Plastic pollution is becoming more and more of a problem; truck fulls of it gets dumped into our landfills every day. If you are trying to cut down on your plastic use, one way to do that is to use reusable produce bags. It’s amazing how much you can cut down on your economic footprint by not using plastic produce bags at the store. Just by searching online for produce bags, you can be overwhelmed by the different types and brands of reusable bags. To help out, we’ve compiled a list of what we think are the 7 best reusable produce bags, along with some basic tips to help you pick which style is best for you.
No time? No worries! Check out our top picks of reusable produce bags, below.
Our Top Picks
Best Overall: Organic Cotton Mesh Bags This is our top pick for the best reusable produce bags. They are made of organic cotton and are highly rated. | |
Best Budget: Gogooda Reusable Produce Bags This pack of 15 produce bags has an exceptionally low price considering the high product quantity. | |
Best Muslin: Organic Cotton Muslin Bags These organic cotton muslin bags are sturdy and perfect for carrying anything from your local grocer! | |
Best for storage: Reusable Cotton Mesh Bags Perfect for storing bulk produce items such as potatoes and onions, these extra-large bags will get the job done. | |
Best for the market: Zero Waste Produce Bag These adorable bags are available in many colors and are perfect for a trip to farmers’ markets. |
Best Nylon Bag: Eco-friendly Nylon Mesh Bags The best reusable nylon produce bags on the market are lightweight but sturdy. | |
Most Durable: GreeOn Eco-friendly Produce Bags Made of biodegradable hemp cotton, these bags are incredibly robust and are entirely free of plastic! |
1. Organic Cotton Mesh Bags
The best reusable produce bags overall
Brand: Organic Cotton Mart | Material: Organic Cotton | Type: Mesh | Price: 💰💰
These mesh reusable produce bags from Organic Cotton Mart are made of organic cotton and come in various sizes. They are very durable and are great for dry storage or even for refrigerator use. If you want to go to your grocery store with these, they come with their weight sewn into the label, so your grocer can easily deduct the weight from your produce purchase.
Buyers were pleased with these mesh produce bags, overall. They were easy to clean, were made of high-quality materials, and were just the right size for buyers’ needs. There were only a few complaints, one person stating theirs did not arrive and another mentioning the tag was sewn into the seam of one of their bags.
Reviewers Like
- It’s easy to clean
- They are high-quality
- Bags are the perfect size
Reviewers Dislike
- The bags didn’t arrive
- The tag was sewn into the stitching
2. Gogooda Reusable Produce Bags
The best budget reusable produce bags
Brand: Gogooda | Material: BPA-Free Polyester | Type: Mesh | Price: 💰
These reusable produce bags come in a pack of 15, yes 15, and come in 3 different sizes. They are made of BPA, lead, and mercury-free polyester. It may seem counterintuitive to buy something plastic to cut down on plastic. However, ultimately you will still use significantly fewer plastic bags if you use these instead. They are designed to last for years, and you can get a 100% money-back guarantee from Gogooda if you are unhappy with your purchase. Our favorite thing about these is the low price for how many bags you get!
Although there weren’t many negative reviews, the ones that were negative all mentioned the same issue: the bags didn’t keep veggies fresh for more than a couple of days. However, the vast majority of positive reviews were about how effectively these bags kept their vegetables fresh. These are some pretty contradictory reviews! Overall, I have to assume that these bags work well, but it is worth noting that they didn’t work out for some people.
Reviewers Like
- Bags are sturdy
- They keep produce fresh
- They hold up in the wash
Reviewers Dislike
- It did not keep vegetables fresh
- The bags are made of plastic (polyester)
3. Organic Cotton Muslin Bags
The best muslin reusable produce bags
Brand: Organic Cotton Mart | Material: Organic Cotton | Type: Muslin | Price: 💰💰💰
These cloth produce bags by Organic Cotton Mart are made of 100% organic cotton muslin. These come in a pack of 6 of various sizes, and you can pick between other size combos as well. They are also available on Amazon for slightly cheaper. However, they are frequently on sale on their website, so you might want to take advantage of that! They don’t have handles but have drawstrings to close your produce bags securely.
Overall, buyers loved these produce bags. They found them high-quality, perfect for various produce, and the perfect plastic bag alternative. There was one negative comment mentioning that they received the wrong type of bag (mesh instead of muslin), and another stating they never received their order. However, the one who didn’t receive their order was given a refund by the company.
Reviewers Like
- The bags are high-quality
- They’re perfect for vegetable storage
- They are a great alternative to plastic bags
Reviewers Dislike
- Never received order
- Received mesh instead of muslin bags
4. Reusable Cotton Mesh Bags
The best reusable produce bags for storing
Brand: All Cotton and Linen | Material: Organic Cotton | Type: Mesh | Price: 💰💰💰💰
These cotton mesh produce bags are the best reusable produce bags for storing due to their capacity. Although they also sell smaller bags, the linked ones are their extra-large, large, and medium sizes. This is perfect for storing potatoes or onions, vegetables that don’t need to be refrigerated but need something to be stored in the meantime.
Reviewers express satisfaction with these reusable bags. They believed they were an excellent investment to reduce plastic waste and loved the variety of sizes. They were also happy that the bags were well-made and sturdy. However, there were some complaints that the bags shrank in the wash and a couple of mentions of the bags not being well-made. However, overwhelmingly, customers were very pleased with these bags, just keep your thumb on laundry routines.
