The Many Uses For Ziploc Bags

Ziploc bags have a zillion practical uses, not only for food storage (leftovers, etc..) but also for organizing, keeping things dry, and so on..

The following list of random practical uses for Ziploc bags will hopefully inspire ideas. Let’s hear from you too with your own uses for a Ziploc bag…

By the way, most all of my bags are the Freezer style (heavier duty).

Ziploc bags can be used for:

A fresh sandwich.

Storing leftover food.

Holding a map while hiking, to keep dry. Map folded in such a way to see the current terrain through the Ziploc bag.

Keeping tinder dry in your kit or in a pack while on the move, so as to facilitate an easier process of building a fire.

Holding a fire-starter, matches, lighter, etc.. to keep dry in kit or a pack.

Scooping and holding water (as a sealed cup), and/or using the SODIS process to purify.

Making a block of ice.

Keeping small portable electronic devices dry (e.g. cell phone).

Storing a roll of toilet paper for your emergency kit, or moist towelettes.

Storing a bunch of food bars for your kit.

Keeping extra cash dry.

Use as a funnel. Fill the bag with whatever you need funneled, and simply pour.

Clothes. Keep fresh pair of socks, etc.. dry while on the go (in your pack).

Marinating your favorite meat.

Keeping medications dry.

Store some dry ammo.

Keep a handgun dry.

Fill up a gallon size Ziploc bag with air for use as a pillow (wrap in a towel for comfort).

Batteries. I use quart size for AA, another for AAA, etc..

Mini First Aid Kit.

Firestarter Kit.

Ziploc Omelet’s: Here’s an interesting use that was input some time ago from a MSB reader…

Two eggs in a zip lock FREEZER quart bag. Gotta be the freezer bag or it won’t be heavy enough. Do this at home before you go camping, that way you don’t have a mess. Make as many bags as your group will individually need. Take fixin’s in separate bags.

Boil water in a medium size pan or kettle large enough to hold a full quart bag. Add fixens to taste – easy to customize each person’s omelet this way – cheese, mushrooms, peppers, bacon, whatever. Mix ’em up and drop one bag at a time into the boiling water for about 3 minutes each.

You can pull the zip lock omelets out, let them cool for a few minutes and pass ’em out with plastic forks. Eat ’em right outtta the bag! When it’s empty – dishes are done! Gotta love it.

Best Price Per Bag?
Gallon Size
Quart Size
(amzn)

 
There are so many ‘keep dry’ and ‘organize’ uses for Ziploc bags, but can you think of any additional unique uses with regards to preparedness, or your emergency kit, etc.. ?

( A Trick To Pulling More Air While Sealing A Ziploc Bag )

[ Read: Ziploc Bag First Aid Kit ]

[ Read: Fire Starter Kit in a Ziploc Bag ]

20 Comments

  1. When out and about in the winter (freezing temps) carrying a handgun. If you bring it inside, moisture will condense on the cold metal. Place the gun in a zip-loc bag and seal. The moisture will collect on the outside of the bag keeping your firearm dry.
    When I ran long distance dog sled races, used to put packets of flavored instant oatmeal in zip-locs. Pour in a little warm water. Massage bag to mix. Cut off a bottom corner and squeeze out the oatmeal. No spoon required. It is a good idea to write on the bag the flavor of the oatmeal, because quite frankly if you don’t you will likely not be able to identify what flavor it is!

  2. i put everything in zip lock bags. most everything i have in my bags go into a zip-lock with a package of desiccant. it really helps to keep things in order and dry.
    been a few months, i need to check the desiccant’s and change my load-out to some extra, warmer clothes for the winter. i have been neglecting doing this for a few weeks.
    i just generally pull everything out of my bags, dump em on the floor, check everything and re-pack.

  3. Far North,
    for 60 yrs i have always used 3-in-one oil and hoppe’s #9 and it has never failed me in any kind of weather.
    you will not change my mind. everyone has what works for them, and that has always worked for me.
    good luck friend

    1. nyscout
      And good luck to you.
      It would be a sorry world if everyone did & thought the same.
      If you don’t mind what part of NY are you in? Anywhere near the Catskills?

