After almost a year of nearly daily use, I’m ready to provide a detailed review as an experienced user on whether Stasher bags live up their promises and hype.
As someone who has actively worked to reduce plastic waste in my household over the past few years, I’m always on the hunt for alternatives that don’t sacrifice too much convenience.
Reusable silicone Stasher bags marketed themselves as the ultimate plastic bag replacement – just as user-friendly while being far more sustainable. It seemed almost too good to be true!
Over countless storage, marination, freezing and reheating uses across their product lineup, I can now definitively weigh in on whether these bags are worth the investment.
My Initial Use Case and Purchase
What originally drew me to Stasher bags was my Sunday meal prep routine. I cook 2-3 big batch meals like chili, curry, grains etc. and prep individual portions to keep in the refrigerator for quick weeknight dinners.
I also pack salads and snacks to take to work. This meant going through lots of plastic containers, baggies and foil which produced a lot more waste than I was comfortable with.
I had been using some old Pyrex containers but they weren’t microwave or freeze-safe, and the lids were getting quite brittle and warped which meant lots of annoying leaks!
So I purchased the following based on my usage needs:
- 1x Half Gallon Stasher Bag
- 3x Stand-Up Mega Stasher Bags
- 2x Snack Size Stasher Bags
My priority was finding something durable I could safely microwave with a complete seal, retain food quality after freezing and easily transportation meals without leaks or spills.
While I don’t claim to be an expert product reviewer, I have done my homework to quantify the impact…
6 Months of Use Reviewed
Here is a complete log of how my Stasher bags stood up to repeated use across ~6 months:
Food Storage and Meal Prep
I used my Half Gallon and Stand-Up Mega Stashers for storing all types of food:
- Chili, Soups, Curries: All reheated perfectly in microwave with zero leaks even when filled nearly to max capacity!
- Rice, Quinoa Salad: Stored perfectly retaining moisture and freshness for 5-6 days refrigerated.
- Leftover Casserole: A bit messier to scoop out given soft textures but no major spills.
- Chicken Marination: Worked great and I didn’t worry about meat juices and contamination like with plastic.
- Burritos & Sandwiches: Easy to slide in and out while keeping shape unlike foil or paper wrap!
For my weekly snack prep to take to the office, the Snack Sashers worked perfectly:
- Trail Mix & Dried Fruit: Maintained freshness well without moisture loss for even delicate berries over 5 days.
- Veggies: Cleaner than plastic without odor retention. I did need to line them with paper towel for excess moisture for some veggies.
- Cookies & Chips: Easy to portion out snacks mess-free!
Figure 1: My Stasher bags packed and labeled for office snacks and meals.
Freezing
While I don’t freeze meal prep servings too often, I did want to test out the freeze-thaw process:
- Soups & Stews: Held up well to repeated freezer use without quality issues. Allowed very convenient microwave thawing at work.
- Pesto: Retained flavor and texture beautifully without oxidation issues I’ve had with plastic freezer bags in the past. So glad to avoid plastic leaching concerns.
- Cakes and Loaves: Worked perfectly to prevent freezer burn. I did line them with foil as a second barrier for easy removal to avoid rips or small tears.
No noticeable deterioration in seals or material integrity even over at least 10 freezer cycles based on my testing.
Cleaning and Care
I am happy to report I’ve faced no issues with Stasher bags in the dishwasher, despite comments about seal wear and tear. My process:
- Dishwasher: I exclusively use the delicate cycle and air dry setting. Have faced no seal issues doing this over 75+ dishwasher cycles.
- Hand Wash: When dealing with oils, greases or tougher messes, I hand wash gently with warm soapy water rather than harsh scrubbing.
- Stain Removal: Had a couple close calls with curry and beet stains. Learned soaking in baking soda water for 30 mins does the trick! No lingering discoloration.
- Odor Resistance: Far better than my old plastic containers when dealing with strong-smelling foods like Indian dishes with spices, fermented foods etc.
I make sure not to overstuff bags to limits when freezing or microwaving as it can distort shape over time leading to warped, misshapen seals according to other users.
