1. Introduction
1.1 The importance of food storage bags
How to properly store the leftover ingredients and unfinished cooked food after cooking every day? At this time, the Food Storage Bag has become a must-have artifact in the kitchen. According to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), proper use of food storage containers can reduce food waste by about 30%, and food storage bags have become the first choice for households and the catering industry due to their lightweight, well-sealed and low-cost advantages. When I was a buyer, I saw many catering businesses lose thousands of yuan per month due to improper storage of ingredients, and after standardizing the use of food storage bags, this part of the loss is directly halved, which shows its importance.
1.2 Overview of the purpose and structure of the article
Many people use food storage bags for convenience, but they don’t know that choosing the wrong type and using the wrong method will affect food safety. This guide is to help you thoroughly understand food storage bags – from types to usage techniques to precautions, and teach you how to use them correctly step by step. Next, we first understand the different types of food storage bags, then master the core usage skills, and finally avoid common misunderstandings, and at the end there are industry opinions and FAQ answers, which can solve all related questions after reading.
2. Types of food storage bags
Different scenarios require different food storage bags, and blindly buying will only waste money and is not practical. The following is a summary of common types and applicable scenarios, which are clear at a glance:
Type | Core features: | Applicable scenarios | Notes: |
|---|---|---|---|
Disposable food storage bags | Thin and light, low unit price, mostly made of PE material | Store fruits and vegetables and cooked food for a short period of time, and take snacks when you go out | Do not heat and do not load oily food |
Reusable food storage bags | Thickened design, mostly made of silicone or PEVA, washable | Repeated use for a long time to store fresh food, grains, etc | It needs to be thoroughly cleaned after each use and replaced in time after damage |
Vacuum food storage bags | The sealing is extremely strong, and it can be vacuumed, and the air barrier effect is good | Long-term freezing of meat and seafood to extend the shelf life of ingredients | It should be used with a vacuum machine to avoid punctures by sharp ingredients |
Special purpose food storage bags | Targeted design (e.g. freezer bags resistant to low temperatures, baking bags resistant to high temperatures) | Freezer bags store frozen food, bake bagged ingredients in the oven | It is used strictly according to the marked temperature and cannot be mixed |
For example, when I was purchasing for a bakery before, I specifically recommended high-temperature resistant baking bags, and they used ordinary disposable bags to enter the oven, not only the bags melted, but also contaminated the pastry, and there was no problem after changing the right type.
3. Tips for using food storage bags correctly
3.1 Cleaning and disinfection
Reusable food storage bags, if not cleaned properly, can breed bacteria. The correct steps are as follows: (1) Rinse with warm water and neutral detergent in time after use, focusing on wiping the gaps at the seal; (2) Use a soft brush to clean up the remaining food debris in the bag; (3) Disinfection can be scalded with boiling water (suitable for silicone material) or soaked in food-grade disinfectant for 5 minutes; (4) Place in a ventilated place to dry to avoid exposure to the sun and prevent the material from aging. As a reminder, disposable food storage bags are not reusable, and even if they look clean, they may still contain bacteria that are invisible to the naked eye.
3.2 Food preparation and packaging
Preparation before packaging is very important: (1) Ingredients need to be cooled to room temperature before bagging, hot food directly will produce water vapor, causing moisture in the bag and accelerating the deterioration of the food; (2) For food with soup, drain part of the soup first, or wrap it in plastic wrap before bagging it to avoid soup leakage; (3) Do not fill too much when bagging, reserve 1-2 cm of space, especially frozen ingredients, which will swell after freezing, and are easy to break the bag if it is too full. For example, when I store leftovers in my house, I will let them cool first, and the bags are only 70% full, and they are very fresh after 3 days of refrigeration.
3.3 Sealing and storage methods
The sealing directly affects the storage effect: (1) For ordinary food storage bags, first squeeze out the excess air in the bag when sealing, and then press the sealing strip hard to ensure complete closure; (2) Vacuum food storage bag, after filling the ingredients, first check whether the bag mouth is clean to avoid impurities affecting the sealing, and then use a vacuum machine to pump air and seal; (3) When storing, try to lay it flat, especially frozen ingredients, which can freeze the ingredients quickly and are easy to access, avoiding local thawing caused by stacking.
3.4 Labels and date markers
Many people have had the experience of “forgetting how long this bag has been in it”, and labeling can solve this problem. It is recommended to use a marker to mark the name of the ingredients and the storage date on the bag, and for frozen ingredients, you can also mark the expected expiration date (for example, meat freezing is recommended to not exceed 3 months). When I helped the canteen purchase before, I asked them to mark it well, so that the freshness of the ingredients can be accurately controlled and waste can be reduced, which is also very practical at home.
