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We updated this article in March 2022 to add more information about each featured product, based on testing done by the Good Housekeeping Institute and update product links. Our original top-rated picks, selected by the Kitchen Appliances and Culinary Innovation Lab, remain the same.
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 fruits, veggies and other 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 ones.
In the Good Housekeeping Institute Kitchen Appliances and Culinary Innovation Lab, we assess everyday sustainable alternatives like reusable grocery bags, straws, baggies and sandwich bags, and of course, produce bags. The below picks 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:
- Best Overall Reusable Produce Bag: Lotus Produce Bags Reusable Netted Mesh Bags
- Best Value Reusable Produce Bag: Natural Home Reusable Produce Bags
- Best Reusable Produce Bag for Bulk Buys: Purifyou Reusable Mesh Produce Bags
- Most Stylish Reusable Produce Bag: IKEA Kungsfors Net Produce Bags
- Best Reusable Produce Bag for Grains and Nuts: Simple Ecology Reusable Organic Muslin Produce Bags
- Best Reusable Produce Bag for Keeping Food Cold: PackIt Freezable Grocery Bag
- Best Single-Size Reusable Produce Bag Set: Flip and Tumble Reusable Produce Bags
Pros
Durable construction and strong closure- Tight mesh helps contain items
- Easy to wash and care for
Cons
- Material can feel slippery
Experts in the Good Housekeeping Institute Kitchen Appliances Lab and Cleaning Lab swear by these ultra-durable reusable produce bags. In fact, products from the Lotus brand consistently outperform competitors in our tests. Consumer reviews on Amazon for the nine-piece set are equally outstanding: " You can sort groceries while they're being bagged at the market which makes it efficient when putting them away at home," says a rave reviewer. 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.
Pros
- Lightweight
- Easy to clean
- Nice price
Cons
- Drawstring closure lacks stopper bead
At just over a dollar each, this set of five produce bags is a good choice if you're new to using reusable bags and don't want to make a financial commitment to fancier ones. The mesh polyester breathes to keep fruits and veggies fresher, and they're machine washable between uses (just keep them out of the dryer). And if you find yourself constantly forgetting to use them, they can take on another purpose (like a small laundry bag to keep your socks together!).
Pros
- Lighweight
- Easy to fold
Cons
- Flimsy drawstring and closure
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 sized bags, ranging from 12x8 inches to 12x17 inches so you can fit bigger items like heads of lettuce.
RELATED: The Best Reusable Grocery Bags to Store Meat and Snacks
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Pros
- Flexible size
- Stylish design
- Easy to hang near your front door or in a pantry
Cons
- Handle isn't long enough to throw over your shoulder
- Small items fall through holes
These bags from IKEA have wide netting, so you can safely store your fruits and veggies in them without worrying about ventilation. Since the bag isn't structured, it allows you to fit oddly shaped or extra-large fruits and veggies. And compared to structured bags, you can fit plenty. 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.
BEST REUSABLE PRODUCE BAG FOR GRAINS AND NUTS
Simple Ecology Reusable Organic Muslin Produce Bags
Pros
- GOTS certified
- Durable construction
Cons
- Not see-through
If you're buying more than just fruits and veggies, these muslin bags are a better alternative to mesh. Because there are no holes like many mesh produce bags, these are great for smaller bulk foods like grains, nuts, flour and sugar because they won't fall through. Plus, they're certified by the Global Organic Textile Standard (GOTS) for Ecology and Social Responsibility.
BEST REUSABLE PRODUCE BAG FOR KEEPING FOOD COLD
PackIt Freezable Grocery Tote Bag
Now 12% Off
Pros
- PVC-, BPA-, phthalate- and lead-free
- Stable, wide bottom design
- Easy to clean inside and out
Cons
- Shoulder strap is not adjustable
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 go.
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BEST SINGLE-SIZE REUSABLE PRODUCE BAG SET
Flip and Tumble Reusable Produce Bags
Pros
- Great for large and long items
- Made of durable polyester
- Color-coded tabs
Cons
- Drawstring closure lacks stopper bead
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 r/ZeroWaste has been using these eco-friendly bags every week for years without noticing much wear and tear.
What to look for when shopping for produce bags
✔️Material: The produce bags in our roundup (with the exception of PackIt) are all made of cotton or polyester. Lexie Sachs, Textiles Director of the Good Housekeeping Institute explains:
- Cotton is typically more sustainable and feels natural and luxe, she says. It 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 airflow. The more air that most refrigerated ingredients are exposed to, the quicker they'll go bad. Fruits and veggies that don't belong in the fridge, like potatoes and onions, benefit from airflow.
✔️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: The way produce bags close is important even though it seems like a small detail. Look for zippers or drawstrings with stoppers to help prevent spills.
How we test reusable produce bags
In the Good Housekeeping Institute Kitchen Appliances and Culinary Innovation Lab, we test reusable produce bags 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.
We picked this list based on a combination of expert recommendations and road tests. In some cases, we send produce bags home with consumer testers who rate the bags based on their personal grocery shopping experience and overall satisfaction.
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Do mesh bags keep produce fresh?
While the average disposable plastic produce bags available in most supermarkets may seem like a fine option, they can actually cut the shelf-life of your produce if you don’t leave them open. Plastic traps moisture, but reusable mesh bags allow air to circulate, which can help prevent premature spoilage.
Why trust Good Housekeeping?
This roundup was written by Amina Lake Abdelrahman, a former editorial assistant at the Good Housekeeping Institute. Amina worked closely with the below Lab experts who test products, collect data and provide insight to bring you the latest and best reusable produce bags on the market.
Nicole Papantoniou runs the Good Housekeeping Kitchen Appliances and Culinary Innovation Lab where she oversees all content and testing related to cooking products. She is trained in classic culinary arts and is a professional recipe developer.
The Executive Director of the Textiles, Paper & Apparel Lab at the Good Housekeeping Institute, Lexie Sachs has a Bachelor of Science degree in fiber science from Cornell University and has more than 15 years of experience in the textiles industry. She has extensively tested all fiber-based products using specialized lab equipment and with hundreds of consumer testers.
Amina Lake Abdelrahman
Amina is a product review writer and editor who worked as an editorial assistant in the Good Housekeeping Institute from 2018 to 2020, writing original content based on GH Lab experts' product testing and analysis. Amina graduated from Montclair State University with a B.A. in communication studies and journalism.
Nicole Papantoniou
Kitchen Appliances & Innovation Lab Director
Nicole (she/her) is the director of the Good Housekeeping Institute's Kitchen Appliances and Innovation Lab, where she has overseen content and testing related to kitchen and cooking appliances, tools and gear since 2019. She’s an experienced product tester and recipe creator, trained in classic culinary arts and culinary nutrition. She has worked in test kitchens for small kitchen appliance brands and national magazines, including Family Circle and Ladies’ Home Journal.
