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totalfoodie · 07-15-2008, 01:25 PM

Can this be done safely? I've always been nervous about doing this especially in the case of meat, which is what I use freezer bags for the most. I've washed out bags for food storage and re-used them but not my freezer bags.

Sami · 07-15-2008, 06:37 PM

I have wondered the same thing. With the cost of everything going up I sure hate throwing those bags away! Perhaps experiment with some different ways of sanitizing them, such as boiling, microwaving, dishwasher, etc. I know they melt pretty easily!

MidnightSnack · 07-15-2008, 07:53 PM

I wrap my meat in wax paper before I put it in the freezer bag so that I don't have problems reusing it. The meat never touches the bag and I can just wash and reuse.

barefoot_mom · 07-15-2008, 11:50 PM

I reuse my food bags used for anything except raw meat. Cooked meat, I have no problems washing out the bag and reusing it. But I'm too wary of food borne illness to reuse a bag with raw meat inside.

totalfoodie · 07-17-2008, 02:53 PM

That's a great idea. Either wax paper or plastic wrap would help prevent freezer burn, as well, I should think. Even buying the expensive bags, I still end up with problems occasionally so I'm going to try that for both reasons.

**islandtime** · 07-18-2008, 09:22 AM

It's interesting reading all your comments about reusing bags, and I can understand if you want to cut corners and try to save money, but let me tell you about a woman who wrote in to Ann Landers last year...she was concerned about her mother's practice of washing out the bags and reusing, and the fact that her mother suffered from bouts of food poisoning at least 2-3 times per month. Bacteria can naver be completely removed from plastic bags by washing because they are porous. I'd rather be safe than sorry.

newbiecook · 07-21-2008, 01:58 PM

I was eager to learn a new way to economize but after reading that last post, I think I'll keep looking in other areas. I've had food poisoning and it is certainly not a fun thing to go through. I'd rather not take any chances on getting another case of it.

BakerMum · 07-21-2008, 03:25 PM

I honestly think that if you are sensible about what you use them for then you should be ok. You can reuse for things like sandwiches, and dry stuff, or stuff that has been cooked before storage.

I then freeze the raw meats in old bags that are just about ready to be thrown away, then get rid of them after use.

**islandtime** · 07-21-2008, 04:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BakerMum

I honestly think that if you are sensible about what you use them for then you should be ok. You can reuse for things like sandwiches, and dry stuff, or stuff that has been cooked before storage.

I then freeze the raw meats in old bags that are just about ready to be thrown away, then get rid of them after use.

Everything you mentioined above grows bacteria faster than you can blink. Good luck.

MidnightSnack · 07-22-2008, 05:29 PM

Yes, fair enough they do. But then they grow bacteria just as fast if you store them in plastic boxes, metal boxes, whatever. They do the same if stored in this way in the fridge-leftovers stored, in glass even!

Unless you live in a totally disposable home, then single use of everything isn't really feasible. I would never consider it, couldn't afford to.

So do you really throw away every storage container you ever use after a single use? Do you buy new lunch boxes for the family ever day? Thorough washing is not impossible...