GREEN BAGS TO PRESERVE FRESHNESS : DO THEY REALLY WORK?

[Fleur]

I just received a package of 63 Green Bags as a gift. They are supposed to preserve food longer by absorbing the ethylene gas that produce gives off, and finally spoils it.

Has anyone else used them? There are bags for fruit and Vegetables, Cheese, Bread, etc.

One question I have is ..do you leave fruit like Pears in the bag to ripen, or do you allow them to ripen in the open, then bag them?

Any suggestions for using these will be greatly appreciated.

[ghallIII]

They absolutely do work. The only problem is where do you get them. QVC used to carry them, but have discontinued. So if you know where to go, I'd appreciate the heads up!

[walker]

Bed Bath & Beyond.

Also, I read in a book that you should blow in to bag. Recent CI magazine experimented with this and said it worked and explained how/why.

[loreeves]

since I started using them I throw out next to no fruits and vegies. And I've used them for a varity of foods. the only one I have problems with are mushrooms. Sometimes they will keep for as long as two weeks!...other times they go bad after a few days. It seens to depend on how fresh they were to start with. Now you do need to keep the bags dry... so take take a paper towel to the inside of the bag perodically. and i find that putting the same food in the same bag..(when you reuse it)...helps. to help with this, and to make sure I get the most our of each bag...I take a marker to each new bag and put the date and food being stored...

[Jennalynn]

You might want to try the green boxes. I have found them just as good as the bags, but they're dishwasher safe and I've been using the same boxes for 3 years.

[greenteadrinker]

I love mine. They work great. They seem to work better if you don't twist/seal
the end closed; give some "breathing" room.
It keeps celery (for instance) crisp for a few weeks. The one thing I did notice
though, after a period of time-after a week or more, everything still looks good,
and it's not rotten, but the taste becomes dimished. I'll buy more when I can.
Just wash them out, and let them air dry completely before adding more veggies
to the sack.

[Karen RN]

I can't find the Debbie Meyer bags for bread. Can someone please tell me where I can purchase them (online is fine too).

[LindaWhit]

Amazon has them.

[Sal Vanilla]

So I am reading all the posts with the fouled banana complaints and I wonder why I have not experienced that problem. I have used them in both cool and very tropical environs.

Maybe it is the brand or maybe (and do not get mad) you are not using them correctly. You have to get the wet off, squueze out as much air as possible and put the bag in the fridge.

The brand I use (and I think I have always used) is "Evert-Fresh Green Bags" I went and dug them out of the boat box especially for you!

It sez on the bag you can use them for flowers... I did not know that!

Also maybe the bag you are using is too big or too small (as in you cannot get or keep it closed).

Interesting that people are so emotional both ways. Who knew!?

[Jennalynn]

That's the way I use them. Squeeze the air out. Keep everything dry. Sometimes add a papertowel to absorb moisture. Change the paper towel when it's wet.

I get great results. I've used the Evert and the Debbie Meyers.

[walker]

I'm pretty much a convert to glass per rworange's suggestion.

On Tastespotting.com I recently noticed a blog, I think it's called Salad a Day, and she uses foodsaver jar (wide mouth) adapter for Ball quart size jars. I'm going to order it at Bed, Bath & Beyond. It costs about $10 but the company, Jarden, wants about $8.50 just for shipping charge.

Anyway, reviews on Amazon say this really works to keep lettuce a lot longer.

[Keepie]

I am interested if everyone is using the green bags because they really do save you money because of preserving the vegtables and fruits or because they believe they are following the "green" Climate" "Global Warming Agenda"?

[dessert_diva]

I use them (the Debbie Meyer brand anyway) but just for carrots and celery because it's somewhat more economical for me (as a single) to buy the organic brands in larger size bags rather than smaller ones (5 lb vs 2 lb bags of carrots, for instance). Before I used the green bags, 5 lbs of carrots would end up getting too mushy before I was able to use them all; the green bags do keep them in good condition until they're used up.

HOWEVER, I add my own tweak to the use instructions. As the greenbags say, I do not wash the produce first, but I do wrap it in paper towels before storing in the bag. As I take the carrots or celery from their bags, I replace the now-damp paper toweling with fresh dry sheet(s). Whether using a plain old plastic bag rather than a "green" bag would perform any different, I don't know (I will try though, with a couple of carrots from the next bag bought!). I do know that if the carrots or celery are simply stored in the crisper, they both age quickly.

I did try the greenbags for sweet peppers, zucchini, and green beans; I thought the peppers and zucchini aged WORSE in the bags, and the green beans no difference. I buy those in small enough amounts not to need the greenbags though.

So to answer your question: I do use them in order to buy larger (cheaper) bags of carrots and celery and thus save some money especially since we get socked in the pocketbook for organic produce! Obviously, since I'm also using/replacing paper toweling inside the bags, my motivation is not "green" other than that being the color of the bags, LOL.

I do certain other things from a "green" perspective but as far as this particular product goes, that's not my motivation.

[The Dairy Queen]

Neither. I belong to a CSA and the vegetables come completely naked. I have to bag my vegetables in SOMETHING in order to put them in the fridge, especially the odd shaped ones that won't really fit in a storage container of some kind.

I also will reuse the plastic bags I get from the produce section of the grocery store. I do think the "green" bags work better, but it's hard to say. Maybe the vegetables I put in the green bags (ie., my CSA vegetables) last longer because they were fresher to begin with.

~TDQ

[taos]

I got introduced to the bags by a scientist friend of mine (PhD in chemistry) who is outrageously skeptical of everything. I was shocked that she should fall for the gimmicky bags, but she explained how they worked (I didn't pay attention). However, she said to use them only for certain things (greens, peppers, celery, carrots...). Stuff must be completely dry before going into the bag. And, guess what? They worked.

