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Choosing the Best Food Storage Bags

Choosing the right plastic bag can be daunting given the number of choices. However, armed with some basic information, you'll be able to choose the right food storage bag for your needs!

Eco-Friendly Plastic Bag Options and Alternatives

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Available in a variety of styles and materials based on your needs, an eco-friendly plastic bag is a great choice for any business looking to reduce their carbon footprint. Not only are these bags reusable, but many are also recyclable. Whether you need deli bags, t-shirt bags, or even handle bags for produce, there is an eco-friendly option to meet your needs. Many of these bags also feature a recycling symbol to make the environmentally-friendly use clear to customers.

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Eco-Friendly Paper Bags

For an eco-friendly alternative to plastic bags, paper bags are a great choice! Although they are often not as supportive as a plastic bag, paper bags are often recyclable. Paper bags are available in various colors, with or without handles, and come in different sizes for all of your food-wrapping needs.

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Reusable shopping bags are great for a variety of businesses, and are designed for customers to use again and again. These durable bags can hold more than a standard paper or plastic bag, allowing customers to carry fewer bags for the same amount of groceries. They're often available in insulated and uninsulated varieties to ensure food is transported in the best manner possible. These bags also save you money on the cost of stocking paper and plastic bags, providing an eco-friendly and cost-savings benefit.

Types of Plastic Bag Materials

We offer plastic bags in several different materials. Because each type of plastic has specific characteristics, understanding the differences can help you narrow your choices.
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HDPE features a variety of qualities that make it one of the most common plastics used in the world and many of these qualities translate to making it an excellent material for plastic bags. HDPE is light-weight, resistant to temperature, water, and vapor, has high tensile strength, is relatively transparent, and meets FDA/USDA food handling guidelines. These qualities combine to make versatile bags that are excellent for both serving and storing food in retail and take out situations. HDPE plastic food storage bags will allow your grocery store, convenience store, deli, or restaurant to work with greater efficiency, no matter how you choose to utilize them.

 

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This type of plastic is commonly used for food bags and utility bags. Because low density polyethylene is breathable, products stored without refrigeration or freezing will not last as long, compared to a polypropylene bag. Though not as strong as HDPE bags, LDPE plastic storage bags are capable of storing bulk food items like fresh vegetables and fruits. Additionally, the clear plastic makes it easy to identify contents, so you can keep up in the fast-paced setting of a commercial kitchen. Highly versatile, the low melting point of LDPE makes these bags popular for use with heat sealing. Like HDPE, LDPE meets FDA/USDA food handling guidelines.

 

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The biggest difference between LLDPE and LDPE plastic bags is that LLDPE food bags have a thinner gauge, but with the same strength. For example, a 0.85 mil thick LLDPE bag has the same strength as a 1.5 mil LDPE bag, allowing the user to "down-gauge" and save money! Similar to LDPE bags, LLDPE bags can be used for storing food in both refrigerators and freezers and the meet FDA/USDA food handling guidelines. These bags also allow for easy identification, and, as a highly versatile product, they are perfect for use in commercial kitchens.

 

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Polypropylene bags combine excellent chemical resistance and strength. Unlike LDPE or LLDPE bags, polypropylene bags are not breathable, resulting in longer product shelf life for retail situations. Items like herbs, nuts, candies, and other confectioneries are perfect for storing in PP bags. Additionally, polypropylene bags are clearer than LDPE or LLDPE bags for enhanced product visibility. PP bags also have a high melting point, meaning they are great for heat sealing, and, similar to the other plastic food bag options, they are FDA/USDA approved.

Bag Gauges and Thickness

Gauge is the term used to describe the thickness of a plastic sheet, or in this case, bag. It's usually measured in mil's or microns. Generally, a higher gauge food bag should be used if the contents are particularly sharp or heavy. The higher the gauge mil or micron, the thicker the bag is.

1 mil = 0.001"
25.4 microns = 1 mil

Plastic Food Bag Gusset Styles

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  • Allows the bag to expand into a box-like formation when fully packed
  • Provides more efficient storage than other styles of bags
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  • Allows a bag to stand up while being filled
  • Come in round bottom, k-seal bottom, and plow bottom styles
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  • Ideal for small, lightweight items
  • Doesn't expand as much as side or bottom gusset bags

Seal and Closure Styles

There are several common seal styles available for commercial food storage bags.
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  • Common in deli saddle bags and sandwich bags
  • To close, the extra "flip" can be tucked and rolled into the "lip"
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  • Securely close to seal in freshness
  • Ideal for food storage
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  • Small plastic "zipper" closes the seal for easier opening and closing
  • Ideal for food storage

Common Bag Styles

This section discusses the main types of plastic bags we carry along with some purchasing considerations.
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  • Specifically sized for common bread types
  • Designed to preserve the quality of the bread
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  • Can be used with a saddle bag stand for easy dispensing
  • Ideal for sliced deli meats, cheeses, and sometimes bread or pastries
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  • Ideal for grocery stores and markets selling fresh produce by the pound
  • Bag on a roll option is ideal for self-serve produce applications
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  • Ideal for a variety of retail and take-out applications
  • Many come printed with "Thank You" to show your customer appreciation
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  • Often used for food storage or portioning where the bag will be opened repeatedly
  • Some feature write-on blocks to quickly label and identify items
The information provided on this website does not, and is not intended to, constitute legal advice. Please refer to our Content Policy for more details.

Related Resources

Types of Pastry Bags and Tips

Commonly used for decorating cakes, cupcakes, and other baked goods, pastry bags and tips are versatile tools that can be used for many different tasks in the kitchen. For example, you can use pastry bags for piping mashed potatoes, meringue, dough, and much more. In this guide we'll go through the different types of pastry bags and piping tips and what each is used for to help you find the perfect options for your bakery or catering business.

How to Use a Vacuum Sealer

Reducing food waste and spoilage is crucial to any food service operation, and a vacuum sealer is an excellent method for eliminating waste. Vacuum-packed products can last up to three to five times longer than non-packaged foods. They will also taste fresher because you're removing most of the factors that cause them to break down. This buying guide will go over what a vacuum sealer is, how to use one, and the types of vacuum sealers available so you can make the best purchase for your needs. Check out our commercial vacuum sealer reviews to see what customers say about the most popular vacuum sealers we offer. Shop All Vacuum Sealers Use the following links to learn about vacuum sealing: What Is a Vacuum Sealer? Types of Vacuum Sealers Be

Types of Food Wrapping Paper

Whether you serve sandwiches or steaks, packaging your food properly maintains its freshness and guarantees safe handling . Selecting the appropriate food wrapping paper for your specific application is crucial in delivering a high-quality product to your customers. Use our guide to find the right type of food wrapping paper to accommodate the needs of your establishment, ensuring your inventory remains safe and contained. Shop All Food Wrapping Paper Use the following links to explore the types of food wrapping paper: Butcher Paper Wax Paper Freezer Paper Cheese Paper Sandwich Wrapping Paper

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