1. Introduction
1.1 The importance of food storage
I believe everyone has had this experience: fresh vegetables purchased on weekends turn yellow and wilt after two days; The cooked food has a peculiar smell the next day, and finally has no choice but to be discarded. According to statistics, the average value of food wasted by improper storage per household exceeds 50 yuan per week, which is a big expense in a year. What’s more, spoiled food produces harmful substances that can cause health problems such as gastrointestinal upset after consumption. Therefore, doing a good job in food storage can not only save money, but also the key to ensuring food safety.
1.2 Advantages of food storage bags
Among the many storage tools, the Food Storage Bag is a household must-have with its unique advantages. It is not as bulky and fragile as glass containers, and it is also more space-saving than ordinary crisper boxes, and can be folded and stored at will. High-quality food storage bags also effectively isolate air, moisture, and odors, keeping ingredients fresh for longer. For example, I used to use ordinary crisper boxes to pack strawberries, which became soft and watery in three days, and after replacing them with food storage bags with good sealing performance, the freshness could be maintained for about a week.
1.3 Overview of the purpose and structure of the article
Although many people often use food storage bags, they may not be able to use the ideas, but let the ingredients deteriorate in advance. This article combines my purchasing and usage experience to share with you 5 key tips. Next, it will start from the three core dimensions of “choosing the right bag”, “correct use” and “controlling the storage environment”, and finally there are industry insiders’ views and FAQs to help you thoroughly use the right Food Storage Bag and keep the ingredients fresh.
2. Choose the right food storage bag
2.1 Material Type (e.g., plastic, aluminum foil, etc.)
Food Storage Bags of different materials are suitable for different scenarios, and the right material can be accurately preserved. The following table is used to give you a clear comparison:
Material type | Core strengths | Applicable ingredients: | Notes: |
|---|---|---|---|
PE (polyethylene) plastic | Non-toxic, flexible, cost-effective | Vegetables, fruits, cooked foods, cereals | Do not use for microwave heating, avoid contact with high temperatures |
PP (polypropylene) plastic | High temperature resistance and microwave control | Leftovers and semi-finished products that require secondary heating | The flexibility is slightly worse at low temperatures, avoiding violent pulling |
Aluminum foil | It has excellent light protection and oxygen insulation properties, and can lock in the taste | Meat, baked goods, ingredients that need to be stored for a long time | It cannot be microwaved and the cost is relatively high |
Here is a procurement experience: when buying plastic models, be sure to choose those marked with “food grade” and with the “QS/SC” logo, avoid buying three-no products, and prevent harmful substances from migrating into the ingredients.
2.2 Consideration of size and capacity
The core principle of size selection is to “fit the ingredients”, and do not use large bags or small bags. For example, if you use an oversized storage bag to hold only a few cherries, there will be a lot of space left in the bag, which will leave a lot of air and accelerate the deterioration of cherries; Forcibly packing large pork ribs in a small bag will break the sealing edge and lose the freshness preservation effect. It is recommended to prepare three sizes according to the “daily ingredient amount”: small (20×15cm) for snacks and a small amount of fruit; medium (30×25cm) for vegetables and leftovers; Large (40×35cm) for meat and large ingredients.
2.3 The importance of sealing performance
Sealing performance is the core of Food Storage Bag freshness, and if it is not sealed well, no matter how high-quality the material is, it is useless. I have stepped on the pit before: I bought a batch of cheap storage bags, the sealing edges are very thin, easy to leak when holding liquid ingredients, and also moisture when loading dry goods. The sealing edge of a high-quality storage bag usually has a “double bite” design, which allows a clear “click” sound to be heard when pressed, and it will not leak even if it is filled with water and turned upside down. It is recommended to do a simple test before buying: fill the bag with a small amount of water, seal it and turn it upside down to see if it leaks.
3. Use food storage bags correctly
3.1 Food preparation and packaging skills
The quality of the food treatment before packaging directly affects the preservation effect. Share a few practical tips: First, drain the water of vegetables and fruits first, water on the surface will breed bacteria and accelerate decay, such as washed lettuce, use kitchen paper to absorb the water and then bag it, the freshness can be maintained for 2-3 more days; Second, the meat is packaged in pieces according to a single consumption to avoid repeated thawing and freezing, such as buying a piece of pork belly, dividing it into 3 portions and bagging it, and taking one serving when eating, which is convenient and can reduce nutrient loss; Third, sharp ingredients (such as bone-in chicken, fish bones) should be wrapped in plastic wrap and then put in a storage bag to prevent puncture of the bag.
