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No, the USDA and pretty much anyone regulating food safety agree that storing food touching non food-safe plastics is always unsafe because the bags may be made

by brechin 14y ago

No, the USDA and pretty much anyone regulating food safety agree that storing food touching non food-safe plastics is always unsafe because the bags may be made with or coated with chemicals that WILL leach into your food. This is definitely accelerated by time (which brining involves) and temperature. Ref: http://lancaster.unl.edu/food/ftsep04.htm http://lancaster.unl.edu/food/ftsep04.htm http://www.fsis.usda.gov/factsheets/big_thaw/ http://www.fsis.usda.gov/factsheets/big_thaw/

tptacek 14y ago
The USDA link about garbage bags is in a graf about leaving foods to thaw out in the open; "garbage bag" is in the middle of a list including "basement", "garage", "dishwasher", and "kitchen counter". It's not discussing plasticizers. None of the text on the UNL page contradicts my suggestion that the risk of chemical leaching is primarily caused by heating. Definitely don't use garbage bags if they make you uncomfortable. For years, people have also been uncomfortable about doing low temp cooks in Ziploc bags for the same reason (it turns out that this is not a valid concern, but it was a reasonable one until recently). Also! I am sure there are trash bags you definitely don't want to put food in. Some bags are scented. Some of them are stiff and sort of starchy. I'd also stick with big brands.
- brechin 14y ago
  From the UNL page, under "Plastic trash bags for food storage": "The use of plastic trash bags for food storage or cooking is not recommended by USDA '... because they are not food grade plastic and chemicals from them may leach into the food.'" From Glad themselves: "We do not recommend using Glad Trash bags for food storage." To each their own, of course. I'm happy to use zip-top bags for low-temp cooking (they are food-safe after all), but garbage bags will be reserved for use in the garbage can.
  - tptacek 14y ago
    Ziploc bags are food-safe, up to something like 85C. I would not count on off-brand bags being food safe when heated.

by brechin 14y ago

tptacek 14y ago

The USDA link about garbage bags is in a graf about leaving foods to thaw out in the open; "garbage bag" is in the middle of a list including "basement", "garage", "dishwasher", and "kitchen counter". It's not discussing plasticizers. None of the text on the UNL page contradicts my suggestion that the risk of chemical leaching is primarily caused by heating. Definitely don't use garbage bags if they make you uncomfortable. For years, people have also been uncomfortable about doing low temp cooks in Ziploc bags for the same reason (it turns out that this is not a valid concern, but it was a reasonable one until recently). Also! I am sure there are trash bags you definitely don't want to put food in. Some bags are scented. Some of them are stiff and sort of starchy. I'd also stick with big brands.

brechin 14y ago
From the UNL page, under "Plastic trash bags for food storage": "The use of plastic trash bags for food storage or cooking is not recommended by USDA '... because they are not food grade plastic and chemicals from them may leach into the food.'" From Glad themselves: "We do not recommend using Glad Trash bags for food storage." To each their own, of course. I'm happy to use zip-top bags for low-temp cooking (they are food-safe after all), but garbage bags will be reserved for use in the garbage can.
- tptacek 14y ago
  Ziploc bags are food-safe, up to something like 85C. I would not count on off-brand bags being food safe when heated.