STASHER REUSABLE SILICONE BAGS
My continuing quest to reduce our environmental footprint in easy and painless ways led me to the Stasher line of products. The Stasher reusable silicone bags needed a closer looksie for sure.
First, I find them to be quite stylish, always a plus in my book. Second, despite their appearance, they’re also plastic-free, which I thought was very intriguing.
So, I found myself in one of my “research modes” and decided to test them out. I’ve been a product tester for various companies for decades, so I thought I’d do a review of this cool product line for my readers.
WHY SHOULD YOU CONSIDER REUSABLE SILICONE BAGS?
Using less resources and producing less waste are not just problems for the big corporations and factories.
Each of us can make a huge difference in how we impact the environment around us. We can make a real difference by adopting a more environmentally friendly lifestyle.
Plastic bags are not easily decomposed and contribute towards the degradation of the environment in a big way. Just one plastic bag can take from 15 to 1,000 years to break down, depending on it’s location.
And we don’t really think about this part, but the costs associated with recycling plastic bags can outweigh the profitability factor.
That’s one of the big reasons that plastic bags are finding their way to landfills more often than one might think.
It takes approximately $5,000. to recycle just one ton of plastic bags, while the selling price for those same bags was only $30. You can see the problem, right?
So, if you understand the huge problem that is global warming, each time you dispose of a plastic bag, it’s contributing to the problem in a big way.
Here’s the scoop on my research findings and the results of my product testing.
Just how would an eco-friendly, non-plastic kitchen storage bag perform? Let see, shall we?
STASHER – A MISSION BASED COMPANY
Stasher was founded by Kat Nouri, who is touted as a woman who “thinks outside of the bag”.
I love that tag line, don’t you? What I 
found out about Stasher is, it exists solely because Kat feels so strongly about reducing the single-use plastics that abound in our world.
She runs a mission-based company centered on positivity, activism, wellness and transparency. Ms. Nouri is not only a leader in the plastic-free movement, but also a committed women’s rights activist and a mother of three. So far, I was impressed.
STASHER REUSABLE SILICONE BAGS PROMISE A LOT
Stasher has an attractive website that features its varied product lines in style. It also gives a great rundown on the technology involved in the development and designing of all their products.
Here are all the Stasher Reusable Silicone Bag’s features:
- Durable, reusable and non-toxic
- Safe in the dishwasher, microwave, oven-strong, sous vide ready
- Patented Pinch-Loc seals
- Fabulous colors: citrus, raspberry, aqua, amethyst, lime, smoke and clear
- Made from pure platinum silicone derived from natural resources, like sand
- 100% plastic-free, BPA free and contain no fillers
- Can withstand temperatures of up to 400 degrees F
- Several “stand up” bag designs
- If a bag gets damaged, send it to Stasher and they recycle them into playground pebbles
WHERE CAN YOU BUY STASHER REUSABLE SILICONE BAGS?
The Stasher product lines can be purchased online at stasherbags.com and at these fine retailers:
- Target
- Amazon.com
- Bed, Bath & Beyond
- Walmart
- Cost Plus World Market
- REI
- Williams-Sonoma
STASHER REUSABLE SILICONE BAGS ARE A JOY TO USE
These bags are tough. There’s little to no chance of ripping or tearing, so you don’t have to worry about the contents once the bag is sealed. That makes them great for both travel, kitchen and lots of other uses.
I used all of my Stasher reusable silicone bags over the course of several weeks. I put them through their paces in the microwave, oven, freezer and simmering water.
They were fun to use and I just loved the myriad of ways they make life a little more fabulous. Especially when it comes to mundane kitchen tasks like food storage. The fact that they’re attractive and really stylish only ups the appeal for me.
SPOILER ALERT: After numerous washings in the dishwasher, the bags began to get a “worn” look to them.
I can honestly say that all the bags held up and performed quite nicely in ALMOST every way. But I’ll tell you about that in more detail a little later.
