Is It Safe to Reuse Ziploc Bags?

The Food Safety Science Explained

I’ve noticed more and more of my family and friends washing and reusing their Ziploc bags, and honestly, some of the methods are pretty entertaining.

My brother-in-law and sister slip their washed bags over a water pitcher (kind of like putting a sock on a foot) to make sure they completely dries.

My mom flips the entire dirty bag inside out, scrubbing every crevice like it’s a delicate artifact, then stands them up in her drying rack.

I mean, we’ve all been there — you use a Ziploc bag once, and it still looks fine, so you think… why not reuse it? It saves money, it’s better for the environment… but is it actually safe?

Today, we’re breaking down the science of food safety and plastic storage bags. Can you reuse them? What are the risks? And how do you know when it’s time to toss them for good?

Can You Ever Reuse a Ziploc Bag?

The short answer is… it depends!

Disposable plastic food storage bags can be safely reused if they were used to store dry, non-greasy, and low-risk foods such as bread, crackers, or washed fruits and vegetables.