665990 Mon Nov 09 20:13:57 -0800 2009 24 29 Not About Food 0 5169037 I couldn't find any educated or informed answers googling. Comments just say they wouldn't reuse freezer bags that had raw meats in them but no reason why. Does cooking not kill any potentially dangerous bacteria? Do people do it out of habit? like how they peel carrots for cosmetic reasons? Mon Nov 09 20:13:57 -0800 2009 1117928 inventivefficiency 1 5169148 Not a scientist, so cannot really comment intelligently on the bacteria issue (although I would surmise that neither freezing nor cooking will kill all bacteria, but that's just a guess). The reason I don't reuse freezer bags, or actually swap freezer bags from beef to fish is because of the smell or odor. Even frozen meats will impart their own scent and I wouldn't want my tuna end up with a nice smoky steak flavor. Mon Nov 09 21:08:34 -0800 2009 5169037 11583 ipsedixit 1 5169198 Because it's disgusting. Mon Nov 09 21:39:30 -0800 2009 5169037 11778 irishnyc 1 5169213 I guess I don't understand the question. What does cooking have to do with it? I reuse freezer bags, after washing in soap and hot water. I reuse all kinds of heavy duty bags that way, whether they had raw or cooked meat in them. Actually, when I think about it, I usually wrap whatever it is in plastic wrap before putting it into the freezer bag, anyway. So, probably there is little contact with the bag itself. Regarding the original thesis: Why would there be any bacteria involved if the bag was washed and dried? Mon Nov 09 21:51:40 -0800 2009 5169037 98904 MazDee 2 5169254 When the OP talks about cooking killing potential dangerous bacteria, I think she is referring to any bacteria left in the bag that contaminates the second round of meat stored in the bag. The OP is asking if such bacteria on the second round of meat will be killed when it's cooked. Mon Nov 09 22:22:33 -0800 2009 5169213 19782 Full tummy 1 5169250 I do it all the time and have never had a problem. I wash out my bags, just as I would a dish. When growing up, my aunt, who lived through the Depression, never bought baggies, plastic wrap, etc., but always reused milk bags, cutting the tops off and washing them. Now that was milk, but washing is washing. Bags have corners, and they can be hard to clean, but I turn the bag inside out, if necessary. Mon Nov 09 22:20:59 -0800 2009 5169037 19782 Full tummy 2 5170081 Same here; do it all the time. I have a little drying track so I can thoroughly dry the bags before storing/reusing them. I buy bulk meat at costco and repack into freezer bags. I do throw the bags away if I have added marinade that is particularly smelly or hard to clean. Tue Nov 10 09:19:46 -0800 2009 5169250 280735 tcamp 3 5170130 A special drying rack just for this purpose? Or something you rigged up? I have so little space in my kitchen, but I find places to dry them... Tue Nov 10 09:35:08 -0800 2009 5170081 19782 Full tummy 4 5170136 Sort of an impulse buy at a 'green goods' expo: Before that I hung them all over and really irritated my spouse. http://www.gaiam.com/product/id/1007111.do?SID=WG092SPRTAPEMACS&gcid=S18376x028&keyword=Plastic%20Bag%20Dryer Tue Nov 10 09:37:04 -0800 2009 5170130 280735 tcamp 5 5170154 A cute and simple design. Mine is often my cooking utensil holder. Looks very similar, except the base is an earthenware holder, and the bags are hanging over the utensils. Luckily, my husband puts up with the bags, though he would most certainly just toss them, if it was up to him... Tue Nov 10 09:41:57 -0800 2009 5170136 19782 Full tummy 5 5170807 I use chopsticks in a jar to replicate the same function. I suppose you could fill the jar with sand if you wanted to keep the chopsticks spaced evenly and weigh the jar down more, but I don't. Tue Nov 10 13:15:27 -0800 2009 5170136 173425 Jen76 1 5169764 I keep meat in its original packaging (butcher paper or plastic, depending on where it is purchased) when I place it in the freezer bag. I'll use the same bag several times until it starts looking ratty. I'm too lazy to wash bags, but that's a great idea! If I placed unwrapped raw meat in a freezer bag, I would be most concerned about ground meat. That's because when shaping it, say, into patties or a meatloaf, the meat on the exterior gets pushed inside. The more the surface is contaminated, the more careful you have to be about cooking the meat thoroughly all the way to the center. Tue Nov 10 07:33:08 -0800 2009 5169037 1114540 cheesemaestro 1 5169804 Maybe the concern is that you might accidentally put something that you eat raw in a bag that was used for meat? Tue Nov 10 07:46:52 -0800 2009 5169037 69452 jzerocsk 2 5169858 That is definitely a concern. Also, the act of putting the new meat into or taking it out of the used bag could result in contamination of your hands, your surfaces, etc., with bacteria that are now more concentrated and so more risky. Tue Nov 10 08:04:09 -0800 2009 5169804 19782 Full tummy 1 5169959 I'm not gonna say it's bad. I'm not gonna say it's okay. I really don't know. My feeling is this. There's gonna be more potential for cross contamination. There's the possibility of chemicals leeching out of the bag. There's the hassle of cleaning and drying the bag. At a penny