7 Best Reusable Produce Bags for Fruits and Veggies 2021

7 best reusable produce bags of 2021

Make the Earth happy with these eco-friendly bags for fruits and veggies.

7 best reusable produce bags of 2021

Make the Earth happy with these eco-friendly bags for fruits and veggies.

If you think you might be using too much plastic, there's a good chance much of it is coming from your weekly trip to the grocery store. Stocking up on produce usually means tearing off several plastic bags per visit — and that can have a negative impact on the environment. But if you're looking for a more sustainable, eco-friendly alternative, reusable produce bags offer an easy and convenient solution to plastic produce bags.

In the , we assess everyday sustainable alternatives like reusable grocery bags, straws, baggies and sandwich bags, and of course, produce bags. We tested these using performance evaluations like quality of the bag's top closure and resistance to accidental opening; durability evaluations to review the bag's construction and ability to stand up to wear and tear, and resist fraying; and ease of use evaluations to determine how easy it is to open and close the bag, fill the bag and carry the bag.

We also note how easy it is to clean the produce bags and give points for a wide selection of size options. In some cases, we have sent produce bags home with consumer testers who rate the bags based on their personal grocery shopping experience and overall satisfaction. After testing a wide rage of green produce bags, we've determined the best reusable produce bags, whether you're looking for the best reusable produce bags in cotton and mesh as well as those that are best for greens and keeping produce fresh.

The below picks (or similar versions) include top-tested picks from Lab and consumer testing or road-tested favorites of our experts and editors. Here are the best reusable produce bags to buy:

Lotus Produce Bag

BEST OVERALL REUSABLE PRODUCE BAG

Produce Bags

amazon.com

$24.99

$16.99

Experts in the GH Kitchen Appliances Lab and the GH Cleaning Lab, plus the GH Institute director swears by these ultra-durable reusable produce bags. In fact, products from Lotus Reusable Bag consistently outperform competitors in our tests. Consumer reviews on Amazon for the 9-piece set are equally outstanding, with no rating under 4.8. They are versatile, easy to use and easy to close. Rest assured they also stay closed thanks to the highly effective bead closure on the drawstring, so you'll never have to worry about things falling out of the bag during transport. They're perfect for all kinds of veggies, including greens but can also be used for travel, corralling toy pieces and more.

Purifyou

BEST REUSABLE PRODUCE BAG FOR BULK BUYS

Purifyou Reusable Mesh Produce Bags

amazon.com

$13.97

These mesh produce bags are made of polyester, so they're durable without being heavy. Each has a colorful tag attached that states the bag's tare weight (a.k.a. the weight of an empty bag), which makes it much easier to purchase produce sold by weight. This set comes with three different sizes, ranging from 12x8 inches to 12x17 inches so you can fit bigger items (like heads of lettuce).

Natural Home

BEST VALUE REUSABLE PRODUCE BAG

Reusable Produce Bags

amazon.com

$8.90

Coming out to just over a dollar each, this set of five produce bags is a good choice if you're new to using reusable bags — you can try them out for the price of your morning latte. And if you find yourself constantly forgetting to use them, at least they can take on another purpose (like as a small laundry bag to keep your socks together!).

Simple Ecology

BEST REUSABLE PRODUCE BAG FOR GRAINS AND NUTS

Reusable Organic Muslin Produce Bags

amazon.com

$17.95

If you're buying more than just fruits and veggies at the store, these muslin bags are a better alternative to mesh. Because there are no holes, these are great for smaller foods like grains, nuts, flour, and sugar because won't fall through. The product page features a handy chart to help you figure out what fits in each size bag available. Plus, they're certified by the Global Organic Textile Standard (GOTS) for Ecology and Social Responsibility

PackIt

BEST REUSABLE PRODUCE BAG FOR KEEPING FOOD COLD

Freezable Grocery Tote Bag

amazon.com

$23.93

PackIt's grocery tote bags have a freezable gel liner, so you can be sure that your produce stays at a safe temperature until you get home. One of the brand's other lunch bags was our best tested in the category — it was the only one to stay at a safe temperature for 5 1/2 hours. To use it, fold it flat and put it in the freezer the night before you plan to head out shopping. In the morning, pull it out and you're ready to shop.

Flip and Tumble

BEST SINGLE-SIZE REUSABLE PRODUCE BAG SET

Reusable Produce Bags

amazon.com

$12.99

These reusable bags have color-coded tags, so you can use the same one for a specific type of produce each week if you prefer. They're all the same size, too, so you don't have to worry about grabbing one that's too small. One Reddit user in has been using these eco-friendly bags every week for years without noticing much wear or tear.

IKEA

Most Stylish Reusable Produce Bag

KUNGSFORS Net Produce Bags

ikea.com

$5.99

These bags from Ikea have wide netting, so you can safely store your fruits and veggies in them without worrying about ventilation. They also have carrying handles that let them double as regular grocery bags (and look stylish when hanging on hooks in your kitchen!). They come as a set of two.

Hearst Owned

What to look for when shopping

Material: The produce bags in our roundup (with the exception of PackIt) are all made of cotton or polyester. explains.

Cotton is typically more sustainable and feels natural and luxe, she says, and gets stronger when wet so you don’t have to worry about water dripping from products and/or humid areas.
Muslin is a type of cotton fabric that's typically lightweight and breathable; from an airflow standpoint, it’s a great choice.
Polyester is more durable and affordable than cotton, so it’s good if you’re on a budget, but dirt and oil can stick to it more easily and therefore, it requires more cleaning.

Weave: The smaller the holes, the less likely food will fall through. The larger the holes, the more accommodating of irregular-shaped ingredients. Tighter knits trap more stains, though both types should be washed often. Weave type also directly affects air flow (the more air that most refrigerated ingredients are exposed to, the quicker they'll go bad, although fruits and veggies that don't belong in the fridge, like potatoes and onions, benefit from air flow.)

Weight: The lighter, the better, so you can bunch them up easily for storage and not run up the cost of your grocery bill when the items are weighed at the register — a way around this is to look for bags that list the tare weight so cashiers can easily take that into account.

Closure: They way produce bags close is important even though it seems like a small detail. Look for zippers or stoppers on drawstrings to help prevent spills.

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7 best reusable produce bags of 2021

Make the Earth happy with these eco-friendly bags for fruits and veggies.

Produce Bags

Purifyou Reusable Mesh Produce Bags

Reusable Produce Bags

Reusable Organic Muslin Produce Bags

Freezable Grocery Tote Bag

Reusable Produce Bags

KUNGSFORS Net Produce Bags

What to look for when shopping

Top Picks

����vlog

7 best reusable produce bags of 2021

Make the Earth happy with these eco-friendly bags for fruits and veggies.

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Produce Bags

Purifyou Reusable Mesh Produce Bags

Reusable Produce Bags

Reusable Organic Muslin Produce Bags

Freezable Grocery Tote Bag

Reusable Produce Bags

KUNGSFORS Net Produce Bags

What to look for when shopping

Top Picks

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