[Mavourneen]

My best friend was going on and on about how wonderful the Debbie Meyer green bags are - and I'm always the skeptical one. He sent one to me, and I tried it.

As a test, I put 2 tomatoes in my fridge. One in the plastic bag from the grocery store, one in the DM bag. They've been in there for 2 weeks, side by side.

The one in the DM bag looks like the day I bought it. I threw out the tomato in the grocery bag this morning because it was breaking down and yucky.

Have you tried these? What about salad greens? Mushrooms? bananas?

I know I can buy these at Bed Bath and Beyond for 20% off with their ever present coupon...but still. $8 for 10 bags is A LOT of money per bag. If it really works - and helps prevent my #1 frugal pet peeve which is wasting food...

What do you think?

[skbrush]

I saw some at the dollar store-Family Dollar. NOt sure if they would work the same??
It does help I have a 2 week old head of lettuce that looks new in the green bag. My problem is I never remember to use them. I bought carrots for dipping on New Years cut them up and put the in a zippy bag, DUH!!
I like them

[Cheri]

Does anyone know if the bags are reusable or is it recommended for reuse?

[SLance68]

Well I have some - I bought them at CVS with ECB's. Do NOT put mushrooms or broccoli in them - it tastes funny when you use the stuff after they have been in the bags. As for tomatoes I never have any around long enough to try them. I personally would just buy smaller amounts of produce and skip the green bags.

[SLance68]

Originally Posted by Cheri

Does anyone know if the bags are reusable or is it recommended for reuse?

You can wash them and they are good for 10 uses per bag according to their tv commercials.

[Mavourneen]

Originally Posted by SLance68

You can wash them and they are good for 10 uses per bag according to their tv commercials.

10 uses per bag? That is it? That doesn't seem enough to justify the cost DESPITE the potential food savings.

*sigh*

[Mavourneen]

Was at CVS this afternoon browsing around and saw a new product: Debbie Meyer bread bags 12 for $9.95 -and when I just browsed for them online, I see she also has cheese and cold cut bags!!??!

Debbie Meyer Bread Bags - The Official Site Of AsSeenOnTV.com

[gagesmommy]

I LOVE these! When I buy lettuce I put it in the green bag and it looked better in a week in that bag then the day I bought it in the store. I too ran tests. A head of lettuce lasted 3 weeks! Another tip I don't know if this is news to anyone but when you cut lettuce if you use a plastic knife it doesn't turn brown as quickly.

[raeni]

I didn't think they worked well with bananas when I tried them. I will try again and maybe test them side by side with bananas left out on the counter. I did think they made a difference with tomatoes, cucumbers and lettuce. I also have the bread bags and didn't have to throw any bread out. Might have gone through it fast enough that it wouldn't have had time to mold, anyway, though...I bought the cold cut bags when I found them on clearance. Haven't tried them yet.

[raeni]

Originally Posted by Mavourneen

10 uses per bag? That is it? :MAVANGRY: That doesn't seem enough to justify the cost DESPITE the potential food savings.

*sigh*

There are 20 bags in the box of Green bags. So about 200 uses per box.
The bread and cold cut bags come 12 to a box.

[*Jackie*]

I saw her bread bags on clearance at Target for $4.98. I was going to grab it, but i decided against it.

and there are 10 bags per size-large and medium-per box

[anb1972]

my best friend swears by these. i struggle with paying for them, too. but i kick myself every time i throw out produce.

[applerama]

I don't buy a lot of produce (I really should buy more!) but I'm really interested in trying them. They do seem a little steep on the price, but if it works well enough it is probably justifiable

[susanb1960]

My daughter used them and said they didn't work very well...her bananas turned brown but I can't remember the other veggies or fruit she used them on? I haven't bought any for that reason...if I see them marked down I might try them for lettuce.

[abmitch01]

Ocean State had them as a weekly internet q deal for $3. I bought a box but didn't try them yet

[gltkar]

they work really well with lettuce and leafy greens. Bananas got brown/soft in the bag so i wouldn't recommend for them.

My mom got these bags off of QVC- not sure how many she got- but she gave me some maybe 3 years ago and I inherited her remaining supply about 2 years ago. Due to digestive issues, I cannot eat fresh leafy greens - so I will probably have these green bags for a very long time....

[jbarber8]

I use these bags, but only for carrots & lettuce and other refrigerated produce. I have never tried them on bananas, but I thought they were for cold items. I don't have the outer packaging still, so I can't check. I bought 1 pack about 4 years ago and I have only used about half of them. I have washed them over and over without counting. I only used up the ones that are gone because I gave a few away, and also once or twice accidentally threw some away with the produce.

