Silicone Food Bags- More than meets the eye

What is silicone?
Is a compound that uses silica aka sand as the base material for forming a variety of resin, greases, and rubber like compounds.  These materials are useful because they are very chemically stable and heat/cold resistant.  They are generally considered safe to use in a wide variety of products including food storage or preparation applications which is the main focus of this post.

What I like about the bags
One of the main things I like about the bags is their durability.  I have used silicone food bags for years and they have essentially replaced all my single-use plastic bag use.  They are easy to wash both by hand and in the dishwasher.  The ones I sell also come with a slide on clip that holds the bag shut in an air tight seal.  They are useful for storing fresh and dried foodstuffs at any common kitchen temperature from the freezer to the cooktop.
These bags also come with a gusseted bottom which allows them to stand on their own when filling them.  This particular feature does work better once you get something in them but with a little practice, you can get them to stand up on their own.  
They also make great travel containers for bringing your own lunch or hauling other loose supplies around with you. 

What I don’t like about the bag
Probably the biggest complaint I have about them is the time they can take to dry after you wash them.  They have a tendency to close themselves up when wet which traps moisture in the bag.  This can be easily fixed by gently turning them inside out to dry or by placing them on a dish drying rack that keeps them open.   
Also, even the biggest bag I sell is still a bit smaller than the standard gallon bag.  This can make it a bit deceiving on what will actually fit if you are comparing it to a standard gallon bag.

Final Thoughts  
Overall I love my silicone food bags but they do come with some controversy.  While food-grade silicone is considered chemically stable and therefore safe to use around food, the body of research confirming that is a bit on the light side.  There have been some studies that have shown chemical leaching into their surroundings when exposed to some oils or high heat.  However, all the research I could find only showed that when the silicone was exposed to oils for long periods (72 hours) or heat above 428 degrees.  The question I raise in the face of that is how often are you the common person doing that to your silicone bags.

I would guess not often….

So, in general, I feel comfortable using them for the storage of dry goods, food in the fridge and freezer.  While technically I could even cook in them it’s when you apply heat that also sorts of strange things begin to happen so I generally avoid it and stick with glass and cast iron for cooking and baking.  

So if these bags interest you check them out here.    

Sources:
https://sehsc.americanchemistry.com/sehsc/What-Are-Silicones/

https://www.britannica.com/topic/inorganic-polymers-1462212#ref1000410