This is a review of Zip Top bags, and how they stack up to plastic single-use zip bags. I was provided with a full set of bags by Zip Top to test out in my own kitchen.
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I'll admit this right upfront. One of the worst things I do to the environment is how often I reach for plastic zip bags. Not just a few. I mean a LOT of plastic bags.
Out of curiosity, I recently did a count of the single-use plastic bags in use right now just in the kitchen. I counted a mind-boggling 78 PLASTIC BAGS currently in use. Many of these bags will store food for only a day or two before being discarded to some landfill. Others will hang around longer.
All will be discarded after a single use.
Well, Zip Top wants to change all that by dramatically reducing the number of plastic bags we use in the kitchen and elsewhere in life. And it turns out, they've got a great solution with eco-friendly containers that make life so much easier.
What Are Zip Top Bags?
Zip Top bags are completely free of plastics. Instead, they're made of 100% food grade platinum silicone, and are completely free of fillers or other harmful chemicals.
Zip Top container’s patented design is made with a one-piece construction that makes it extremely durable - microwave, dishwasher and freezer safe. Zip Top’s 100% platinum silicone construction contains no BPA, plastic, fillers or other harmful chemicals.
-from Zip Top's website
They come in a bunch of shapes and sizes for all kinds of needs, and are available in a beautiful array of colors. You can buy individual containers, sets of a particular shape, or the full set.
There are even containers perfect for kid snacks! They fit nicely into their small hands, and easy to open with little fingers. And they're adorable.
I kind of think of them as a cross between a zip plastic bag and plastic containers with a separate tops. Zip Tops are far much durable than plastic bags, and now I don't have to search for a matching lid to a container.
Are Zip Top Bags Worth The Extra Cost?
Absolutely.
Doing some simple math, I found Target selling a carton of 38 quart-size ZipLok bags for $4.49. That means each baggie costs about $0.12. That sounds pretty good, right?
Well, the folks at Zip Top claim that one of their bags can save up to 5000 plastic storage bags. One quart-size Zip Top retails for around $20. When I calculated the cost of 5000 plastic bags at a hefty $591. So, Zip Top saves me $571. Even if they're optimistic, and a Zip Top reusable container saves me "only" 2500 plastic bags, I'm still ahead by $275.
But for me to make a lasting change in the kitchen, where I spend so much time, it needs to be about more than only long-term cost to my wallet and the environment. It needs to be convenient and useful.
Zip Top Advantages Over Single Use Plastic Bags
Silicone can withstand temperatures up to 440˚F, making Zip Tops safe to clean in the dishwasher and use in the microwave oven.
The silicone design is thicker than your typical floppy bag, which makes them far more durable over time. And they do a better job of protecting what's inside. Like snacks and sandwiches you throw in your backpack before a hike or for a picnic.
And tender herbs.
Use them to freeze foods, such as fish and meat for the omnivores in the family. And write the date right on the bags with a Sharpie.
Their open design make them a perfect "cup" for snacks you can put in the cup holder of your car to eat on the go.
You can even pack a salad in it, and eat the salad right out of the container since the top is designed to stay open.
Traveling with a pet in the car? Keep kibble in a Zip Top bag, and it doubles as a bowl for them to eat out of. Need a smoothie on the go? Use an immersible blender to make it in the Zip Top. Yes, it's that durable.
When traveling, I use a small one to carry individual pills, and use larger ones for jewelry and makeup.
Zip Top Disadvantages Over Single Use Plastic Bags
Nothing is perfect, and there are a few disadvantages over single-use plastic bags.
- The zip closure is not air tight. If you put soup in it to store in the refrigerator, and it falls over, it will leak. The Zip Top folks are very honest about that. The design of these containers keep them standing upright, but there's obviously no way to guarantee they'll never ever tip.
2. The largest size they offer is 1 quart size. No ½ gallon or gallon size is available at this writing.
3. They don't stack. If that's a deal-breaker for you, consider Stasher bags (see below).
What About Stasher Bags?
Stasher bags are another platinum silicone bag that's great for multi-use. They stay sealed, so they're good for soups and other liquids you might be concerned about tipping over and spilling, and sous vide cooking.
The bags are made of thinner material, and may be more prone to punctures than the seemingly indestructible Zip Top bags. The thinner packaging also doesn't protect fragile herbs or sandwiches as well as the Zip Top bags, IMHO.
Stasher bags lay flat, which to me is both good and bad. It makes it easier to stack things in the refrigerator, which makes my husband happy. And if it's a tight squeeze in the freezer, Stasher bags fit in more easily. But I prefer how the Zip Tops stand up, making them much easier to find in the chaos of my refrigerator.
Zip Top containers are also a little less expensive.
Honestly, there's room in my kitchen for both, since I'm determined to get rid of all those plastic zip bags. But for me, Zip Top is my first choice.
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