4. Precautions for food storage bags
4.1 Avoid cross-contamination
Raw and cooked ingredients must be bagged separately, for example, raw meat and cooked food cannot be shared in a food storage bag, even if they are new, to prevent bacteria on the raw meat from contaminating cooked food. In addition, after processing raw ingredients, wash your hands first when handling cooked food and bagging it to avoid the transfer of bacteria on your hands. Once a friend’s house used a bag containing raw chicken to contain cold dishes, resulting in food poisoning for the whole family, which is a serious consequence of cross-contamination, and everyone must be vigilant.
4.2 Types of food that are not suitable for storage
Not all foods are suitable for food storage bags: (1) Highly oily and highly corrosive foods (such as chili oil, vinegar, strong acid fruits) will corrode the material of the bag body and cause harmful substances to precipitate; (2) Food with sharp edges (such as bones, fish bones) is easy to puncture the bag, causing leakage and contamination; (3) Ingredients that need to be preserved breathably (such as fresh bread, steamed buns) will cause stuffiness and mold when bagged, so it is recommended to use breathable plastic bags.
4.3 Storage temperature and environment
There are temperature restrictions for food storage bags made of different materials: (1) Disposable bags made of ordinary PE material, the applicable temperature is -18°C to 60°C, and cannot be heated in the microwave; (2) Silicone reusable bags, some can withstand high temperatures above 100°C, can be put in the microwave, but the product label needs to be confirmed; (3) The storage environment should be dry and ventilated, and avoid placing it in direct sunlight or high temperature to prevent the material from aging and deteriorating. According to industry data, correct control of storage temperature can extend the service life of food storage bags by 30% and better ensure food safety.
4.4 Service life and replacement timing
Disposable food storage bags are thrown away once and cannot be reused; Reusable food storage bags should be replaced in time in these situations: (1) the bag body is damaged or leaky; (2) The sealing strip loses its elasticity and cannot be completely sealed; (3) There is a peculiar smell in the bag, which cannot be removed after cleaning; (4) The material changes color, ages and becomes brittle. Generally speaking, high-quality reusable food storage bags have a lifespan of about 6-12 months under normal use, and it is recommended to shorten the replacement cycle if used frequently.
5. Yigu (purchasing agent) point of view
As an agent who has been deeply involved in the procurement industry for many years, I suggest that you give priority to material certification when choosing food storage bags, and give priority to products with FDA and SGS certification, especially bags that come into contact with cooked food, which are more secure. When purchasing in bulk, it is necessary to choose the type based on the usage scenario, such as the catering industry can prepare more vacuum bags and reusable bags, which is more cost-effective; Home users can use it with disposable and special purpose bags. In addition, pay attention to check the temperature tolerance range of the product and the applicable scenario labeling, don’t buy inferior bags to save money, after all, food safety is the first priority.
6. FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions)
Q1: Can the food storage bag be microwaved?
A: Not necessarily, it depends on the material. Ordinary PE material disposable food storage bags cannot be heated, and harmful substances will precipitate. Some silicone or special material bags marked as “microwaveable” can be heated in the microwave after removing the sealing strip, and it is necessary to confirm that there is no damage before heating.
Q2: What should I do if the vacuum food storage bag leaks after pumping?
A: First, check whether there are any impurities or damage at the mouth of the bag, and if there are impurities, they need to be cleaned up and resealed; If the bag is damaged, a new bag needs to be replaced. In addition, avoid the sharp corners of the ingredients from touching the bag body when bagging, which can reduce damage and air leakage.
Q3: What is the safest way to sterilize reusable food storage bags?
A: The safest is to blanch in boiling water or soak with food-grade disinfectant. Silicone material can be scalded directly with boiling water for 3-5 minutes; PEVA material is recommended to be soaked in diluted food-grade disinfectant and then rinsed with clean water to avoid high temperature damage to the material.
Q4: How long can food stored in food storage bags last?
A: It depends on the ingredients and storage environment. Under refrigeration (0-4°C), cooked food is recommended to be eaten within 2-3 days, fruits and vegetables for 3-7 days; Under freezing (-18°C), meat can be stored in vacuum bags for 3-6 months, and ordinary bags are recommended to be eaten within 1-2 months to avoid deterioration in taste.