  4. Oh, my! What don’t I put in ziplock bags. In addition to cooking eggs in a bag, I put 6 eggs in a quart size bag and freeze them flat in the freezer. They stack well and defrost quickly. I hate throwing out old garden seeds so they go in a bag labeled with the year and go in the freezer. When I buy supplies for a specific sewing project, fabric, thread, zipper, buttons and pattern are stored all together. All my reloading cases are in labeled ziplocs according to caliber: dirty brass, cleaned brass, sized brass. Its easy to grab a bag and process it to the next step in the process. Bags, along with paper towels, are something in don’t want to live without so I’ve stockpiled a few dozen boxes.

  5. I keep some ammo in a ziplock bag and the ziplock goes within a cloth bag with zipper opening. If the bag gets rained on or if it gets dunked or splashed, the ammo will be dry. I carry a gun and ammo outdoors so things will get wet within a daypack or backpack.

  6. When fermenting sour kraut in a square bucket place a zip lock bag full of water on top of the cabbage to keep it submerged.

    1. Thanks. Now why I didn’t think of that! They sell all sorts of ‘fermenting weights’ but I have always resisted buying them.

  7. In my hunting backpack: have gallon sized zip bags: two with kitchen rubber gloves for field processing, two with folded paper towels for knife and me clean up, two empty bags for game delectables carrying. All soiled gloves and towels repacked and carried out. Spare lighters and flashlight batteries in quart zips, same with fire starter stuff. Of course, to many food and snack items (nothing like a chunk or two of chocolate to cure the boring time) and TP zipped up. Same with spare gloves. Also good to pack a cirgar butt, no smell or trash.

  8. I keep all of my battery’s in zip lock bags to keep the rest of my items safe from the ones that leak. I have lost some expensive equipment to these battery’s.

  9. Cell phones go into Zip lock bags on our annual beach vacation to Lake Michigan. Not only keeps the phones dry, but keeps the sand off of them as well. I make up pancake and muffin mixes, from scratch, (dry ingredients only) and put them in bags. I label and date them, and write wet ingredients and directions on the bags. I keep a few of each made up to save time when we need a quick breakfast. My mom keeps her TV remote in a Ziplock.It keeps the symbols/numbers from wearing off.

  10. Reply to Far North: In regards to carrying and storing of guns in waterproof cases: I have heard many people in the far north will keep their rifles outside in a sheltered place. (rafters of a porch or garage) in order to prevent optics from fogging up and minimizing condensation from forming. My own solution was to clean it at the end of every day. ( minimal cleaning that involves running an oiled patch down the bore using high-strength fishing line as a pull through). I got in the habit of cleaning my weapon at the end of my shift from my days of working patrol on dusty roads. This also taught me to wipe off excess oil from my sidearm. (or the gun will look like a dirt clod at the end of a long patrol). Cleaning pull through, small bottle of oil and cotton patch material are all kept within – a Ziplock bag.

    1. Calirefugee
      I’ve done that myself– leaving a rifle outside. However, one time after a couple three weeks of 30 below, then a couple weeks at 40 below. I became concerned about shooting it. Someone I knew of in a similar circumstance was also concerned about shooting his rifle. He held it at arms length and pulled the trigger. Whereupon the metal sling swivels snapped, dropping the sling to the ground. …with extended exposure at these temps metal can become brittle.
      At sub-zero temps. when bringing a firearm into a warm, thus moist room it requires a major cleaning/drying and re-lubing. Thus the zip-loc bag. Long guns go into lawn & leaf bags. The condensation stays on the outside of the bag & the firearm stays dry and warm.
      Take care.

  11. Put a wet sponge in a freezer bag, then freeze for an ice pack. Use water if you want it to freeze hard, or rubbing alcohol if you want it to remain pliable.

  12. Holes in boots. Ziplock or sometimes bread sack will keep feet and socks dry.

  13. Zip lock fishing tackle, flashers etc to keep them from tangling in my tackle boxes…
    also great to have after cleaning smaller fish like trout or bass for carry back to camp.

  14. You forgot the number one reason for ziplock back, to hold your herbal “supplements” lol

  15. – You left out one very important one. Sitting in a deer stand, and your bladder decides, “Hey, you’ve got to go now!” A quart zip-lock bag can save the day, or at least a hunting trip, if you are a guy. Sorry, ladies, I don’t have anything for you of similar importance. Maybe a little bit of ingenuity? Then, just zip it shut and the scent is trapped inside. You will have to be careful of it, but…

    – Papa S.

    1. Papa Smurf they have a little device called the “Lady J” that allows female hunters and truckers the same options.

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