Despite my husband's concerns that I'm becoming an episode of Hoarders, I like to save the waxed paper bags from cereals and other boxed foods. I use them when I microwave frozen veggies and other small dishes. I just slip the bowl into the waxed bag and fold the excess under the bowl to create a steam bag. I don't need to use any water with the frozen veggies, making them healthier.
And, you can wash them out and use them again. Yes, I said, use them again. Why not? It's only veggie steam that's come in contact with the bag. I just rinse it out with very hot tap water, turn it upside down in the dish-drying rack, and there you go.
I don't like using plastic cling wrap in the microwave, so this is a better alternative. And best of all, it's free and keeps some junk out of the landfills for a while. There are lots of other uses for these bags if you give it some thought.
Really frugal or really cheap? You decide.
By ~gloria from Western NY
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As long as no animal products have touched the inside of the bag it should work for a few uses. It might not be a good idea to use one for very long, though.
These bags are wonderful for microwave baked potatoes. Just puncture potato as usual,fold into the bag and microwave for your units prescribed time. They come out so soft and fluffy. Yum! Yum!
im going to try this!thanks!
I enjoy being frugal very much. But are you sure the bag is health-safe to be used in microwave, or with heat?
Because of your concerns, I'll contact the makers of the original product and see what they have to say about the safety of using in the microwave. But in the mean time, I'll continue to use them, because after even 2 or 3 uses, they show little to no wear at all. I don't believe they are anything other than waxed paper, which has been shown to be the better alternative for use in microwaves. We all know that plastic cling wrap will melt and can give off bad fumes (and who knows what it's doing to our food!).
They are also good for wrapping a sandwich or leftovers to take to work or school for lunch. After all, your cereal or other product was once wrapped in it, and let's face it, some cereals sit on the shelf for a long time, so I'm thinking they are perfectly safe for other food uses.
But I appreciate your concerns. Nice to know people care.
@jsham, Good idea! Normally, I don't like nuked "baked" potatoes. But maybe this will do the trick. Thanks for reading my tip.
@Denise2003, Thanks for your comment, I agree. I usually keep them until they start to look "used". I'm sure we can use our own judgement on this.
I use the cereal liners to defrost meat. When I buy large portions of meat and flash freeze it. I put several pieces (pork chops, chicken, etc.) in a large plastic zip top bag. Then when I need a couple of pieces for dinner, I put them in a plastic cereal liner to thaw. I open the bags to use as waxed paper on the counter and to cover food in the microwave to keep it from splattering all over. I feel so good about re-using them instead of tossing them with the empty box in the recycle bin. I even have DH using them.
I wonder how they would work when preserving autumn leaves? Remember doing that between sheets of waxed paper and an old iron on low?
I save these liners as well to use for flattening puff wheat cake - it doesn't stick to the top of the cake and leaves your hands clean. I also make several cakes at once so I flip the cakes onto the wax paper so I can use the pan for the next cake. You only have to dirty one cake pan. Once the cakes are cooled you can then slide the paper and cake onto the cutting board to slice. This keeps the cutting board clean as well.
I'd be concerned about the inner plastic bags of cereals and crackers leaching chemicals since they're not meant to be heated in a microwave.
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