3.2 Ways to avoid air ingress
The air in the bag is the “culprit” of the oxidation and deterioration of ingredients, especially meat and fruits, and the air must be expelled as much as possible. There are two simple ways: one is not to fill the bag when filling, leave a small amount of space, and then squeeze it up from the bottom with your hands to expel the air and then seal it; The second is to use the “water immersion method”, which is suitable for holding liquids or fragile ingredients, immersing the storage bag (not completely sealed) in the water, so that the water covers the food, the air will be discharged from the opening, and finally sealed underwater, with excellent oxygen removal effect.
3.3 The necessity of labels and date markers
Many people put the ingredients in the refrigerator after loading, and after a long time, they forget the storage time and can only be discarded. It is recommended to use a marker to mark the “ingredient name + storage date” on the food storage bag, such as “Pork ribs 2025.10.20”. Especially for frozen ingredients, the shelf life can be clearly known with the date, for example, frozen meat usually has a shelf life of 3-6 months, and it is not recommended to eat it after the time. My family has always done this, and I have never had the problem of “I don’t know if I can eat it”.
4. The impact of the storage environment
4.1 Effect of temperature on food freshness
Different ingredients have different storage temperature requirements, choosing the right temperature + using the Food Storage Bag well can double the freshness preservation effect. Core knowledge points: The temperature of the refrigerator layer is recommended to be set at 0-4°C, which is suitable for storing vegetables, fruits, cooked food, etc., and can inhibit the reproduction of bacteria with sealed storage bags at this temperature; The temperature of the freezer layer is recommended to be ≤-18°C, which is suitable for storing meat, seafood, etc., and the storage bag can prevent frosting and odor of food. Here is a reminder to everyone: do not put hot ingredients directly into the refrigerator to bag, but let them cool to room temperature first to avoid the temperature in the refrigerator rising and affecting the freshness of other ingredients.
4.2 Control of light and humidity
Light will accelerate the oxidation of food, especially green leafy vegetables and fruits, so the storage bag should be placed in a dark place in the refrigerator, not in the transparent compartment of the refrigerator door; In terms of humidity, vegetables need a certain humidity to keep them fresh, and you can use a Food Storage Bag with small holes (or a few small holes in the ordinary storage bag), which can not only breathe but also lock in water, so as to avoid wilting of vegetables; Dry goods (such as peppercorns and wolfberries) need a dry environment, packed in storage bags with good sealing performance, and placed in a dry and ventilated place, away from humid areas.
4.3 Selection of storage location
The temperature and humidity of different positions in the refrigerator are different, so the bagged ingredients should be placed reasonably: the middle layer of the refrigerator has the most stable temperature, which is suitable for cooked food and dairy products; the lower layer has a lower temperature, suitable for meat and seafood; The drawer has high humidity, suitable for vegetables and fruits; The temperature of the refrigerator door fluctuates greatly, which is not suitable for storing ingredients that need to be kept fresh for a long time, and can be used for bottled seasonings, drinks, etc. I put the green leafy vegetables in the refrigerator door before, even if they were put in a storage bag, they turned yellow in 3 days, and after changing to the drawer, they could be fresh for 5-6 days.
5. Yigu (purchasing agent) point of view
As a senior purchasing agent, I suggest that when choosing Food Storage Bags, you should give priority to products with brand endorsement and complete test reports, especially when contacting directly imported ingredients, pay attention to indicators such as “no fluorescent agents and no plasticizers”. From the perspective of industry trends, degradable and reusable food storage bags are becoming more and more popular, which are not only environmentally friendly, but also cost-effective for long-term use. In addition, when purchasing in bulk, pay attention to the production date, the shelf life is generally 2-3 years, and avoid buying expiring products. Only by choosing the right product + using the right method can we truly give full play to the freshness value of storage bags and reduce food waste.
6. FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions)
Q1: Can food storage bags be reused?
Yes, but there is a premise: only dry, oil-free, and odor-free ingredients (such as grains, fruits) have been filled, and the bag is not damaged or stained, and can be reused after cleaning and drying; Storage bags filled with raw meat, seafood, and cooked food with oil are not recommended to be reused to avoid bacterial cross-contamination.
Q2: Which food storage bag made of PE or PP is more suitable for home use?
It is recommended to use the two together: PE material is cost-effective, suitable for daily containers of vegetables, fruits, and dry goods to meet the basic preservation needs; PP material can be microwaved, suitable for loading leftovers and semi-finished products that require secondary heating, and is more suitable for scenarios with heating needs.
Q3: Will freezing food in food storage bags affect the nutrition of ingredients?
As long as the method is right, the impact is minimal. The key is to do two things: first, try to exhaust the air in the bag to reduce the oxidation of ingredients; The second is to package it in pieces according to the amount of a single serving to avoid repeated thawing and freezing. High-quality storage bags can isolate air and moisture, prevent nutrient loss, and the frozen food nutrition can basically retain its original level.