or two a bag, I don't worry about it and throw it out. DT Tue Nov 10 08:36:41 -0800 2009 5169037 11291 Davwud 2 5170014 I appreciate that, but a good quality Ziploc freezer bag can cost more than that, but yeah, we're talking nickels or dimes. I just try to reduce the waste I produce. At someone's house recently, I saw them taking things like crackers and cookies out of a bunch of brand new looking ziploc bags (I recognize brand new because none of mine are, haha) and tossing the bags in the garbage. I cringed. I'm thinking "they're not even dirty"!!! Tue Nov 10 08:59:58 -0800 2009 5169959 19782 Full tummy 3 5170610 I would reuse those bags. I'm not a militant tree hugger but I don't feel the need to needlessly waste stuff either. DT Tue Nov 10 12:03:21 -0800 2009 5170014 11291 Davwud 4 5170728 I try to do what I can, but I ain't perfect. Sometimes I'm a bit penny pinching when it comes to such things, haha, if you ask my husband... Tue Nov 10 12:47:16 -0800 2009 5170610 19782 Full tummy 2 5170023 I have a hard time believing there are chemicals leaching off of a freezer bag, while it's in the freezer or fridge. Now, if you were cooking in that bag in the microwave, for instance, then I could believe it. Washing and thoroughly drying the bags is fine. As is wrapping the raw product in freezer wrap, before putting into the bag, which you should be doing anyway, to minimize freezer burn. Tue Nov 10 09:01:08 -0800 2009 5169959 90755 Phurstluv 3 5170612 I'm not saying they are. I'm not saying they aren't. I'm sure you could find an argument both ways. All I'm saying is that they're cheap enough that I don't mind erring on the side of caution. DT Tue Nov 10 12:04:14 -0800 2009 5170023 11291 Davwud 1 5170197 If you ever took professional foodservice courses, then you would know it's not a great idea. Cross contamination is one of the most needless ways to sicken people. Of course you could wash the bags well and reuse them, or turn them inside out, one of the best things about home cooking is not having to worry about hundreds of people getting sick, just you and yours. I reuse plastic bags for dry stuff, but never gooey stuff that harbors bacteria. OK here is some "education" I learned at Tyson Chicken School (I know, please don't laugh, it was actually lots of fun) Bacteria multiplication per square centimeter on chicken stored at 40 degrees: Day 0 (at the factory) 360 bacteria per square centimeter Day1 (probably in transit) 5,800 Day 2 92,000 ( maybe delivered by now) Day 3 1,475,000 (delivered to store and hopefully you buy it and cook that day) All of above are considered acceptable, believe it or not Then: Day 4 23,600,000 you will notice off odors Day 5 377,500,000 it will be slimy As far as bacteria growth above 40 degrees: they will DOUBLE from above figures..so, every half four at 90 degrees, double the bacteria every 1 hour at 70 degrees, ditto every 2 hours at 60 degrees, etc every 3 hours at 50 degrees every 6 hours at 40 (as above) every 12 hours at 36 and every 20 hours at 32 Then when it's frozen, the bacteria doesn't go away, it just waits for you to thaw it so it can continue to develop. Of course this is chicken, but still, once you get these kinds of info drilled into you, it does affect how you handle food a bit. I have a feeling that cooking doesn't necessarily kill all bacteria, it's just that it's at an "acceptable" level, so why add to the mix? So it's up to you, but I'm not big on reusing bags that held raw meat myself. It's definitely not for cosmetic reasons. Hope that's not too much information for you! Tue Nov 10 09:56:08 -0800 2009 5169037 11097 coll 2 5170845 You've just illustrated a very good reason to rinse your meat off before cooking. Also, although it may seem "gross", we would be having a lot more of food-borne illness in this country, and world, for that matter, except for the fact that there are bacteria living everywhere, on everything. And the human body has developed ways to "handle" a lot of the bacteria over the past few eons. We have bacteria on our skin, and in all our guts, many of which break down our food for us. Most of these are harmless. That being said, I've had food poisoning before, and it is not pretty, and it is wise to practice safe food handling practices to avoid it at all costs. Tue Nov 10 13:25:45 -0800 2009 5170197 90755 Phurstluv 1 5170276 I re-use the freezer bags until they have a lot of freezer odor. Also the washed and dried bags for the vacuum sealer, being careful to cut them right below the previous seal, and straightly, when opening them. Tue Nov 10 10:24:39 -0800 2009 5169037 159317 greygarious 1 5170883 I often don't end up washing the bags from meat, as I often don't do dishes right away. Once they have been sitting for a while, I am reluctant to reuse. However, if they are washed right away, I am fine with it. After all, I wash all the other containers/bowls, utensils, etc. that I use for raw meat. I don't throw those out. Tue Nov 10 13:37:34 -0800 2009 5169037 139219 Sooeygun 1 5171296 I re-use zip bags that I've had dry goods in like rice, pasta, crackers, etc and fruits & veggies; I don't re-use meat bags, it's just not a good idea Tue Nov 10 16:45:35 -0800 2009 5169037 1108638 Cherylptw