The Ultimate Buyer's Guide for Purchasing roll stock mesh bag

Top pick

These multipurpose, durable bags seal securely and can hold everything from snacks to prepped ingredients to leftovers, and they can go from fridge to freezer.

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Although you can wash and reuse disposable zip-top plastic bags, it’s not ideal to keep using them for food storage if you want to avoid eating microplastics. Instead, we recommend the Stasher Reusable Silicone Bag Multi-Pack.

They’re sturdy and dishwasher safe. These bags are durable and easy to clean, and can be put in the dishwasher. Our dishwasher successfully got rid of stains left by tomato sauce we’d stored in the bags over a weekend, which was not the case for all bags we tested. Stains remained on the re(zip) bags we tried, even after a trip through the dishwasher followed by a baking soda scrub.

The thick Stasher bags are also comfortable to hold and hand-wash because they aren’t as floppy as some thinner bags, and their wide seals were less likely to gum up with food. One of our staff members has been using their set of Stashers regularly for five years and they’re still going strong.

They’re versatile. We love that Stashers come in a wide range of sizes—pocket-size, 56-ounce capacity, and half-gallon. They come in flat versions that are useful for packing things like sandwiches, as well as bags that stand up, which are convenient for storing liquidy foods. And you have a choice of fun colors—’80s-inspired pastels, tie dye, and sea-glass green. According to a staff member who has used both the clear and colored Stashers for storing leftovers, the clear bags have the best visibility and make it easiest to take inventory of what’s in the fridge.

They’re compact. The Stasher bags stack neatly in a drawer or bin for quick access, and we’ve found it especially convenient that you don’t have to search for a matching lid as you would with a container. They’re thick enough that the bags won’t collapse if you stand them up, but they still have a slim profile.

They’re easier to stack in the fridge or freezer than plastic bags, and they take up less space than larger, rigid containers. “They are such space savers compared to Tupperware and the like,” said a staffer who likes them for food storage.

They tolerate extreme temperatures. Made from silicone, Stashers are freezer-safe, heatproof up to 400° F, and microwave- and oven-safe, so you can use them to store leftovers, reheat foods, or steam vegetables in the microwave. You can even cook sous vide in them: We made sous vide carrots with a Stasher bag and with a vacuum-sealed bag as a control. Though it was difficult to get most of the air out of the Stasher, the carrots tasted fine and were cooked through, just slightly firmer than the carrots cooked in the plastic bag.

They stay shut. The Stasher bags remained sealed as we shook them around. We wouldn’t put a bag filled with liquid in a backpack, but we would transport snacks or leftovers that way. And if you’re laying the bags flat or lining them up vertically in the fridge, you don’t have to worry about leaks; the seals popped open only when we applied pressure to the bags.

They’re great for all kinds of storage. The Stasher bags have many uses beyond food: You could use them for everything from packing toiletries in a carry-on to storing craft supplies.

Flaws but not dealbreakers

They’re not cheap. At the time of writing, the Stasher bags cost about $55 for a bundle of five, and we know that’s expensive. But since we first published this guide, several staff members have been using their Stashers regularly for years, which makes us confident in recommending them as a worthy investment.

They can get schmutzy. The Stasher bags are made from silicone, which can attract dust and lint, and can retain smells and stains, especially from oily or acidic foods. Some Amazon reviewers complain that the bags also have a silicone smell, which we didn’t notice. But we did detect a slight silicone-like aftertaste to the broccoli that we steamed in a Stasher bag. When we cooked carrots sous vide at 183° F for an hour, however, they tasted fine. We recommend washing the bags before use to zap any lingering flavors.

We couldn’t remove all of the air. Despite trying to both roll out the air and to use the water-displacement method (the company’s recommendation) to get the air out of the Stashers in our sous vide tests, we still had to weigh the bag down with a metal utensil to prevent it from floating. A staff member who uses Stashers says that they also don't work well for freezing liquids (like stock) because of how difficult it is to get the air out and seal.

Washing them can be tricky. If you have a dishwasher, the Stashers are easier to clean than traditional plastic bags. But if you’re hand-washing the bags, it’s more difficult to get into every cranny, compared with a more-flexible plastic bag. Stasher advises against turning the bags inside out to clean them since this can put stress on their seams. It can also be challenging to reach into smaller Stasher bags and may require a bottle brush.

