Glad SimplyCooking Microwave Steaming Bags

[Jamie Lee]

http://www.glad.com/simplycooking/

I'm intrigued, and put off for a number of reasons.

In the "for" category:

1. No dishes to wash.

2. No Microwave cooking gear to buy.

3. The ability to wash and package fresh veggies right from store or farmers market - "Just in Time".

4. Single serve portions (great for a "cooking for one" gal)

In the "against" category:

1. They aren't recyclable, or re-usable.

2. Because they are not re-usable, it's throw away money.

3. They are a waste of earth resources, and aren't green.

Thoughts? Has anyone used them?

[sparrowgrass]

Your "against" reasons decide it for me.

Why not microwave in a glass bowl? The washing up is no big deal, since nothing should be cooked onto the dish.

[paulraphael]

no interest in using them for steaming, but i wonder if they could be used as low-tech sous vide bags or for making stock (as in the current thread on making stock with a small amount of liquid in a sealed bag).

are these things sealed or vented?

[Toliver]

are these things sealed or vented?

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They're vented. The FAQ on the website also confirms that they are not recyclable. Shame on them.

[jgm]

Most of the time, you can steam vegetables in the same dish you serve them in.

[Preserver]

i think that everyone is right.. not recycling is bad. food in bowl and a microwavable top works for me. i don't use plastic wrap, but instead it's the flexible cutting board which is designed for microwave's . here it is..

www.chop-chop.com

[Kayakado]

I agree with all the cons. They were demo'ing these at Sam's Club the other week with broccoli. I think they were doing a brisk business on the taste of the broccoli alone. Of course, most of the customers enthralled with them had probably never had fresh steamed broccoli before. I live in the south where they boil everything for hours with a ham hock. If it started out green, it won't be when they are done. My elderly neighbor was ready to buy. I just bought a bag of the fresh broccoli and told her I'd show her how to make some in a bowl in the microwave.

[Dianabanana]

All of the above, plus I wouldn't trust that plastic not to leach scary stuff into my food when heated.

[JAZ]

All of the above, plus I wouldn't trust that plastic not to leach scary stuff into my food when heated.

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This from the FAQ section:

Will the plastic transfer to my food?

No. Concern about heating plastics comes from the use of chemical additives known as plasticizers in plastics made of polyvinyl chloride (PVC). GLAD® does not use PVC plastics in its products. GLAD® SimplyCooking™ Microwave Steaming Bags are made with ingredients/plastics that comply with FDA regulations, and are safe for microwave cooking.

[Dianabanana]

All of the above, plus I wouldn't trust that plastic not to leach scary stuff into my food when heated.

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This from the FAQ section:

Will the plastic transfer to my food?

No. Concern about heating plastics comes from the use of chemical additives known as plasticizers in plastics made of polyvinyl chloride (PVC). GLAD® does not use PVC plastics in its products. GLAD® SimplyCooking™ Microwave Steaming Bags are made with ingredients/plastics that comply with FDA regulations, and are safe for microwave cooking.

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Nice, but, to me at least, unpersuasive. I know glass and hot food is safe; I don't know if plastic and hot food is safe, and I'm not convinced that the FDA knows yet either.

Not that the FDA isn't infallible and all . . .