Absolutely! If you've used the bags for food storage, we recommend handwashing. We don't recommend reusing the bag if it was used to store raw meat, fish or any allergy-triggering foods – safety first!
Both Zip Lock bags and plastic containers are effective for freezing food, but each has its advantages. Zip Lock bags are more space-efficient and allow for easy removal of excess air, which helps prevent freezer burn. They are ideal for flat, stackable storage.
Ziploc® Containers with lids feature easy-to-use, leakproof Smart Snap technology. They are BPA free and safe for use in the microwave, dishwasher, freezer and fridge (when used as directed). Use them to store food, organize supplies, or while on the go. Reusable and recyclable.
Ziploc® Bags are not designed or approved to withstand extreme heat, and therefore should not be used to make any recipe that requires the bag to be boiled or cooked in hot water.
According to Janilyn Hutchings, a Certified Profession in Food Safety from State Food Safety, the answer is yes, it is absolutely safe to reuse Ziploc bags. But there are some caveats. “You can reuse Ziploc bags as long as they haven't been used for raw meat or other TCS foods,” Hutchings said.
SC Johnson's Ziploc® brand bags and Containers are BPA free. Our products are extensively evaluated for toxicity and safety and comply with applicable quality and safety regulations.
For example, due to the wear/tear and continuous use of the self-sealing plastic ziplock bag, the plastics can be broken down and release some debris as microplastics.
Yes, it is safe to boil food in a Ziploc bag, as long as you make sure that you choose a freezer bag, as they are the strongest and less likely to tear or leak when used for boiling.
#4 LDPE (low-density polyethylene) is used for bread and frozen food bags, squeezable bottles, other types of packaging, and reusable containers. It is not known to leach toxins.
In particular, bisphenol A and phthalates are two of the main offenders in plastic food storage bags. These nasty chemicals can seep into the stored food and contaminate it.
There is one important difference that sets them apart: thickness. While they often look and feel pretty similar to other plastic storage bags, freezer bags are slightly thicker than regular zip-top bags. This translates into a storage bag that's sturdier and even more durable.
The best containers for freezing food
The key to ensuring your food tastes great after it's thawed is how you store it: Food stays freshest when it's frozen in airtight containers and thick, durable wrappings.
Rigid containers made of plastic or glass are suitable for all packs and are especially good for liquid packs. Straight sides on rigid containers make the frozen food much easier to get out. Rigid containers are often reuseable and make the stacking of foods in the freezer easier.
If you are freezing food for a shorter period of time (2-3 weeks at most), you can wrap in unbleached butcher paper or waxed paper sheets or bags. Butcher paper doesn't seal the food as well as waxed paper, but it makes a good first-layer wrap. Double or triple for longer freezing periods.
Freezer bags are designed with special materials to withstand low temperatures. Their thickness, made from PP and PE, prevents the growth of harmful bacteria and microorganisms.
Choose from Ziploc Freezer Bags Gallon, which are available in supermarkets, or LK 10” x 12” Gallon Heavy Weight Seal Top Freezer Bags (4 mil), which are designed for food service and available in bulk online. In reusable bags, we recommend (re)zip Gallon Bag 4-Pack and Ello Reusable Gallon Storage Bags, set of 2.
They're in your kids' lunchboxes, your kitchen drawers, and probably in your refrigerator. Ziploc storage bags have been a part of American culture for decades. But those toxic plastic baggies are leaching harmful chemicals into your food – and killing marine life.
Our products are made without BPA or Phthalates. Our products are reusable. Our products are recyclable.
Freeze purees in ice cube trays or on a cookie sheet
Once the cubes or 'mounds' are solidly frozen, pop them out and store them in plastic freezer bags. Label the bags with the type of baby food as well as the date. This allows you to use it before it expires.
As Kirkconnell points out, Ziploc's website indicates that their bags “meet the safety requirements of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for temperatures associated with defrosting and reheating food in microwave ovens,” implying that they can handle boiling water.
#4 DON'T Freeze Hot Food
Food should be completely cooled before freezing – actually, it is even better if you allow it to fully cool down in the fridge first and then freeze. If you store a bag or container with hot food along with an already frozen one, it might defrost slightly, creating a safety breach.
Ziploc bags and similar storage products (like takeout containers) are incredibly useful around the house and in life, but they're not great for the environment: they're single-use, not recyclable, and can contain microplastics or other materials you probably don't want to ingest.
Research finds microplastics in our stool and urine. And Joana Prata says her review of animal data suggests that, in principle, most of what we ingest or inhale will leave the body during a trip to the bathroom.
Polyethylene-Linear Low Density is a polymer that can be used to form a plastic bag and its zip closure. It is part of the Polyethylene (PE) family, which is the most widely used plastic. Polyethylene-Linear Low Density, also known as LLDPE, is commonly used in packaging, containers and wraps such as bubble wraps.