Some of our staff members who use Stashers regularly complain that you have to prop them open in the dishwasher for the insides to get fully cleaned, and must also prop them open to dry.

Tears can happen. Although these bags have received numerous positive ratings and reviews on Amazon, there are a fair number of complaints about their developing holes or tearing at the seams, mostly after foods have been cooked sous vide in them (and one after a buyer tried to turn the bag inside out to wash it). So far, none of the long term testers on our staff have experienced this with their Stashers. We also appreciate that the company has a repurposing program to reuse the silicone from damaged bags.

Top pick

This set of cotton bags includes mesh and solid options for produce and bulk goods, and each bag has a cord lock and tare weights on its label.

Buying Options

For grocery shopping, the EcoRoots Premium Reusable Produce Bags come in the best variety of sizes and materials, and they have some extra features that make them more convenient to use than other bags we looked at.

They're convenient to use. Unlike most of the fabric bags we tested, the EcoRoots bags have a cord lock on their drawstrings, so you can cinch the bags shut.

They may be easier to use at checkout, too. Compared with other cloth bags we tested, these are the only ones that included three units for tare weights (pounds, ounces, and grams), listed in a large font on their tags. It’s a small detail, but this will help a cashier quickly ring you up if you use these bags for bulk or produce items.

They come in a variety of materials and sizes. We like that the set comes with both solid cloth and mesh bags, and the cotton mesh has a bit more stretch to it than synthetic materials do, allowing you to fit more in. The bags are machine-washable for easy cleaning, and they didn’t shrink too much in our tests. The EcoRoots bags are made from unbleached cotton and come in three sizes, with six cotton mesh bags and three solid cotton bags in a pack.

They can hold all kinds of foods. The largest size will fit a head of celery, a bunch of kale, a medium-size head of napa cabbage, or (just barely) an extremely large head of cauliflower. The mesh is fine enough to contain items like grapes, radishes, or snap peas, and it gives the bags a little more stretch so you can pack more inside them. The plain-woven bags can hold finer grains, smaller beans, nuts, or even flour.

They keep food fresh. In our tests, we didn’t notice much of a difference between cloth bags and a resealable plastic storage bag when it came to keeping foods like carrots, cilantro, and lettuce fresh for four days. But cloth bags won’t keep moisture inside like plastic will, so foods may dry out more over time. The only bag that kept foods noticeably fresher was the towel-like Vejibag, which you’re supposed to dampen before using. But the Vejibag is bulky and expensive, and we suspect you can just wrap foods in a damp towel to achieve the same effect.

Flaws but not dealbreakers

Fabric is opaque. Cloth bags obscure what’s inside them and are not water resistant. If you prefer see-through storage that is better at repelling moisture, consider a set of Stashers.

The tare weights for all of the bags we tested were slightly off. But the worst-case scenario is you’ll pay a few more cents for your granola.

They shrink. The EcoRoots storage bags all shrank a little after washing and drying, which we expected since they’re cotton, but they were still usable.

Top pick

The nylon drawstring bags in this set are well made and sturdy enough to transport produce or other items. They also look better than most produce bags.

The bags in the Junes Carry-All 3-Pack look nicer and feel sturdier than other mesh bags we’ve tried. They’re made from recycled plastic and have a thick, capped drawstring that won’t fray (though they don’t have a cord lock, like our pick from EcoRoots).

We like the quality and selection. The Carry-All set comes with a small, medium, and large bag (9.5 by 8.5 inches, 10 by 12.5 inches, and 11 by 16.5 inches, respectively), and you can choose from a few stylish colors.

The Junes are machine-washable and are sewn better than most produce bags we looked at.

They’re good for groceries and other uses. Although the Junes bags’ mesh is coarser than that of other synthetic mesh bags we tried, it’s much finer than that of the EcoRoots bags. So Junes bags can contain coarser bulk goods like dried beans or nuts, and items like loose green beans won’t poke out of the bag. The Junes bags will also work as ditty bags for smaller items you need to throw into luggage.

They’ll recycle your old bag. When you’re done with your June bag, the company will process it into new yarn, and give you a 20% coupon toward a new bag.

Flaws but not dealbreakers

They’re expensive. The Junes bags are pricier than any other reusable bags we tried, but we think they’ll hold up better over time.

The mesh isn’t super-fine. The holes are about the size of those on a window screen, so the bags won’t be practical for storing finer bulk foods like flour or sugar (for that, you may prefer the solid EcoRoots cotton bags).