[pdxgastro]

Taos, that is intriguing. Can you pls give us the complete list of which vegetables benefit from being stored in the Green Bags? Thanks in advance.

[Jennalynn]

That is exactly what I've found. Some vegetables work amazingly well. Some just average. But the ones that work are worth the cost of the bags.

I have found that those little red/yellow peppers that are very pricey... last almost forever in the green bags/boxes. But yes, you have to keep everything dry.

My other "amazingly well" list:

Celery
Sugar snap and snow peas
Grapes
Carrots
Cauliflower (I break into florets)
Arugula
Scallions
Mushrooms
Persian Cukes (UNcut)

[walker]

I'm replying to myself! Anyway, I'm back to preferring the green bags for lettuce. I tried the system above in Ball jars and I guess it's okay for less than a week; more than that and the lettuce gets moisture in there and the lettuce gets slimy. I think lettuce will last longer in the green bags...just wash and dry really well and even layer in some paper towels when you put it in the bags.

[Karen RN]

We've used both kinds of Debbie Meyer bags (for produce and for bread). Both work well, but the bread bags work extaordinarily well. I'm not sure which bags some of you who have had a bad experience are using, but the Debbie Meyer brand of these bags has worked exactly as promised. Both white and whole wheat loaf breads actually soften over time. You must remove the bread from its original packaging! Personally, I only use each bread bag twice; it can probably be used more than that.

[Ambimom]

The premise of these bags is to save money by preserving produce longer so it does not go rotten before you have a chance to eat it. Good premise.

My sister and I bought a bunch of the Debbie Meyer bags to try. They cost about three times more than ordinary plastic storage bags. We followed the instructions. They didn't work for me and they didn't work for my sister.....

Even if they did preserve the produce, their cost and need to replace them is on par with throwing out a $1 head of lettuce that had gone limp.

Where's the savings?

[junescook]

This was Consumer Report's take on the Meyer Green Bags:

http://www.consumerreports.org/cro/fo...

[hungrykids]

For his science fair project this year, my son compared Debbie Mayer Green Bags, regular zip-loc plastic bags, and no bags at all with strawberries, cucumbers, bananas, and tomatoes.

It was no contest.

Across the board, the Debbie Meyer Green Bags did NOT keep anything fresher.

We followed all the instructions, including making sure the produce was dry AND drying any moisture that accumulated each day. He weighed all the produce each day, took photos each day to record the accumulating rot, mold, etc., and kept an observation log of the condition of the fruits and vegetables.

All of the products were placed on our kitchen table, so that there was no difference in the exposure to temperature, light, etc. the "control group" had no protection - those items were each placed on their own paper plate on the table.

I'm attaching the photos from the final day of each item so you can see for yourselves.

[The Dairy Queen]

Not meaning to criticize your son, but (as I say in post #3 in this very long thread) I would never store 3 out of the four "test" produce items in the green bags anyway (tomatoes, strawberries, or bananas) and for the one item (cucumbers) which I actually would store in the bags, I would store them in the fridge, not on my kitchen table.

I think for this experiment to be relevant, your son ought to have chosen items for which you'd actually use the bags and use them in conditions similar to how you'd actually use them, not some other random sub-optimal conditions.

~TDQ

[hungrykids]

Well, gosh, TDQ, he's only 12 years old....

Although YOU wouldn't use the items he used, the advertising for Debbie Meyer says ANY fruits and vegetables will do better in their bags, AND they show tomatoes, strawberries, and bananas in their advertising and on their website.

Interestingly, the cucumbers lasted the longest of all the items - even on the kitchen table.

I guess it's lucky for my son that you're not his science teacher....

[The Dairy Queen]

Sorry, I just don't find the results of the experiment that helpful from a practical, chowhounding perspective and that is the perspective from which I am commenting. Apologies if I misunderstood the perspective from which you were sharing the information. Obviously, I would come from another perspective if I were your son's science's teacher, but this isn't the place for that.

I don't recommending storing strawberries, bananas, avocados, or tomatoes in the green bags and I don't recommend storing cucumbers on your kitchen table. I'd never store tomatoes, bananas or avocados in bags of any kind. Strawberries are complex, storage-wise.

~TDQ

[Jennalynn]

Out of the fridge is not the place to keep most of these items.

And while it might be anecdotal... I believe many things I store in DM Greenbags stay fresher waaay longer. Not everything. But they are particularly good with tomatoes, small sweet peppers, grapes, sugar snap peas...

Just curious, how long did your son's experiment last? The tomatoes all look good... but if it was only a week, they might all still look good anyway. Tomatoes for me stay good with the greenbags for almost 2.5 weeks. And those are something I don't refrigerate.

[hungrykids]

The bananas made it to day 13 at which point we agreed that they were past the point where we would have thrown them away if they were not part of an experiment. The cucumbers made it to day 18. The strawberries were goners by day 6 and the tomatoes were thrown away on day 17 (consistent with your results). The photos I shared are from the final day of each item.

Here are the close-ups from day 15. Personally, I would not have served them long before this point!

From left to right, these are the green bags, no protection, and the zip loc bags.

[walker]

I never refrigerate tomatoes, just leave them in bowl on counter. I use the greenbags and store in fridge other things (never bananas). I now like the green hefty bags better -- they have a zip closure I like.

On CH, someone once said it was best to store berries in glass containers; I started doing this and they are soooooo right!!! I picked some strawberries at a farm on a Tuesday, put in glass in fridge, and ate the last of them 9 days later. (This was from my daughter's batch -- I prefer to slice them and sprinkle on some sugar -- they last really well like this in the glass container.)

