The 5 Best Reusable Produce Bags for Greener Grocery Shopping
Updated: Mar. 27, 2024
We found the best reusable produce bags to help you ditch single-use plastic for good.
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It’s no secret that plastic is bad for the environment and the world around us, but the good news is reusable produce bags can help offset your impact. If you’re concerned about the plastic you’re consuming and would like to reduce it, take a look at your grocery store habits—particularly in the produce section.
Instead of using single-use plastic bags for each fruit and veggie pick, why not try reusable ones for shopping and storing produce? From hemp, cotton, cornstarch, mesh, polyester and linen, to other materials including biodegradable or compostable types, these handy reusable bags come in a variety of options. Above all, they save space, keep food tidy, organize your fridge, and, most importantly, reduce your environmental impact.
What to Look for When Buying Reusable Produce Bags
If you’re ready to get your shop on for reusable produce bags, be sure to take these key considerations into account:
- Material:Â For example, cotton bags are great for many items while mesh bags can’t store some bulk grains or fresh herbs. You also might want a machine-washable fabric, since you’ll be reusing and rewashing the bags many times.
- Size: Be sure it’s practical for your needs!
- Breathability: This will ensure your produce stays fresher, longer.
- Versatility: This is key if you’d like to use it for other purposes, like storing snacks.
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Best Overall Reusable Produce Bags
Lotus Produce Bags
With this pack of nine reusable produce bags, keeping your produce fresh and organized couldn’t be easier. You’ll get three color-coded sizes, which make it quick to identify what’s what and optimize space in your fridge or freezer. While soft and flexible, the lightweight mesh bags are super durable and hold over 25 pounds. And, the closure bead helps to keep the drawstring tight and secure, so no contents fall or leak out. Plus, they’re machine washable!
As rarely reviews puts it, “I was skeptical at first that I would need this many bags. However, I really loved the range in sizes. I can fit three heads of leafy green lettuce in the large bags, 8 medium honey crisp apples in the medium size bags, and the smaller bags fit 6 small zucchini lengthwise across the bag. An added bonus is that these work great for bulk items like beans and rice.”
Pros
- Great value and variety of sizes
- Highly durable and long-lasting
- Incredibly easy to clean
Cons
- Opening on largest bag is a bit narrow
- Can be tricky to see through
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Best Budget Reusable Produce Bags
Debbie Meyer GreenBags
These BPA-free produce bags from Debbie Meyer are made with natural ingredients and can be reused about 8-10 times. Simply rinse them with cool water after using and leave to air dry. Pro tip: your produce will last longer—and smell fresher—if you ensure it’s dry before placing it in the bag. You can then wipe out any residual moisture from the bag with a clean cloth, or tuck in a small piece of dry paper towel to absorb it.
Each package of 20 reusable bags includes three practical sizes (medium, large and extra-large), each ideal for different types of produce. And according to the reviews, people love them! Reviewer, Doc C., says, “Have used green bags for years and they have proven time and again that they are money savers. Fruits and vegetables stay fresh so much longer. Easy to just wash out and use again.”
Pros
- Very affordable
- Great value for the price
- Keeps produce incredibly fresh for longer than other bags
Cons
- No closure method (must clip or tie yourself)
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Best Mesh Reusable Produce Bags
Ecowaare Reusable Mesh Produce Bags
This super versatile set of 15 reusable produce bags is made of mesh—perfect for larger produce items, because it lets them breathe and stay fresher for longer. We love them because they come in three handy sizes; yellow bags are small, green bags are medium and red bags are large. These color-coded bags are see-through, so you can quickly pick out your next snack without reorganizing your freezer or fridge.
The strong mesh makes these reusable produce bags very lightweight, which is pretty convenient when shopping for a large order. And we couldn’t forget the easy-open drawstring closure.
Pros
- Grocery-store friendly, since cashiers can see through the mesh
- Machine-washable, no need to dry
- Durable and versatile
Cons
- May not keep produce fresher than plastic
- Drawstring can be slippery
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Best Silicone Reusable Produce Bags
Alpacasso Reusable Storage Bags
If you’re looking for reliable, versatile, heat and cold-resistant food storage that’s safe for the microwave, fridge and freezer, this set of reusable silicone food storage bags is perfect. Not only are they leakproof and airtight to keep everything fresh and clean, but they’re super easy to maintain and reuse many times.
The set comes with six sizes of silicone stretch lids, two reusable storage bags, four freezer bags and three beeswax food wraps for natural food storage.
Pros
- Adjustable silicone lids size makes it easy to use any container
- Beeswax wraps hold shape very well and keep food fresh
- Takes up very little space
Cons
- Slide closures can crack over time
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Best Hemp Reusable Produce Bags
Organic Cotton Mart Produce Sack
We absolutely love these large, reusable hemp produce sacks. They’re made from high-quality organic cotton (grown with zero fertilizers or synthetic pesticides), and have multiple uses. For example, you could use these bags to easily strain nut milk, yogurt or juice. You can use them to hold a bouquet of herbs while making homemade stock or soup. Plus you can shop for, store and organize produce or other household items—all in the same bag!
On top of all this, the bags are completely natural, recyclable and environmentally friendly.
Pros
- Hemp is breathable to keep food fresh, and all-natural to help the planet
- Very versatile
- Available in five sizes
Cons
- Can be tougher to clean than others
- Need to be air-dried (may shrink in the dryer)
How We Chose the Best Reusable Produce Bags
As shopping experts, our only job is to help you find a winning product. We start with the research and reporting basics—what products are made of, what they look like and how much they cost—to ensure that we’re only recommending the buys that are worth your time and money. Then, we research the features that speak to the product’s quality, taking advice from industry insiders and subject matter experts on what makes a product a smart value (or worthy of a splurge). Finally, we do the work of combing through user reviews to see how real people interact with the product, and if it stands up to the test.
FAQs
How to wash reusable produce bags
Always check the washing instructions on your produce bags before cleaning. Many cotton or canvas bags are machine washable, and some may have specific care instructions. When in doubt, handwash them in warm, soapy water and hang on a line to air dry.
What are reusable produce bags made of?
Reusable produce bags can be made of many different types of materials, including cotton, hemp, mesh, cornstarch, silicone, polyester and linen.
How much do reusable produce bags weigh?
The weight of reusable produce bags depends on the size, material and weave of the bag you’re using. Ideally your produce bags will be lightweight, ranging from less than one ounce up to a few ounces. Since the bag’s weight can affect the total price of your produce, it’s helpful to use cotton bags that note the tare weight so the store cashier can deduct it from the produces’ weight and, therefore, your bill’s total.
Originally Published: January 25, 2023
