to dry.
Mesh/ net produce bags are practical and easy to use. This see through net nature of the bag makes it easy to see what produce is inside. It also allows air to circulate so your food will not go bad prematurely. making it great for apples, tomatoes, oranges, peaches, plums etc. Because it does have the openness of the mesh you might want to avoid produce that might “shed” dirt or debris such as broccoli or dirty potatoes. This is the most versatile and popular bag, be sure to order extra of these. Generally speaking the types of fruits and veggies that do not go into the fridge for storage will do well in these bags.
Gauze Bags are very light weight and airy. Though all bag styles generally add a negligible weight, these are the lightest bags. They are also a little less durable, they should not be used for heavy items like potatoes. The gauze bags are great for items that you want to protect from the air. You will find this bag useful for refrigerated items such as broccoli, carrots, lettuce etc. They are also very easy to rinse and hang dry which you are more likely to need to do with refrigerated produce. They can also be used for light grains.
Cloth cotton bags usually feature a bit of a heavier and tighter weave. They are great for heavy items like potatoes and bulky items like bulk cereal, grains, rice etc. They also wash and wear very well.
By now you might be wondering how many reusable produce bags you will typically need for each shopping trip. Of course that varies depending on how many people you shop for and how much produce you buy but most people order their first few bags, only to realize they really need more. Also keep in mind that you will rotate through bags. Some will still be in use at home when you go shopping and so it’s a good idea to order a few more that you might normally use on any one shopping trip. If you have not made the switch to reusable shopping bags yet, be sure to get those as well. The reusable produce bags will tuck nicely into the envirosax Mix & Match 5 pack pouch even when it is filled with all 5 envirosax bags making that a handy options for eco-friendly shopping.
What are your produce bag tips? We'd love to hear them, please comment with your favorite produce bags, alternative uses and any other produce bag tips you might have.
Comments