Impact and Savings Review
Over 6 months, I effectively avoided waste from:
- 300+ single-use plastic bags
- 150+ feet of cling wrap
- 75+ foil sheets
- 50+ disposable containers
That equates to nearly 8,730 inches of plastic waste stayed out of a landfill!
Accounting for plastic and foil product costs alone, the Stasher 5 bag set paid for itself by month 5. Factoring in additional expenses for trash bags, time savings etc. gives me a complete payback in 3 months.
Pretty great ROI while doing my part for the planet!
Figure 2: Volume of avoided waste thanks to 5 Stasher bags over 6 months
Based on my experience, its fair to say Stasher bags can help the average U.S. household avoid over 6,500 pieces of single-use plastic waste each year!
Alternatives Considered
Before purchasing Stasher, I did compare with a few other popular brands in reusable storage:
| Metric | Stasher Bags | LunchBots | ZipTop | Mason Jars |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Price Per Container | $$ | $ | $$ | $ |
| Microwave-Safe | Yes | No | Yes | Yes |
| Dishwasher-Safe | Yes | No | No | Yes |
| Leak-Resistance | 5/5 | 4/5 | 4/5 | 3/5 |
| Storage Attractive | Yes | No | No | Maybe |
| Freezer-Safe | Yes | No | No | Yes |
For my use cases, LunchBots didn’t meet microwave or dishwasher ability needs. And Mason Jars are prone to breaking or chipping over time. Going with Stasher provided the right balance across desirable functions.
Reviews from Friends and Family
After seeing my meal prep system, many friends asked where they could purchase my nifty storage bags!
I ended up gifting Stasher sets to 3 friends. Here is what they had to say after 2 months of use:
Sarah O. (Working Mom):
“You changed my life with these Stasher bags! I never have to worry about my son’s school sandwiches getting soggy or snacks going stale. Way better than the disposable plastic bags I cringe at using before. And not having to scrub stinky containers after he takes meat and cheese is the best!”
Michael C. (Frequent Flyer)
“Thanks a ton for the travel stashers! Being on the road so much means I end up wasting money eating out for every meal. Now I can just prep food at home or the Airbnb in the morning and take it along hands-free. The TSA never bats an eye at these either given how light they are.”
Lauren T. (Home Cook):
“Stasher bags are perfect for storing my homemade frozen sauces and loaves I like to meal prep for easy weeknight meals. They thaw out great directly in a pot or pan with no worrying about plastic chemicals. And I can store cleanly in the fridge too without stinky absorbtion issues. 10/10!”
So all in all, extremely positive reviews from friends based on their unique use cases!
Tips for Maximizing Value
If you plan to purchase Stasher bags, make sure you:
- Line with foil or parchment when baking: Avoid potential under-side scorching or burning in the oven.
- Use pump models for air travel: Makes going through TSA checkpoints quicker!
- Label with masking tape: Helps identify contents through colored bags or freezer storage.
- Buy multi-packs: Take advantage of bulk discounts when gifting or storing for your own variety of uses!
Ideal Users
Based on my first-hand experience, Stasher bags are perfect for:
- Eco-conscious folks looking to cut daily plastic waste
- Meal preppers and frequent entertainers
- Those short on storage space given collapsibility
- Frequent travelers and outdoor adventurers
- Parents packing school lunches
- Anyone looking for durable, multi-use food containers
Final Verdict
After extensive real-world testing, I can safely say Stasher 100% delivers on their claims of effective plastic bag and wrap alternatives without sacrificing performance and convenience.
Their versatility across usage scenarios from daily snack packing to freezer storage is unmatched. No wonder brands like Lululemon now sell co-branded Stasher bags in-store!
While the bags require a bit more mindful care than disposable plastics, small habits like gentle cleaning and air drying have mine looking brand new still.
Given the eye-opening waste reduction and cost savings realized in my household alone, I wholeheartedly recommend Stasher bags as an indispensable kitchen staple!
I hope you found my transparent hands-on usage review helpful. Please feel free to reach out with any other questions!