They don’t have cord locks or tare weights. But our produce didn’t tumble out during shopping, and you can easily knot the cord for extra security. You’ll either have to weigh the bags on your own to tell the cashier since they aren’t labeled with tare weights, or eat the cost of the weight of the bag when buying produce or bulk goods.

Our testing has evolved since we first published this guide in . We initially sifted through dozens of reusable kitchen items in our research, from bags to wraps to lids to reusable paper towels. More recently,, we’ve narrowed our scope to focus on the replacements we think have the most potential for daily and long-term use: bulk and produce bags, and food-storage bags.

To find good options, we searched the best-selling and best-reviewed items on Amazon, and we looked at the offerings from smaller online retailers like Life Without Plastic, Package Free, and Food52. We also visited Whole Foods, the Park Slope Food Coop in Brooklyn, and the New York City–based zero-waste stores Precycle and Package Free to see what reusable products they offered.

When picking resealable food storage bags, we paid attention to the sizes that they came in. We wanted bags that had obvious uses and would be in regular rotation, whether for packing sandwiches for lunch or storing leftovers after dinner. We also looked for bags that were dishwasher safe and easy to store.

Because most of these items are more expensive than their disposable cousins, we also considered value. We compared prices, varieties, and sizes for each product subset. And since the focus of this guide is on more sustainable gear, we also paid attention to the materials used to make each item, and the product’s longevity.

There are many useful reusable vessels for food storage that we were not able to cover here, but we do recommend in our other guides. For example, the Pyrex Simply Store 18-Piece Set and Snapware 18-Piece Total Solution Plastic Food Storage Set are excellent stackable options for food prep and storage. We like that the lidded dishes in the Pyrex Smart Essentials 8-Piece Mixing Bowl Set and the OXO Good Grips 3-Qt Glass Baking Dish with Lid make plastic wrap unnecessary. And the lightweight Standard Baggu tote is a go-to for carrying groceries, and it folds down to the size of an index card.

To test the produce bags, we stored leafy greens, herbs, and carrots in them for four days, then checked for freshness. We also put the same types of produce in a zip-top plastic bag as a control and compared the results. We then measured and weighed each produce bag to check its listed tare weights, and washed and dried them all several times to check for shrinkage. We also looked over the stitching and fabric to check for quality.

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To test resealable bags, we filled them with tomato sauce and left them in the refrigerator over a weekend, then washed them in the dishwasher to see how much they stained. We also tried washing them by hand. We tested the bags for leaks by filling them with water, shaking them, and trying to pop them open by putting pressure on them with our hands. For the silicone bags, we steamed and cooked vegetables sous vide to see whether the bags imparted any flavor and whether they stayed watertight.

After making our picks, we continued to use them at home to see how they held up.

  Our first-time buyer's guide will help you understand the different types of packaging machines, answer the most common packaging machinery questions, and provide tips on how to make the best packaging automation decision for your business.

  Frequently Asked Questions

1.How much does packaging equipment cost?

There is no quick, easy answer to this question. Packaging machinery is specific to the customer, so arriving at 'standard pricing' isn't usually practical. But we can provide a range: For fully automated systems, you can expect to pay in the mid-to-high five figure range all the way up to millions of dollars.

Pricing largely depends upon your unique needs: The products you want to package, the speeds you would like to achieve, your bag styles and sizes, the complexity of your process, and how quick you need the machine delivered.

Generally, the more complex, customized, or high-speed the packaging process is, the more you can expect to pay.

 2.How easy is it to operate packaging equipment?

The good news is that as long as your packaging system isn't hyper-customized, the equipment is pretty easy to use! Most of Samfull's equipment does not require advanced technical knowledge to operate.

Modern packing machines have intuitive full color touch screen interfaces. And if you need to change the machine over to accommodate different bags, it can be done without tools.

Still worried about the learning curve? Ask your representative or contact our service department for training options. Our expert technicians would love to show you how it's all done.

  3.What types of packaging machines do you offer?

Samfull offers a variety of flexible packaging machines that can satisfy almost any requirement.

We offer PREMADE POUCH FILLING AND SEALING MACHINES that are loaded with preformed bags which are then filled with product and sealed shut. These machines are easy to learn and operate and can be run with low-skilled labor. The end product they produce has a premium look. Adjusting these machines for new bags is simple, so they are great for companies that have varied bags sizes and short runs.