Cukes and lettuce last me about 2 weeks in those Hefty green bags.

[alkapal]

will the blueberries and blackberries benefit from storing in a glass container in the fridge?

[walker]

It's been my experience that all the different berries I've stored in glass containers last really well. I think radishes, etc. benefit, too. Try it.

I think it was rworange who suggested this, although it could have been Melanie Wong. Anyway, I'm grateful, great advice.

[The Dairy Queen]

It was most likely rwo.

http://search.chow.com/search?query=&...

~TDQ

[Mugbug]

I wonder if there's something to using those old-fashioned glass food storage containers with loose-fitting tops that you can find at antique shops and have come out again in the last few years. I picked up a few at an auction, and then there's been news off and on about plastic migrating into your food. Just have to get in the habit of using them.

[EmoryJ]

I get great results from green bags, but only with things than can stay dry as they ripen - I generally only use them for greens, and things that are firm flesh things with a smooth and tight skin. I would never use them for bananas, tomatoes, avocados, and pears etc - because I buy those things to ripen immediately and eat as they do. But peppers and (completely dry) lettuce and leafy greens stay fresh for much much longer - even in the crisper drawer - in these bags than they do in anything else.

[biglover]

I use them all the time and they work fine for me. I keep my tomatoes in them on the top of the counter and they stay fresh for at least a week. I also put my onions in them and they keep them fresh.

[Chuckles the Clone]

Don't tomatoes and onions generally last for a week anyway?

[Sooeygun]

In a cool, dark place, onions will last for months. My parents grow them, let them sit out in the sun until the outer skins are dry and hang them in mesh bags from the beams in the basement. They (and I when I can scam some) use them all winter.

And my tomatoes, if undamaged, will keep for a week on the counter without a magic bag.

[Jennalynn]

I bought some amazing cherry tomatoes at the farm stand on Aug. 26... I put them in a Debbie Meyer Green box (same as the bags only hard plastic boxes).

i keep them out of the fridge... and keep the box dry (some times there gets to be condensation). I've had to pull three or four that had some mold, but the ones that are left are still firm, and delicious today Sept. 11.

I think that is magic.

[Chuckles the Clone]

At last! We have a control group! I did almost the very same thing. On Sunday, August 23rd I visited a friend for the afternoon. Her cherry tomatoes were ripe -- had been ripe for a while -- and she was desperately trying to give them away. I took about four pounds. They've been sitting in a big glass bowl on my counter since then, slowly getting eaten in salads, cooked into sauce, and just nibbled on. There's about a half pound left. All still perfect. Better than perfect, since they've been slowly ripening even more.

I think that is also magic!

[al b. darned]

I would never buy the bags and suspect a scan just based on the commercial. She shows a bunch of with- and without-the-bag veggies and fruit..

One of these is a bunch of carrots with the tops still attached. Eighteen days later...the carrots not in the green bags are limp and shriveled. The carrots that spent 18 days in the green bag look like they just came out of the ground. WOW! Look how crisp and fresh! Snap!

BULL!!!

Leaving the tops on any root vegetable, especially carrots, will cause then to look like the "before" picture no matter where they are stored. The moisture in the carrot will feed the tops until it runs out of moisture. OTOH, carrots without tops keep MONTHS in the veg drawer of my refrigerator in their original bag, whatever color. SNAP!

This glaring example is enough to scream "BOOOOOGUS!!" at the TV during the ad and save my money.

[1timeposter]

Bananas keep the best when you put them in the refrigerator, they won't over ripen

[al b. darned]

I was always told you never put bananas in the fridge.

[billieboy]

♫♫ I'm Chachita Banana and I'm here to say ♫♫ :-)
I had these bags and tried them for a month. Gave them to my neighbour. What a waste.

[alkapal]

oh billieboy, i've been looking for those notations!

[katie1234]

I got green bags last month. And so far they've worked for me. I've had mushrooms in them a week, so no sign of going bad, usually I can only keep mushrooms a few days and they start turning. I've got a haed of lettuce testing now thats been in there over 23 days, still fresh and crisp. I tested bananas on the counter one in the bag one out, I got 3 extra days from the banana in the bag. Celery, the celery I used up for Christmas cooking I've had over a month, had it a week when I got the green bags, still fresh and crisp. Now why didn't I remember to put my carrots in there and test them too. I tested some fresh green beans, ended up cooking them before they went bad, but I did leave 5 in the bag and they went bad 2 weeks after I bought them, as compared to one week without the bags. Now I'm sure results may vary depending on how you store them and where in the fridge you store them, how fresh were they when you bought them and how ere they stored before you bought them, moisture. How well the green bags work are going to depend on a lot.
I don't expect to keep veggies for weeks, but would like a few extra days anyway. In summer living in farming country I get a lot of fresh veggies, and we can't eat them quick enough, I can't afford to buy enough to freeze them. So these will definately help me save money by giving me some items up to a week longer then no green bags at all.
I can understand some peope buy them and think they're going to keep bananas for 2 or 3 weeks, or berries a month, and are disappointed when it doesn't happen. So far I ahven't gotten the amount of extra time the commercials promise, but I do get extra time. But if you can get any extra time from them at all they're worth it.

I haven't tried the bags for cheese yet, but I have been using the bread bags, and actually they work. I can't eat a whole lot of food at once, so preserving it longer is important to me. And I've had mini bagels in the bread bag for over nearly 2 weeks, still fresh, so sign of wanting to go bad, I've got 2 english muffins left that I ahd before the bagels and they're still fine too. I've never gotten this from a regular bread bag.

[Chuckles the Clone]

Hello katie1234! Interesting first (and thus far only) post on chowhound!

Why on earth would you want to keep lettuce for 23 days? How was it when you finally got around to eating it? How many days did you keep it?