My biggest problem too is remembering to use them. It's easy to just put away groceries and forget these bags are in your cabinet. When I remember to put the carrots in, they last forever (until we ate them- 6 weeks?). The lettuce, about 2 weeks or more.

[Jamalfi]

My ds wants me to buy these in the worst way. He is only 6 and has been a walking and talking commercial for DM. No joke he can repeat everything word for word. Actually any of the As seen on tv commercials he can repeat after only seeing it once or twice............ I might have to break down and buy them.

[LisaArbo]

Originally Posted by raeni

I didn't think they worked well with bananas when I tried them. I will try again and maybe test them side by side with bananas left out on the counter. I did think they made a difference with tomatoes, cucumbers and lettuce. I also have the bread bags and didn't have to throw any bread out. Might have gone through it fast enough that it wouldn't have had time to mold, anyway, though...I bought the cold cut bags when I found them on clearance. Haven't tried them yet.

My Mom loves the bags, but I think they are really expensive.

As for bananas, try separating them all when you get home. They won't ripen so fast!! Bananas ripen in bunches, so if you WANT them to ripen.........leave them be.

My uncle gave me this tip a long time ago, and it sure does work! I hate mushy bananas!!

[danielephant]

DO they have these at CVS...dare i say we can spend ECBs on them? LOL

[Kayline]

Not to pick on you, Mavourneen, but tomatoes might not have been the best choice for testing these bags since tomatoes, like potatoes, really shouldn't be refrigerated. Unless they are fully ripe (which most grocery store tomatoes are not) they turn mealy in the fridge and they wouldn't be very tasty no matter how well preserved they appeared. Just my 2 cents (I throw it in so often that I'm broke!!)

[jenkerr1]

I have not tried these and can't bring myself to buy them due to the prices. Usually I chop my veg up right when I get home and freeze them, that way I can take them out as I need them for soup or whatever I'm making. The rest that can't be frozen, I just try to buy in smaller portions and I try to put it on the top shelf of the fridge so i will remember it and eat it hopefully before it goes bad

[CurlyQ]

Originally Posted by Jamalfi

My ds wants me to buy these in the worst way. He is only 6 and has been a walking and talking commercial for DM. No joke he can repeat everything word for word. Actually any of the As seen on tv commercials he can repeat after only seeing it once or twice............ I might have to break down and buy them.

Awww...That's so cute!!

[Mavourneen]

Originally Posted by Kayline

Not to pick on you, Mavourneen, but tomatoes might not have been the best choice for testing these bags since tomatoes, like potatoes, really shouldn't be refrigerated. Unless they are fully ripe (which most grocery store tomatoes are not) they turn mealy in the fridge and they wouldn't be very tasty no matter how well preserved they appeared. Just my 2 cents (I throw it in so often that I'm broke!!)

Not picking at all, Kayline. I don't particularly like raw tomatoes but Mr Mav will only eat his tomatoes cold.- which is why I tested my bag in the fridge.

I've discovered as was posted above: Mushrooms do not do well in the bags, and I can't say I'm particularly thrilled with the carrots. They dried out very quickly.

The Mav Frugality Verdict? Save your money. Buy your produce fresh each week and don't buy in bulk unless you need to. While I was impressed with the way it kept the tomatoes, I can't see myself using these bags on a regular basis.

I think it is a YMMV product. If you can snag one from a friend, or buy a box and split it with your MIL/SIL/neighbor/BFF - I say it is worth testing to see what it does for you - but I won't be buying them again.

[KrazyKadhra]

Originally Posted by Mavourneen

My best friend was going on and on about how wonderful the Debbie Meyer green bags are - and I'm always the skeptical one. He sent one to me, and I tried it.

As a test, I put 2 tomatoes in my fridge. One in the plastic bag from the grocery store, one in the DM bag. They've been in there for 2 weeks, side by side.

The one in the DM bag looks like the day I bought it. I threw out the tomato in the grocery bag this morning because it was breaking down and yucky.

Have you tried these? What about salad greens? Mushrooms? bananas?

I know I can buy these at Bed Bath and Beyond for 20% off with their ever present coupon...but still. $8 for 10 bags is A LOT of money per bag. If it really works - and helps prevent my #1 frugal pet peeve which is wasting food...

What do you think?

In the produce section at Walmart they have green veggies bags instead of the clear ones. You know the pull off ones. I've used those with Cilantro, Basil and other quickly perishable herbs. They work just like those Debbie Myers ones.

I've had a batch of Cilantro in the fridge for two weeks and it's still holding up quite nicely.

I haven't used them on anything else yet but I was pleasantly surpised!