Reviewers Like
- They are a good investment
- The various sizes are perfect
- They are very well-made bags
Reviewers Dislike
- They shrank in the wash
- They were not well-made
5. Zero Waste Produce Bag
The best market reusable produce bags
Brand: SpruceAndPineCo | Material: Cotton | Type: Mesh | Price: 💰💰💰
These reusable cotton produce bags from SpruceAndPineCo are the perfect vegetable or fruit bags for your trips to farmer’s market. They are available on Etsy and come in an array of beautiful colors, as well as several neutral tones for those who prefer the rustic look. These bags are woven into a loose mesh, and are lightweight, but also can hold all your produce. They are sold individually, but the price is relatively low, and they are great quality bags.
Overall, buyers loved these reusable produce bags. They are colorful and fun, as well as being functional and durable, according to customers. Several were also impressed with the bag’s capacity, given its medium size. A few customers thought the bags were slightly smaller than they anticipated, and one mentioned the handles being a bit shorter than their preference.
Reviewers Like
- The bags are very cute and fun
- It holds more than it looks like it will
- They are highly functional and sturdy
Reviewers Dislike
- Slightly smaller than desired
- Handles a bit shorter than anticipated
6. Eco-friendly Nylon Mesh Bags
The best nylon reusable produce bags
Brand: Naturally Sensible | Material: Nylon | Type: Mesh | Price: 💰💰💰
These nylon mesh bags from Naturally Sensible are very lightweight yet sturdy. They come in a set of 5 and are each 12”x14”. Although many of the bags in this list can be machine washed, Naturally Sensible recommends that you simply hand wash and hang dry it for best results. The mesh of these bags are relatively tightly knit, but they are big enough to see through, so you can see what’s in there!
Buyers were very happy with these nylon mesh produce bags. They held up well, were lightweight, easy to clean, and buyers loved not having to use disposable plastic bags. There were, however, a few negative reviews. Some mentioned that the bags did not hold up very well upon being machine washed. Perhaps either hand-washing or using a gentle cycle would work best for these produce bags. One review mentioned the bags being difficult to close, but the majority had no issues with this.
Reviewers Like
- Easy to clean
- They are lightweight but sturdy
- A great alternative to plastic produce bags
Reviewers Dislike
- They are difficult to close
- They didn’t hold up after being washed
7. GreeOn Eco-friendly Produce Bags
The best durable reusable produce bags
Brand: GreeOn | Material: Cotton | Type: Mesh | Price: 💰💰💰
These eco-friendly produce bags from GreeOn are made of natural hemp cotton and are biodegradable. They are double-stitched and have a metal drawstring so there’s no plastic in this bag! These bags come in a set of six bags in various sizes to fit all of your various produce. We think these are some of the best reusable produce bags when it comes to quality and durability, so check them out!
Overall, buyers were impressed with how durable and high-quality these bags are. Many noted how impressed they were with the metal drawstring clamps, as well—yay for less plastic waste! There were only a couple of negative reviews regarding these bags. One buyer said the bags were good quality but were simply too bulky for their liking. Another also said they were good products, but that the mesh holes were larger than they wanted.
Reviewers Like
- Good quality material
- They are durable bags
- The metal drawstring clamps
Reviewers Dislike
- Bags were too bulky
- The mesh holes were wider than desired
What to Look for in the Best Reusable Produce Bags
There are all different types of reusable produce bags, made of different materials, and designed in different ways. Here are a few things to consider when looking for some reusable produce bags.
Materials
Here are the most common materials of reusable produce bags:
1
Cotton
Cotton is possibly the most common material used to make produce bags. It is also the most eco-friendly, since it is biodegradable, and will last a long time, as well. Specifically, if you buy organic cotton, that may be the best option, even compared to regular cotton! But, whether or not you choose organic or regular cotton is up to your preferences.
2
Polyester
Since polyester is just plastic, it is not the most eco-friendly option, but it is an option nevertheless. However, despite being made of plastic, it still is a much better option than using disposable produce bags at the store. It also may be cheaper than cotton, although not always!
3
Nylon
Nylon is another option, although it also is not biodegradable, and is therefore not very eco-friendly. Like polyester, though, it is still better than simply using disposable plastic bags every time you go to the grocery store.
Types of Reusable Bag
1
Mesh
This is a very popular type of produce bag. Mesh produce bags can be made of cotton, polyester, or nylon, and often hold a lot more than they look like they will! Mesh is very lightweight, not bulky at all, and is simultaneously quite sturdy if made well.
2
Muslin
Muslin is a type of loose cotton weave. It is sturdier than mesh, and it has no holes for anything to slip through. Muslin is possibly the best fabric for reusable produce bags due to its sturdiness. This is the perfect material for larger grocery bags, not just small produce bags!
3
Combination
Some bags are made of mesh, but then have a muslin bottom, which is the best of both worlds. Combo bags are perfect if you just can’t seem to make up your mind between mesh or muslin bags!
In Conclusion…
Regardless of your preferences, we hope we’ve made it easy for you to narrow down your options and pick the best reusable produce bags for you!
Our Process
For this guide on reusable produce bags, our team spent 7 hours researching the most popular options from over 11 brands and manufacturers big and small. We then read about one hundred and eighty user reviews (both positive and negative) to discover what shoppers thought about each reusable produce bag. After comparing this data, we narrowed our list down to the top 7 on the market. You can count on this research to guide you to a mindful purchasing decision.
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Further Reading