25 CREATIVE WAYS TO USE STASHER BAGS
As I put them through their paces, I found them to be really great for TONS of things like:
- storing leftovers in the refrigerator
- carrying snacks in your purse (including juicy fruits)
- perfect for diaper wipes; keeps them moist and sanitary
- heats up foods in microwave perfectly
- easy-to-open seal – kid friendly! (Pinch-loc™ seal)
- ideal “dry” storage for cell phones; not-so-much for “in bag” use on touch screens
- lots of uses for travel packing – sandwich size is TSA compliant for your purse or carry-on bag
- fill with ice cubes and use as an ice pack or cold compress
- use to store nail polish in the refrigerator, or all your manicure supplies
- pack up your daytime makeup for quick touch-ups
- keep your vegetable scraps in the freezer for making soup or stock
- fill with crayons and a small pad for an “on-the-go” art kit
- pop in the oven to reheat breads/rolls
- use as a convenient lunch bag for work or school
- store deli lunch meats and cheeses after removing from their packaging
- fill with medical supplies for a great travel first aid kit
- cooking vegetables in the microwave with the seal open
- compact and stackable food storage in freezer
- marinating meats, vegies or seafood
- keep single-serving sized portions in freezer for quick weeknight use
- steaming fresh or frozen vegetables in the microwave
- construct a smoothie kit, filled with your fruits, vegies, etc. and keep in freezer, ready to use
- remove wrapping from cheese and store in Stasher to let them breathe
- store small amounts of nuts, seeds and other items that no longer have a container
- add salt and citrus to make preserved lemons or limes
LET’S TALK ABOUT THE PINCH-LOC™ SEAL
Overall, I think the Stasher Pinch-loc™ seal really does a great job for the most part. I found the seal works really well in keeping our foods fresh, dry and secure. We’ve never had any leakage problems while in-transit.
That said, the seal isn’t impervious. When filled with liquid, turned upside-down, and shaken, the seal will open and the liquid will not just leak, but pour out. But, I didn’t hold it against them, yet.
Really, if you think about it, a zipper-type plastic bag will do the exact same thing. 
The seal is also a breeze to open and close, allowing you to get in and out of the bag quickly. And that’s great for snacking on the train while traveling.
FOR SOUS-VIDE COOKING TOO? NOT SO MUCH
I gave this method of cooking with the Stasher reusable silicone bags three tries over the course of several weeks.
Unfortunately for my food, I had the same unsatisfactory results from each of the three tests.
I’ve used my sous-vide appliance over a dozen times, so I know it works properly. So when the Stasher bags unsealed during the cooking process, I was extremely disappointed.
Not only did the test fail, but my dinner was ruined. Bummer!
The second test was done with chicken breasts that I figured wouldn’t be completely ruined if the bag opened again.
It did, and they weren’t. I made Tarragon-Sour Cream Chicken Salad the next day. No problemo, but the test was still a FAIL.
You can guess where this is heading now, can’t you? On the third try, I made triple sure the seal was perfectly closed. If anything, I under-filled the bag in hopes it would stay closed. But alas, the third time was not the charm!
Once the silicone got to a certain temperature in the liquid, the bags were unable to keep their seal and became extremely pliable. Sous vide is not done at high temperatures, so that can’t be the issue. I really wanted them to work as well as they did for everything else I tried, but they just didn’t.
CLEANING YOUR STASHER BAGS
Stasher bags are dishwasher safe, and that’s exactly how you should wash them!
They are a real pain to wash by hand, much the same experience as you have with a plastic zipper storage bag.
I’ve discovered that by turning the bags inside-out before loading in the dishwasher, it makes all the difference. I put them in the top rack over a line of pegs to keep it in place.
If you insist on hand-washing, turn them inside-out and use a bottle brush to get into the corners and seal.
And, no matter if you wash it by hand or by dishwasher, the inside takes a while to dry. I’ve found patting it dry with a towel or drying it inside out will help speed things along.
YOU’VE GOTTA PLUNK DOWN SOME $$ FOR STASHER STORAGE BAGS
Yes, they’re on the pricey side. (one sandwich size storage bag can cost $11.99)
But after having used them numerous times, I feel like they will last a very long time. As H.H. the accountant always says, do the cost/benefit analysis! Considering their durability, they could be a wise investment for both my pocketbook and the environment.
Another cool thing is, if any of my Stasher bags are damaged, I can send them off to Stasher and they’ll be turned into playground pebbles. That really is cool!
AND THE FINAL RESULTS ARE:
I can recommend using the Stasher Silicone Storage Bags as a healthy and eco-friendly alternative to conventional plastic storage bags and do so with no obligation to the manufacturer or distributors.
TELL ME WHAT YOU THINK OF STASHER REUSABLE SILICONE BAGS
Let me know if you decide to try the Stasher eco-friendly storage bag system.
I’d love to hear how you liked them, so why not leave a comment below or over at The Fab Life, our Facebook community.
Come join the gang in our Facebook group and get in on the gabfest at, The Fab Life! That’s where we show off our triumphs and share our pursuit of “the good life” with each other all week long.
WANT MORE ECO-FRIENDLY PRODUCT INFORMATION?
You’ll want to check out this informative post on Ever Stylish & Eco-Friendly Grocery Shopping.
It’s jam packed with lots of fabulous eco-friendly grocery shopping totes, thermal coolers and bags.
I’ve done all the research for you, you just need to pick out the ones you like the best!
YOU’RE NOT ON THE LIST? Why not join in on the fun!
There’s always something fabulous happening here at Ingredients For A Fabulous Life, you don’t want to miss out, do you?
Join the IFAFL Email Subscriber List to get instant access to the IFAFL Resource Library too!
