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Are you trying to be less wasteful, but still want to keep your snacks crunchy? Have you gotten into sous vide cooking but also found yourself frantically googling whether any chemicals leach into your dinner when they’re heated in plastic? Do you want to freeze big batches of rice, ice cubes of herb-infused oil, or halved bananas and de-ribbed kale for smoothies in something other than single-use plastic?
Behold, the silicone bag. In the last three or four years these airtight, dishwasher safe, and, most importantly, re-useable bags have saved millions of plastic sandwich baggies from ending up in our landfills (and, more importantly, our oceans).
Even if youve never used one yourself, youve probably seen the original Stasher bags. Stasher is made of 100 percent food grade silicone and has won handfuls of design awards for its innovative (and heavily patented) engineering. Not unlike Ziploc to the world of singe-use plastic bags, Stasher is the queen of the reusable airtight bag-iverse. Before I even did this review I was a loyal fan.
That sticker shock got me wondering if there was a great dupe I could suss out for less, so I put the Stasher bags to the test alongside four other brands. One note about the Stasher competitors: most of the bags I tested (from Zip Top, Home Luxe, and Pure Silicone) are either 100-percent silicone or are 100-percent silicone bags with plastic clasps. But, I also included bags from (Re)Zip, which are made out of a food safe FDA-grade PEVA blend. (Re)Zip is one of the most popular airtight reusable bags on the market, so it seemed like it would be an oversight to not include it. Ill go into PEVA vs. silicone a bit further in—hang tight. For now, read below for the winners.
Reusable plastic bags made of PEVA and other polymers are available, but silicone is more durable (though tears and punctures can happen) and lasts longer than plastic, which explains the bigger price tags.
The Best Reusable Bag Overall: Stasher Bags
At last count, Stasher carried over 20 colors and five sizes. I tried four of those sizes: one snack bag (9.9 ounce capacity), one sandwich bag (15 ounces), a half gallon size recommended for sous vide, and a roomy, triangular-bottomed stand-up bag (56 fluid ounces).
Stasher did, in fact, beat out its silicone competitors. The bags are super squishy in texture—including the seal. When they first came, I was certain that the seal wouldnt hold. You do have to be careful about pressing the seal closed all the way, but when you close them properly they never come open or leak. I put juicy cut fruit and watery cucumber wedges in each one for airplane travel and never had a single spill.
The stand-up variety was probably my favorite. It takes up a bit more room when stored, but its perfect for pouring nuts, grains, and seeds from bulk bins. An Amazon reviewer adds that “the wide bottom doesnt squish delicate foods like lettuce or chips,” which is ideal, if you, like me, have a salt n vinegar problem.
The sandwich bag, however, is much easier to get all the excess air out of: When I froze bananas for smoothies in both bags, it was easier to layer them in the sandwich bag, and the fruit ended up with less freezer burn. If you plan on mostly using bags for freezer storage, Id recommend the sandwich shape, while if you plan on mostly using them to replace those flimsy produce bags in the bulk aisle or to transport snacks to work or school, go stand-up.
Some Amazon reviewers said their Stasher bags ripped or seemed thin. I have never had an issue with this. After four months of use, my original Stasher bags are still in near perfect condition. Theyve stood up to microwaving, sous-vide cooking, both freezer and fridge storage, and plenty of everyday use and washing. But, I do recommend being careful when washing and storing them—I wash with a soft bottle brush to get into the corners without putting too much pressure on the squishy material. I dont have a dishwasher, but I did test them in a friends machine (yes, really) and my four little silicone sweeties came out just fine.
The one place where the Stasher let me down? Cheese. Any strong cheese stored in the bags (from any of the brands) for more than a few days left a smell that just wouldnt budge (so much so that I now have multiple designated cheese bags). Sadly, not a single bag I tested stood up to the pecorino test. Id suggest turning to a cheese box or cheese wrappers instead.
Silicone Stand-Up Stasher Bag
Another Great Option: Zip Top
While these pure silicone babies come in both baggie and dish shape (a funny, rounded shape meant to hold full meals, soups, etc.,) I only tested two sizes of the baggie shape—and I found them almost as good as the Stasher bags for my purposes. While I loved the sturdiness of the bag, and that they were pure silicone, I found the tops to be a bit more fiddly to seal than those of the Stasher bags. However, the bags had some other pluses: Sharp corners made it easy to pour seeds and berries, and measurements on the outside of the bag were a nice touch. At $19 for a set of two bags, theyre a slightly more affordable choice than Stasher as well.
While I didnt try the cup or dish shape for this test because they seemed to satisfy a different purpose, a friend of mine loves them—and says theyre sturdy enough to hold chili upright in the fridge, just as a jar would.
Zip Top 24 oz Reusable Silicone Bag
IS SILICONE SAFE AND SUSTAINABLE FOR FOOD USE? | An Investigation and review | Stasher, Stojo, etc
FAQ
Is Peva a plastic or silicone?
Is polyethylene vinyl acetate the same as silicone?
Are silicone containers safe?
Do silicone bags keep food fresh?
Is peva better than silicone?
As a material, PEVA is less bulky than silicone, which gives the bags a slender profile that fits nicely in the freezer. The bags also cost a fraction of the silicone bags from Stasher.
Are peva bags better than silicone bags?
While a number of the silicone bags do well in our tests, the PEVA bags we test do a lot better on the whole. Based on our testing alone, we’d recommend PEVA bags. Plus, it’s an added bonus that PEVA bags also tend to be cheaper than silicone bags.
What is the difference between peva & silicone freezer bags?
Here are some other differences: Functionality – silicone is able to withstand more extreme temperatures, and can be used in the oven or microwave, unlike PEVA. Lifespan – silicone isn’t biodegradable, whereas PEVA is. This does mean that silicone freezer bags will last longer.
Are peva bags reusable?
As a general rule, PEVA is less expensive, while products made from pure silicone are pricier. Replacing single-use plastic bags with reusable options is just one of many ways to reduce your carbon footprint. While some are heat resistant and dishwasher safe, others are thicker and better for freezer storage.