Are Debbie Meyer "Green Bags" Worth It?
I'm a sucker for a good infomercial. I've spent way too much money on fantastic looking products on TV, only to get them home and realize that they're junk and that I've just wasted my money. So I've been skeptical of Debbie Meyer "Green Bags". The commercials claim that they'll keep your produce from spoiling over really amazing amounts of time.
I finally broke down and bought a box of 20 for about $12. I found them in my grocer's produce section (not by the other ziploc bags and such).
Before taking them all out of the box, I decided to do an experiment. I took two bananas off of a bunch that I'd just purchased. One went in the bag, and the other didn't. I put them aside in the same corner of my kitchen so they'd see the same light and temperature conditions. After 3 days, I compared them, and here's what I found:
You can see in this following picture that the banana in the bag looks like it just came off the bunch. The stem is firm and still green. The other banana...not so. The banana is starting to show signs of aging and softening.
Interesting, but compelling? Not really. BUT THEN....
Then, I cleaned a bunch of grapes that I planned to bring on the airplane for our vacation. I couldn't fit them all in the carry-on, so I put them in a green bag to see what would happen.
You know how grapes practically whither in 30 minutes once you take them off the stem? And how they get a bit soft and slimy even if you leave them in the fridge?
Well, take a look at these beauties:
That did it for me. I am completely and totally sold on these bags. I'm going to do some shopping and try to stock up before my garden produce really starts coming ripe. I'm so thrilled to have found these things!
Now, if Miss Meyer and her people could come up with some sort of facial cream to take care of my signs of aging. I'm tempted to poke a few holes in a green bag and sleep with one over my head tonight! :)
Give 'em a try, they definitely work for me!
BTW...I did a post last week Wednesday, but never got around to linking it to WFMW. If you'd like to read about the Best Parenting Tip Ever, click on over.
Otherwise, head back to Rocks In My Dryer for more WFMW tips.
Thanks for stopping by!
Thanks for posting this! I found my way here through WFMW at Rocks in My Dryer. I have been contemplating buying these green bags but put it off because I didn't want to waste my money on something that didn't work. Thanks for proving that they really DO work! :)
Thanks for sharing your experiment. I always wonder if these really work or not. It sounds like a great thing for us to try - I always complain about our fruits and veggies spoiling so soon!
I'm another that was on the fence whether to buy these or not - thats for taking the guesswork out of it for me!
I was wondering if that worked. Thanks for trying them out and sharing.
Wow! Looks like Debbi Meyer has a new customer for her green bags, thanks to you! (I think she should slip you a few extras for helping peddle her product, don't you?)
Hey...yeah!!
I've wondered if these works and may have to try them. Our produce always goes bad so fast. Thanks!
I wondered about this product. I am glad someone tried it and told us. BTW, welcome home. Hope you had a great trip.
Just wanted to say - I totally agree!
I was wondering for the longest time if they worked and I finally broke down and bought some too. I did the same thing with the bananas that you did. What sold me was strawberries. I put some in a bag and stuck them in the fridge... and forgot abut them. 3 weeks, yep 3 WEEKS later, they were still edible - awesome! I love them too!
Never heard of these, but now I'm off in search of them! You instantly sold me with that photo of the grapes!
Thanks for this post. I too have been wondering if these were a rip-off or not, and have wanted to try them but didn't want to spend the money if they were a waste. I'm going to get some as soon as the next Bed, Bath & Beyond coupon comes in!
My mom gave me some and I love them. They work for fresh herbs and green onions (which always used to get slimy and withered) too.
You are hilarious about putting one on your head, but hey, I wouldn't be above it! I have never heard of these until now, thanks for a great tip.
OK... You got me with the grapes. SOLD!
My great aunt gave me some green bags and I have been SO impressed with how they keep lettuce from going bad! Now, since I didn't pay for them, of course it is worth it for me. But just to let you know, I have been thinking about buying some more - hoping to find a good price soon! I can assure you, you won't be disappointed in all the good veggies and fruit that DOESN'T go bad on you! Thanks for sharing!
You've totally sold me! I'll be looking for them in my grocery store at my next visit.
Thanks for sharing your experiment.
I love the green bags!!! They do work great.. With Vegies in the fridge.. its really amazing. You can get them on qvc.com or hsn.com at a better price usually. hahaah I see them demonstrated on those programs.
Thanks for testing those out! I have been wondering about them. I'll have to go and get some.
Okay - but WHY do they work?
My boyfriend wants to get those bags because we are both terrible about eating produce before it's bad.
I asked him what did he think makes the bags keep produce fresh.
He said, "I dunno. Chemicals?"
Yeah... they are not in my house yet.
Since you conducted the experiment - and presumably have the packaging... what's the story?
How do they work? Well, I suppose we'll never now the entire story...trade secrets and all.
The package says the following:
"They absorb and remove damanging gases: Most fruits, vegetables and flowers release ethylene gases during the natural ripening process after harvest. Exposure of the produce to these gases accelerates aging and deterioration."
Personally, I take comfort in the fact that the package says that they're re-usable. If they were lined with some sort of chemical to reduce aging, I imaging it would wear off over time and the bags would not be re-usable.
Thanks. I'll have to do some research.
I appreciate the info and the effort.
BTW your family is too too cute. Hubby too.