GREEN THREAD; Reusing Bread Bags

[Thrifty Bee]

OK; this is my first green thread, I have a lot of topics I want to share and discuss but I just didn't know where to start. This is something that just came to me now.

I've been using reusable shopping bags for years but I wasn't 100% committed. I would purposely bring home one or two plastic bags every week to use around the house; mostly to use in the bathroom trashcan. But about a month ago I decided to not bring home any plastic shopping bags anymore and find other alternatives for what I was using them for. Then I noticed that I still bring plenty of plastic bags home in the form of product packaging; mostly bread and bun bags. Because I'm not likely to start baking my own bread this isn't likely to change. The recycle place doesn't take them and I don't think you can put them in the shopping bag recycling box at the store.

SO; because we're a bag-less home now except for a partial box of sandwich bags I still have left I couldn't bring myself to throw them away, I figured I might get desperate. They are accumulating quickly and I'm left with the question of what to use them for. They don't fit the bathroom trashcan but I discovered I don't really need a bag in it. I haven't found the nerve to give anyone anything in one yet but I guess I'll have to. But what about the rest?

Well here's an idea; you may have seen in another post of mine where I was looking for reusable sandwich wraps in a store. Well I'm going to figure out a way to cut open some of the bread bags and use them for sandwich wraps. I just need to figure out how to close them. Tape will tear the plastic where it can't be used again. I don't expect a piece of plastic to last as long as a reusable wrap but I do want to reuse it for awhile. OK so don't laugh, I'm hunting around the house as I work for a rubber-band that I can use that won't squish the sandwich.

OK, time for your comments. Offer ideas about the sandwich wrap idea or about other uses for the bread bags.

[foggierbard9]

OK; this is my first green thread, I have a lot of topics I want to share and discuss but I just didn't know where to start. This is something that just came to me now.

I've been using reusable shopping bags for years but I wasn't 100% committed. I would purposely bring home one or two plastic bags every week to use around the house; mostly to use in the bathroom trashcan. But about a month ago I decided to not bring home any plastic shopping bags anymore and find other alternatives for what I was using them for. Then I noticed that I still bring plenty of plastic bags home in the form of product packaging; mostly bread and bun bags. Because I'm not likely to start baking my own bread this isn't likely to change. The recycle place doesn't take them and I don't think you can put them in the shopping bag recycling box at the store.

SO; because we're a bag-less home now except for a partial box of sandwich bags I still have left I couldn't bring myself to throw them away, I figured I might get desperate. They are accumulating quickly and I'm left with the question of what to use them for. They don't fit the bathroom trashcan but I discovered I don't really need a bag in it. I haven't found the nerve to give anyone anything in one yet but I guess I'll have to. But what about the rest?

Well here's an idea; you may have seen in another post of mine where I was looking for reusable sandwich wraps in a store. Well I'm going to figure out a way to cut open some of the bread bags and use them for sandwich wraps. I just need to figure out how to close them. Tape will tear the plastic where it can't be used again. I don't expect a piece of plastic to last as long as a reusable wrap but I do want to reuse it for awhile. OK so don't laugh, I'm hunting around the house as I work for a rubber-band that I can use that won't squish the sandwich.

OK, time for your comments. Offer ideas about the sandwich wrap idea or about other uses for the bread bags.

What about instead of a rubber-band, a piece of velcro or ribbon that you could reuse? Or a piece of ribbon that you put the velcro on the end of so it will connect to itself around the plastic.

I would love to reuse bread bags for when I bake fresh bread, but it seems that the bags have holes in them somewhere and allow the air in and the bread gets hard fast. I end up wasting lots of saran wrap and foil keeping the air away from my bread.

[Thrifty Bee]

What about instead of a rubber-band, a piece of velcro or ribbon that you could reuse? Or a piece of ribbon that you put the velcro on the end of so it will connect to itself around the plastic.

I would love to reuse bread bags for when I bake fresh bread, but it seems that the bags have holes in them somewhere and allow the air in and the bread gets hard fast. I end up wasting lots of saran wrap and foil keeping the air away from my bread.

I've gotten into the habit of inspecting the bags my bread and buns are in before I buy them, of coarse a hole can always happen after you get home. Even though I don't bake regular bread I do bake a mean banana bread, and I've used a hamburger bun bag several times to freeze it in.

[hopeky94]

Would the sealer part of a vacuum sealer machine put too much heat on one of these bags and just melt it into a gooey mess? If not, how about:
1)put your sandwich in the full-sized bread bag
2)flatten the rest of the bag (to get all the air out)
3)seal the bag as close to the open end as possible
4)when ready to eat: cut bag off just below seal, then save rest of bag for next sandwich!

Or similarly, use a twist tie or rubber band to close up the end of the bag and not have to cut the bag at all!

But if you're looking for something to wrap around the sandwich to hold the plastic on, you could try an elastic-type headband (not ponytail holder, but the kind that goes all the way around your head)...

HTH! :)

[queenofthehivemomof5]

I am not sure about making sandwich wraps but I use bread bags for pooper scopper bags when I walk my dogs. They seems to fit over my hand well (yulk)

I have heard that some bread bags may contain lead in the colored writing on the outside of the bag so if you reuse the bags for food I would make sure not to turn the bags inside out just to be safe.

[motherofmolly]

i saw on the internet net a posting about someone taking the plastic grocery bags and making "fabric" with it. they would lay the bags flat (cutting if necessary) and put them in between two pieces of waxed paper and flatten them with an iron. this would them "melt" them together and make something similar to a sturdy plastic fabric you could sew.

here are a few and they have links to show you how
Plastic Bag Crafts : Daily source of DIY craft projects and inspiration, patterns, how-tos | Craftzine.com

[motherofmolly]

my friend uses the bread bags for other items she bakes like rolls, muffins, cookies etc to keep them from going bad.

we also have been known to use them for mushrooming when we need to "store" our lot in the car.

[Rene S]

I like using bread bags (and other bags, like frozen veggie bags, etc.) for when I scoop the cat litter boxes.

To foggierbard re: homemade bread. Walmart sells gallon-size twist tie bags, 100 to a box in their Great Value brand. These are the perfect size for homemade loaves of bread! I double bag them.

After we eat the bread, I can reuse the bags for storage, snacks, or more bread. I can also reuse the twist ties a few times.

[motherofmolly]

rene s, i just thought of another use with your post. i like to double up on the plastic on my bread for freezing, you can use the bread bags as an added layer.

[Rene S]

rene s, i just thought of another use with your post. i like to double up on the plastic on my bread for freezing, you can use the bread bags as an added layer.

I would love to use my (commercial) bread bags for double bagging my homemade bread, but unfortunately, they are usually too large and poofy to fit. Guess that's not a bad thing.