I'm trying to follow your math, and I just can't work it out. How is getting any extra time "worth it"? Since you live in "farm country", why not go to the farm and just get what you need when you need it? And when you say you haven't gotten the extra time people talk about, what about the 23 days of lettuce? Isn't that the sort of extra time people talk about?

I'm sorry for seeming all confused. But your note seems to confuse me in exactly the same way the advertising for these "green bags" confuses me and since you seem to be looking at it exactly the same way as the advertiser does I was hoping you could explain it for me?

Thanks, katie1234!

[dancinqt1]

I bought these seem to be miracle bags also & ended up with disappointing results. I put some bananas, strawberries, lettuce, squash, zuccinni, mushrooms, avocado & tomatoes in them. I went to have a banana & they was rotten & mushy. I'd only had them in there about 4 days, but I know I've keep bananas longer than that in regular storage on a hanging rack & they stayed fresher longer. Same w/ strawberries, I know strawberries don't last that long anyway, but it seems it made them inplode faster & became soggy also. Everything else seems to be ok for now but diffently the strawberries & bananas are a NO-NO!! I think I might listen about the no plastic on produce, we'll see how it goes!!

[vabobbi]

Bananas definitely prefer to be hung out of the sun in a cool place, and I believe mushrooms prefer a paper bag, but I've had great luck with the Evert bags and greens, peppers, and celery.

[Cheflambo]

Ive been using the EvertFresh bags ($2.99 for 10 at Central Market) and they've been a good deal. Nothing lasts forever, and I didnt test them with things like bananas or tomatoes (which I dont refrigerate anyway) but I just pulled some shallots out to chop up for a sauce and they are just fine -- they've probably been in there 6+ weeks. Mr. Food Safety likes to wrap up everything in the fridge (which actually causes a number of fruits to rot faster, but he wont listen) so these are a good compromise.

Re: bananas -- I read somewhere recently that separating the bananas (rather than letting them sit around in a :"bunch") can keep them from ripening quite so fast. We're trying this here. Does anyone know about this trick, and if it works?

[Chuckles the Clone]

If you chop up too much onion, shallot, garlic, just freeze it. Lasts forever that way. Well, forever in the sense of, you'll need it again before it goes bad in there.

[jen1946]

I recently purchased some green bags. I haven't been totally happy with them. For one thing, things still got too ripe and molded. I was careful to keep water out. This goes for items stored on the counter as well as in the frig. I did wonder if anyone else had intestinal problems after eating items stored in the bags. I experienced diarrhea and gas in the morning after eating something stored in the greem bag. Anyone else???

[daniellefilm]

I've used these bags for years and they've always worked for me. Put in a paper towel with your produce to absorb moisture. If things've gone moldy you had moisture in the bag. Also, periodically change out the paper towel and flip the bag inside out to control the moisture.

[kabgirl]

I am considering purchasing these type bags so this is helpful information but it seems equally divided over their effectiveness/worth!
I did notice on an HSN link page searching "green bags" that Debbie Meyers has other bags...for meats, cheese, breads etc now as well...anyone tried those yet ?
KG

[Texasanne]

I have a great system for lettuce (we prefer Romaine). Wash (drop of liquid detergent in big bowl of water) rinse well and lay out leaf by leaf on clean kitchen/hand towels. Then roll the towel from one end to the other and place in plastic bag. The towel will get wet from the water on the lettuce and the moist towel will keep the lettuce crisp. Put in crisper but don't close up plastic bag. It seems as if it would take up lots of space since I've often done six "rolls" all put in one plastic bag but you can put other items on top and still pull out a "roll" or two easily. We eat lettuce twice a day so with this system I can buy the big size at Sams and not lhave any go to waste for just the two of us.

Now, somebody tell me how to keep herbs on hand. Will the green bags work well if the herbs are dry?

[Kinnexa]

I've been asking myself the same question...also, "Should I spend a few $$ to try them myself?" What I want to know is this: How reusable are they? If handled reasonably and rinsed between uses, how long will they last? If they do keep food fresher, does the effect diminish when the bags are old? I'm tempted. I'd probably have to power wash my fridge before I'd be confortable putting 'naked' food in there!!

[walker]

I use the evert fresh ones and keep washing and reusing them. Let them air dry on the counter. Only time I throw them away is when lettuce has been hidden away too long in fridge and is a slimy mess and I just don't want to deal with it. I know my produce lasts at least 3 times longer in these bags.

[deedeeee]

I have a BIG question -- what about the nutritional value in the green bagged veggies? How do we know all the nutrients haven't been depleted? I bought some green bags in my local health food store and while they "work" -- veggies look fresh -- not so sure the nutritional value remains. Anyone know anything on this?

[dancinqt1]

It says on the box that they can be reused 8-10 x's. I just got mine, so I've only used them once so far. It's really up to you if you wanna take the chance on these bags. Some people have great results & some not so good..that's why I came here in the 1st place, to find out what other people say about them & their opinion..

[hcook619]

Well, I've never used any of the green bags and probably won't ever. Reason for that is I use Tupperware's Fridgesmart containers. Not only do they keep my veggies fresh for insane amounts of time, but I never throw these containers out, they're dishwasher safe and stack neatly in my fridge.
I used to keep veggies in my climate controlled drawer but they dried out and went mouldy very quickly. I tried other containers but they just never worked the same. Then I found the fridgesmart containers and I swear by them.
Don't waste your money on disposable bags that may or may not work .. if you love your fruits and veggies then get some of Tupperware's fridgesmart containers. Worth every penny.