We also offer VERTICAL FORM FILL SEAL (VFFS) PACKAGING MACHINES. This equipment forms bag shapes, fills the bags with product, and seals them shut, all in a vertical fashion. These machines are established technology capable of high speeds and economical in cost. They do, however, require a higher level of expertise to operate and troubleshoot and are best for dedicated lines without much variation in product and bag styles.

Another category of equipment we offer is multi-lane SACHET and STICK PACK MACHINES. They work in a similar manner to VFFS machines but produce multiple bags at once via multiple packaging lanes.

Finally, we offer cartoning equipment that erects cardboard cartons, counts out a number of packages, places the bags into the cartons, and seals the cartons shut.

  4.What's the difference between semi-automatic and fully automatic packaging systems?

A fully automated packaging system is optimized for high speeds and minimal human involvement. These solutions are best for companies that run a high number of products with relatively low variation. A fully automated line could include things like equipment to feed the product to the system, a scale to weigh the product, and a machine to place the product into bags. Automated systems provide a high level of accuracy and consistency, but require a larger upfront investment.

A semi-automatic packaging system still requires a substantial level of human labor. For example, a company could use an automated scale to weigh the product, but require a human to dispense the product into bags and seal them. Semi-automatic packaging lines are a great place to start if you're not quite ready for full automation. In many cases, individual pieces of a semi-automatic line can be integrated at a later date with other equipment to create a fully automated system. Overall, semi-automatic packaging lines have a much lower cost of entry, but are slower and less accurate than fully automated systems.

  5.Can one packaging machine handle different bag styles, sizes, and products?

The short answer is "Usually, yes." Adjusting a machine to accommodate different bags is called changeover, and it can take from minutes to hours depending upon many variables.

The longer answer: Sometimes a one-size-fits-all machine isn't the best choice. The more varied your needs are, the more it may make sense to invest in multiple systems or automate only certain parts of the process. Reason being, packaging machines are optimized to run within certain parameters. If your needs are varied, accommodating those variations within machine parameters can be complex, costly, and inefficient. It can sometimes be better to have a machine that does one thing really well than a machine that does many things 'just okay'.

  6.What's the difference between rollstock film and premade bags?

Knowing the packaging material format you require informs which machinery the equipment manufacturer recommends.

Here are descriptions of two major flexible packaging formats:

Rollstock film is a long, flat sheet of (usually plastic) packaging material that is wound around a hollow core. It is usually pre-printed with graphics. This large roll of film is loaded onto the back of a form fill seal machine which then forms it into bag shapes, fills the bags with product, and seals them shut. Rollstock film is generally economical in cost per bag and can run at high speeds.

Premade bags arrive at the packaging facility already formed into their end bag shape. They are loaded into a pouch fill and seal machine that fills them with product and seals them shut. Premade bags have a premium look that can't be beat, but usually cost more per impression than bags created from rollstock film.

  7.What are packaging machine fillers/dosers and do I need one?

The packaging machine itself does not measure or dispense product. Instead, integrated filling or dosing equipment measures out discrete quantities of product into the packaging machine to be dispensed into the bags. Fillers usually sit above or off to the side of the packaging machine.

Depending upon your needs, different fillers will be recommended. Here are some of the most widely used:

Auger fillers are often used for powder products. This equipment uses a long screw-like mechanism to measure product into bags.

Multi-head scales are often used for solid products. These highly accurate systems use weigh buckets to weigh out product before dropping it into bags.

Liquid pumps usually use a piston mechanism to measure specific volumes of liquid product into bags.

You do not have to have a filler to be able to use a packaging machine. However, if a filler is not present, a human must stand-in. This will limit the system's speed and accuracy. Most of our clients integrate their packaging machine with a filler.

  8.How fast can packaging equipment run?

Packaging equipment speeds are usually represented by bags per minute (BPM), which is how many finished bags can be completed per minute. Machines will usually be rated for a maximum number of bags per minute. Generally, automated flexible packaging machines can be rated for anywhere from 10 - 100 bags per minute.

Actual production speeds, however, depend on many factors. Your product properties, bag sizes and styles, plant environment, and technical skill of operators will all factor in to actual speeds.

The best way to estimate actual production speeds is to send in film/bag and product samples to the packaging machine manufacturer for testing.

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