[dancinqt1]

Can you tell me more about these fridgesmart containers. Where do you get them? How much are they & so on..I would appreciate it. I also love my fruits & veggies & tend to buy alot all at once, so some of it usually goes to waste bc I don't go to the supermarket that often. these fridgesmart containers sound really good..Please pass me on the info!!

[shadyblues]

It appears there are two types of bags being referenced here. The Debbie Meyers bags and the Evert Fresh bags. The testimonials go both ways, but it sounds like overall, people in this post like them, but very few people reference the actual brand. Which one should I try? I'd like to know which one the sailor, "bajalover" uses. Are these bags using the same technology under different names? Anyone tried both and had different results?

[The Dairy Queen]

According to this post, they are the same...

http://www.chowhound.com/topics/50073...

~TDQ

[walker]

I use the evert-fresh bags and wash, dry and reuse them. I went on vacation for 3 wks and forgot I'd left a partly used head of romaine lettuce in fridge. It must have been at least 5 weeks old and was still fine, edible!! You can call their phone number and find out who stocks them near your address or order from the company.

[thecountryrose]

I buy my Green Bags from HSN. They are real good and fast about shipping them out and they have specials all the time.

[lowpockets]

I purchased the bags because I'm tired of throwing away food, My first and easiest test was with bananas. I put one in a Green bag, one in a plain clear plastic bag and one bare on the shelf. After a week the one in the clear plastic bag fared a little better than the bare one, but I am IMPRESSED with the green bag results. What a difference. I'm going to use these bags on other things. I am also going to set up a time-lapse camera to really show that the "proof is in the pudding".
I'm sold.

[alkapal]

please post your slideshow!

[dancinqt1]

I had a bad experience w/ bananas. Mine went rotten fast, like 4 days after bought..I stored mine alltogether though..It was like 6 of them or something. Do you think that affected it bc my bananas & strawberries suffered bad..

[thecountryrose]

I love my Debbie Meyer green bags!!! I have used them for bread, but she is working on bags for breads and pastries right now. I have had a head of leaf lettuce for 30 days and still using it. Strawberries for 3 weeks. My hubby is a truck driver and brings lots of produce that was rejected at the drop and he brings it back home and I store it in my bags and havent had a problem with anything. I really love fresh mushrooms of all kinds and they really hold up and dont get slimy or rotten smelling at all. The pears will ripen evidently in the bags, but if you want them right away, a brown paper bag on counter for a day or 2 and then in the green bags. I have plums that I bought 3 weeks ago that are finally getting soft enough to eat. The only thing that is not real good is bananas, but they dont last that long at my house anyway and I cant wait for them to get brown so I can make bread with them.

[dancinqt1]

How did your strawberries stay fresh for that long. Mine was bad 4 days after I bought them from the store..That's why I said no berries for me anymore..Same for my bananas. Was your fruit hard & not ripe yet? Maybe that's why mine didn't last long. Mine was ready to eat when I bought it? What about yours?

[littlebits]

Warning About Buying Debbie's Veggie Bags !

If you buy from the web site, beware! The shipping charges are added for Each item, NOT the total order, and the totla shipping charges are not revealed to the customer until the order is places. Cancelling the order is impossible on the site; and also by phone. When I tried, I was hung up on twice, without provocation ! Do Not patronize thsi company.

[foodstorm]

they sell the DM bags at BB&B 20 bags for $9.99 and you can use their 20% off coupon.

[megfive]

I have found these bags work very well on everything,BUT BANANAS. You can also buy them on Ebay-in different sizes.and discounted prices.

[burcark]

I have had my GB's on order since January 1st! I still have not received them. When i called for a refund, the rep continued to tell me that I needed to return the product to get the refund. Hello! I have not received it! I finally did get her to process the refund, but I only got $6.95 back, not the $16.90 that I paid. I'm putting a letter in the mail to them on Monday demanding my money back or going to the BBB. Its not much, but its the principle.

[alkapal]

you "lost" 10 bucks!!!

you should be refunded the entire amount.

were you talking to a supervisor, or just the customer service rep who initially answered the phone? did you order from the infomercial website or hsn? hsn would not have charged until it shipped, i believe. in any event, hsn would give you no problem with a complete refund.

if you paid with a credit card, call your credit card company and talk to the fraud division.

i would also write directly to Debbie Meyer. cc the BBB. Don't give an option to the company. You are entitled to a complete refund. period.

[bajalover]

I'm an avid sailor often at sea for 60-70 days at a stretch. Many of us in the sailing world have used these bags for quite some time to keep our produce fresh until we make our next port of call. Fresh fruits and veggies were unheard of after 10-12 days underway. These bags are a miracle for us, extending the life of produce three fold. Would never consider getting underway w/o them. They're a true blessing!!!

May you have calm winds and following seas through out 2008 and beyond!

[baglady]

I bought $70 worth of these things, and they failed on so many counts. They're not very wide, and long, so it was hard to put many pears or apples in them - it was so tubular. Then when I tried to open them, several of the ziplocs tore.
I did a test of bread in its own bag and a loaf in the brown bag, and the bread in the brown bag molded. What I did do was mark one crisper drawer Ethylene and the other Ethylene Sensitive, post a list of which fruits & veges go in the appropriate drawer, and that has helped the most. I'm in Panama, and the company wants me to mail back the bags for my refund. The shipping will cost me more than they're worth, and I already paid for Shipping and Customs when they were shipped here.

[Haleyd8]

My bags didn't have a ziploc. The Green Bag advertises just to fold the top over and store but nothing about a ziplock... ?

[chowser]

Produce respire at different rates and one bag won't do for everything. Dole, Fresh Express, etc. all spend a fortune developing bags that are specific for the products that go into them, based on respiration rates. You can't put broccoli in the same bag for iceberg lettuce and expect the same results. Spinach in a cauliflower bag will wilt. I do know people who have washed out those bags that procesesed vegetables come in and reuse them for that product to keep them fresh longer.

[thecountryrose]

that is true, but the green bag instructions do say not to put different types of fruits or veggies in the same bag. I do wash out when I have emptied bag, hang to line dry and use again amd maybe put something different in it and no problem the second, third or tenth time around. I just love them and I have dedicated 1 drawer to them in my house because i have 4 gardens in the summer and green house veggies in winter.

[Chuckles the Clone]

Well, if they do work, they really need to change their advertising approach.
This copy from their website has all the hallmarks of a scam:

"These ingenious, handy produce bags are made using a natural mineral found in
remote caves in Japan that naturally absorbs the enzyme producing gases that
cause vegetables to deteriorate. The life of produce is extended 3 to 10 times."

Mysterious ingredients from afar, scientific-sounding hoodoo that, on reflection,
is either meaningless or impossible ("minerals!" absorbing "enzymes"!), and
utterly unsubstantiated claims of multiple-times "better" performance. And a pricetag
almost 20 times that of the non-voodoo variety of the same product.

I want to believe.

[walker]

These evertfresh bags are hard to find; I think grocery stores don't want your produce to last longer. I called them and found out a health food store 7 blocks from me carries them. Before, I'd found them at a container store. You can also order from them; they have a web site.

[CooksCompass]

They sure do seem to go out of their way to sound like a scam! My girlfriend wanted to try them for herbs (cilantro and parsley) which we are always throwing away, and they keep those fresh for a long time. Anyway, I still don't believe the part about minerals from 'remote caves', but at least I don't have to throw away my parsley every week!!

[Fleur]

YES. THEY DO WORK!

Last night I found a bag of Baby Heirloom Tomatoes in a GreenBag that I had put in the fridge 2 weeks ago. They were still firm and perfect...and delicious.

The same for all fruit and vegetables I have stored in them.

If you dry out the moisture that accumulates inside the bag, it makes the produce last even longer.

[Jennalynn]

Oh no! Don't keep your tomatoes in the fridge!

Storing tomatoes under 50F and they lose all their taste and texture. Put them in your green bags and on the counter. They'll last a long time.

http://www.ehow.com/how_1681_store-to...

[anniemax]

I use the EGGs (Ethylene Gas Guardian- www.4theegg.com )- plastic egg shaped thingies that contain replaceable ethylene gas absorbing packets. In testing by various publications & such between the 3 current ethylene gas absorbing technologies, the EGG does better then the Green Bags or the Extra Life Disk. Plus it doesn't require you to rebag stuff, like the Green Bags, and its refillable, unlike the disposable Extra Life Disk. You do have to replace the EGG packets every so many months, but its only the packet, not the entire EGG and the zeolite in the packets can be recycled, by adding to plant soil, only leaving the actual packet wrapper to go in the trash. I ordered my first set online, but then I found one of the local health food stores carries them too, so it will be easier & cheaper when it comes to getting replacements.

I like the flexibility to use them both in the crisper drawer in the fridge or down in the basement, where I keep things like potatoes & onions- separately of course. If I happen on a good deal on something like apples or bananas, I also keep those in the basement pantry, in an open paper grocery bag, with an EGG's tossed in to help with ethylene gas. Right now I have some organic bananas I bought on clearance several days ago that I need to pull the EGG from so that they will ripen up more for banana bread.

I agree with Chuckles that the marketing for Green Bags is laughable- mysterious sounding substance from Japanese caves discovered by Antarctic researchers that is now somehow made into a greenish tinged plastic bag with amazing abilities- sounds like the makings of a comic book or something. At least the EGG doesn't try to hide what they are selling, in fact they tell you exactly what it is and how it works and why, down to the exact chemical reaction (which I admit, I glossed over), along with plenty of links to real scientifically backed research. Plus it doesn't hurt that the company that makes the EGG also makes a similar product for produce & floral manufactures.

[Fleur]

These actually do work, and prolong the life of produce at least double or triple.

This is a great invention that actually works. Try hem for yourself.

Fore many of us, it has helped solve a huge problem...waste of food that spoils before it can be used.

[walker]

I don't believe in magic; the evertfresh bags work for me. I never put bananas in them, just veggies, lettuces that go in fridge. They last more than twice as long. If it were only a slight improvement, I wouldn't bother buying them. I wash and reuse them a few times.

[JOJOGIRL]

I hate to repeat myself, but produce should never be in any bag ever. If you shop once a week, and keep things like parsley in paper towels, onions and potatoes in a dry dark spot in baskets, and fruit and veggies in crisper drawers in frige, you will have not spoilage. Dad was a produce man so I learned this at the source.

[Haleyd8]

Since the Green Bags aren't just ordinary plastic bags , I think that rule may not apply in this case. I do however, admire your your willingness to try them out. I have had apples in a Green Bag for atleast 3 weeks and they are good as new. Works for apples so far.

[helski]

I'm with you jojogirl. I will never use those green bags again. They didn't work. Thanks for your suggestion about using paper towels.

helski

[Cinnamon]

Onions and potatoes better outside the fridge than in? (In Southern California, where the kitchen has no real hot or cool spots.

[silly]

NO, they do not work. I put bananas in one and they stayed yellow but rotted on the inside. Had the bananas in the green bag for 3 days and had to put them in the garbage. They are a waste of money. I through the green bags in the garbage along with my bananas. We bought the bananas and put half of them in the green bag and the other half on the banana stand, the ones on the stand out lasted the ones in the bag.

[lupaglupa]

I have never put bananas in mine - another poster said that bananas didn't work with the bags for him/her either. Bananas may be a unique problem for the bags. On other vegetables they really do work well.

[dancinqt1]

I experienced the same thing w/ my bananas & strawbwerries..I was disappointed. They would have laster longer in my old way...

[Jennalynn]

I like the EvertFresh bags.

A better deal here: http://www.reusablebags.com/store/eve...

[walker]

Ditto. If you phone them they'll tell you if some place in your area stocks them; if not, you can do the mail order.

[Fleur]

The verdict is in. The Debbie Meyer Green Bags really do work! Everything I stored in them 8 days ago is still in perfect shape.

Salad Greens, Tomatoes, Cauliflower, Carrots, Mushrooms, Grapes, Melon, everything kept beautifully and was as delicious and fresh on day 8 as it was on day 1. The Herbs kept especially well.

The most important thing is to make sure the produce is unwashed and very dry. If you see moisture accumulating in the bag, dry it out with a paper towel.

For a small family, I still like to have lots of Fresh Herbs, etc on hand, and use a TBS here and there of Dill, Parsley, Basil, etc.

I thought it was going to be another one of those "too good to be true" product hypes, but this really works.

[Jennalynn]

I completely agree.

And it won't stop at 8 days. Some foods can go a couple of weeks.

You're right about the dryness. It's the trick.

[LindaWhit]

With 63 bags, I think you're set for life, Fleur. :-)

[Sally LaRhette]

once on marthas vinyard, i had lettuce from the loccal farmers market that was in better shape one month later than the supermarket lettuce..i was really taken aback!I use the green bags...hoping!

[Nuray]

I have been using a container I bought from Ikea, and I am very happy. I wash all my veggies first, then I put them in the container after everything is dry. I have had success with everything (I haven't tried tomatoes) including persian cucumbers (which usually gone bad in three days in the crisper).

http://www.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/pro...

[miss paris]

whats the name of this ikea container...? link not valid

[walker]

I use the green evertfresh bags for produce like lettuce, carrots, cukes and I find everything lasts twice (at least) as long. Of course, no tomatoes in fridge.

[miss paris]

i thought i made that word up... "CUKES".... loves it!

[jinet12]

I have used these bags for veggies, and they work very well..To ripen pears, put them in a brown paper bag for a couple of days, then use them....

[Jennalynn]

I use these bags: http://www.reusablebags.com/store/eve...

And all I can say is, they are amazing. Some can chuckle at reading this... but they're not "plastic" bags. They keep green beans fresh for a few weeks. Crisp, not brown, not slimy. Just as good as the day I bought them. Now I cannot vouch for any lost nutritional value, that I don't know about, but the LOOK, FEEL and TASTE perfect for waaaaaay longer than unbagged, paper bagged or plastic bagged.

I also keep my tomatoes, unrefrigerated, in them and I've had some cherry tomatoes for three weeks on my counter, in this bag that are still perfect.

So if I were you I'd buy a small set and test for yourself.

I'm sold on them.

[JOJOGIRL]

I saw them for sale on QVC so i will look online for them. Another thing i noticed from these posts, it seems i use my produce much sooner after purchase. Any how I am willing to learn something new. ty.

[baseballfan]

I also bought these from QVC and did not really see much of a difference. I thought that celery and green beans lasted slightly longer but lettuce which is always my main problem seemed to go bad just as quickly. Are the bags from QVC the same brand as the ones they advertise on the infomercial?

[JOJOGIRL]

I just checked on the bags, they are on 'HSN '. 50 bags for $19.00. debbie myer green bags.

[Jennalynn]

The trick with lettuce is to have it really really dry before you put it in the bag (that's actually the trick with everything and the bags). If there's moisture, they won't work as well. I've kept arugula in them for 3+ weeks and it's been perfect.

They're great for me because I live alone, so I can keep things longer and don't throw as much away.

I've found the medium and small work the best. The large is really BIG.

[baseballfan]

I still have a few lying around. I am going to give them another try. I am always in a hurry so no doubt the lettuce was not as dry as it could be when I put it in the bag.

[KarenWiz]

Jennalynn,
How long do the bags last? Are you still using yours? I'll be watching for your reply. Thanks.

[JOJOGIRL]

NEVER put produce in any plastic bag. I recently saw an ad for these bags and they talk about eliminating the ethylene gas.I had quite a chuckle. If you keep your produce bag free you will need no green bags. MY dad was a produce buyer for large supermarket chains, and he taught me this years aggo.

[LindaWhit]

So JoJo - why a chuckle after seeing the ad? Do they not eliminate the ethylene gas? (Or reduce it) Do you just put your produce bag-free into the crisper drawer?

I've used these bags on occasion for lettuce and mushrooms; they seem to work quite well.

[JOJOGIRL]

The chuckle was because the bag people are selling a product that cures a problem, that shouldn't exist in the first place. If you keep tomatoes on your counter in a bowl they will taste better. Greens should be washed dried and rolled in paper towels,put in crisper drawer and they won't wilt. I just can't think of anything that does ok in any kind of plastic bag. Of course you can't keep produce for weeks, and keep the freshness.

[LindaWhit]

I don't think anyone is asking for produce to remain fresh for weeks. However, you've only listed two things - tomatoes and lettuce greens. If you have the space for a counter/table bowl of tomatoes, great. Washed and dried greens in a paper towel fine. However, for other items, such as mushrooms, the Evert bags - definitely.

[JOJOGIRL]

MUSHROOMS IN PLASTIC?? Never , paper bags only please!!

[LindaWhit]

Well, you just continue to store mushrooms in the manner you wish to, and I'll continue to use the Evert-Fresh bags, should I need them.

[Mama23byz]

Lived across from a Monterey Mushroom Farms for years and they always said use paperbags for mushrooms and gifts they gave us in plain old paperbags stayed really nicely. Plastic bags make for slimy shrooms..

[al b. darned]

I think it was Cooks Illustrated that said the best way to store mushrooms is in the original store container with plastic wrap. I've done it that way for years.

[Sal Vanilla]

Linda how long did your mushrooms last? I sometimes run out of lunch bags and might want to try the green bags. I had never considered putting mushrooms in them. Thanks for the idea!

[LindaWhit]

I usually use them up pretty quickly, SalV. And I also make sure that there is a paper towel in there to absorb any moisture (replacing it as needed). But at least a week or two?

[Sal Vanilla]

I think I will try that. What the heck.

[Cinnamon]

Stacking strawberries in paper towels in the crisper extended their life dramatically for me.

[lupaglupa]

JoJoGirl - I have (just because I'm disorganized) had produce not in bags, in regular plastic bags and in the green produce saver bags. My experience is that the green bags do work, at least for me.

[Pauline B]

I have been using the green bags ever since Wal-Mart started handling them. My lettuce lasts longer, my bananas last longer, strawberries lasted til I used them, 3 days later. Any vegetable or fruit I have saved them in have lasted until I used them. I do not re-use the bag for a different fruit or vegetable, but have had excellent luck in re-using them for the SAME fruit or vegetable 3 times. With the great results I have experienced, I do not understand why others have been disappointed.

[ladykatie25]

I don't understand it either, Pauline. Even Dr. Oz says they don't work. But they sure work for me.

[The Dairy Queen]

Speaking from personal experience, un-bagged produce doesn't do well in the fridge. Even conventional plastic bags are better than un-bagged.

~TDQ

[JOJOGIRL]

I'm open to a test. I have in my fridge right now, a head of broccoli-rape, string beans, romaine lettuce, button mushrooms, a red pepper, carrotts, celery, parsley.Actually, i should have my parsley in water in a juice glass ,like a plant,on my sink, but I just washed and wrapped in a paper towel.So I am going to split everything in half and put some in a plastic bag. I'll let you know how it works out. ( If my dh doesn't cook the broccoli-rape)

[Luvcameos]

I'm with you, JoJo! My hubby bought me these bags. I keep thinking, if leaving fruit out in the fresh air isn't going to get rid of the gas, how is closing it up in a bag with the gas going to help??? OK, I tried 'em. Fresh bananas on Friday, not a mark on them, and nice and firm. Put 'em in the bag, sealed it up. Opened it up Monday. Smell of over-ripe bananas would knock you down! Still nice and yellow, not a spot or mark on them, but so mushy and soft you couldn't even peel them, and the taste was very strong, just like a regular brown banana. Haven't tried anything else in them, just got some more produce to experiment with, but I know for a fact Bananas don't work!!!

[helski]

My bananas went rotten after a few days. Black spots all over and when my husband peeled the banana, it had rotten spots inside. No more bags for us. And the strawberries didn't last either and had a horrible taste to them (probably the gas). I won't use them.

helski

[dancinqt1]

Same here on the bananas & strawberries..after only 4 days...

[ihatewinter]

Yes, Luvcameos.....that's exactly what happened with my bananas AND tomatoes! I was using the Forever Bags. Bananas looked perfect but pure mush inside!!

[nbkek]

If these bags work as well as their customer reviews at the other site say they do, they may provide a good compromise between the two problems of produce storage: Produce stored in closed containers, including plastic bags, rots. A lot of produce stored will dry out if not stored in them. You're right in your later posts about tomatoes needing to be kept on the counter; chemically, the taste of tomatoes is ruined by refrigeration (so of course it's best to buy tomatoes that have never refrigerated), and about mushrooms. Again, for chemical reasons, they keep best stored in the fridge in a paper bag, in layers on mushroom deep, with paper towels between the layers.

They are definitely exceptions, though most produce is best on the counter rather than in the fridge--and it goes bad fastest on the counter, too. Green Bags are advertised (and positively reviewed) as being effective on the counter, too. If they really eliminate or reduce the ethylene gas that is one of the things that cause rot, then they should work to some degree, perhaps allowing produce to last as long on the counter as in the fridge, so less flavor is lost. I don't know, but I"m going to try them.

One other thing: Not storing food in plastic bags does not eliminate ethylene gas. Most people store most produce in the fridge, which means that, even without individual containers, it's enclosed in plastic drawers...

I'm going to try these. If they don't work, I'm a $10 sucker. If they do, then they really pay for themselves the first time I use them.

[walker]

For the evert-fresh bags, I pay less than $5 for 10 bags -- at a health food store in San Francisco. You can also order from their website or call them and they'll tell you who sells them in your area. I love them.

[The Dairy Queen]

I think so, yes. Here's a recent thread you might find helpful. http://www.chowhound.com/topics/436328 I don't know the answer to your pears question, but I would leave them out of the bag to ripen, if it were me.

I didn't know you could use them for anything other than produce, though. Interesting.

~TDQ

[helski]

I tried the bags (different brand) and they didn't work. The strawberries had a very funny taste to them after only one day and by the 2nd or 3rd day, they were rotten. The bananas also didn't stay well. I will never use them again. I believe jojogirl is right about never putting produce in plastic.

helski

[The Dairy Queen]

I would never put the following items in the green bags: bananas, strawberries, avocados, tomatoes.

~TDQ

[dancinqt1]

Good to know..Thank you

[Sal Vanilla]

I have used them a lot for bananas (I was on a boat and fruit needed to last a while). They work great. Maybe you were using a different green bag than I.

[ihatewinter]

I tried the Forever Bags. The bananas looked perfect, after 5 days, so I took them out to see. They were all mush!! The peaches are still good, but the tomatoes are ruined.