5 Genius Ziploc Bag Hacks You Can Use Daily

Ziploc bags are one of those things most people have in their kitchen drawer but don’t think twice about them. They’re already pretty versatile, but these little plastic bags can do a whole lot more than hold snacks or leftovers. Here are some smart and surprising ways to put them to work in your daily routine.

DIY Bubble Wrap

The average person who isn’t sending mail every day probably doesn’t have bubble wrap on hand, let alone enough to ship something fragile without worrying. Instead of panicking or running to the post office to get some, just grab a few Ziploc bags.

A ziplog bag, inflated, with a straw stuck in one side.
Photo Credit: ManMadeDIY

Fill them partially with air (using a straw makes this easier), seal them tight, and layer them around the item you’re shipping. It’s fast, easy, and saves you from buying extra supplies you don’t need sitting around the house.

A glass in a small shipping box with inflated Ziploc bags serving as bubble wrap.
Photo Credit: ManMadeDIY

Crush Cookies or Crackers

When a recipe calls for crushed graham crackers or cookies, things can get messy fast.

A mallet, sleeve of graham crackers, and a ziploc bag all on a table.
Photo Credit: ManMadeDIY

Skip the food processor and the cleanup that comes with it by tossing the crackers into a Ziploc bag, pressing out the air, sealing it shut, then using a rolling pin, mallet, or the back of a spoon to crush them up. The bag keeps all the crumbs in one place and makes pouring them out easy. Plus, less mess means more time to enjoy what you’re baking.

A hand holding the mallet and using it to crush up graham crackers in a ziploc bag.
Photo Credit: ManMadeDIY

DIY Vacuum Seal

If you want to best preserve some food but don’t have a fancy vacuum sealer, no problem! A Ziploc bag can do the job well enough for most foods.

A hand dunking a ziploc bag of baby carrots into a pot of water.
Photo Credit: ManMadeDIY

Place your food inside the bag, seal it almost shut, and slowly lower it into a bowl of water. The water pressure will push the air out around the food. Once it’s tight, seal the bag fully. This trick works well for freezing meats, storing leftovers, or keeping fruits and veggies fresher longer.

A ziploc bag of carrots, now vacuum sealed, on a table.
Photo Credit: ManMadeDIY

A Makeshift Funnel

We’ve all felt the struggle of needing to pour something into a smaller container with no funnel around to help us. Usually we just deal with the mess, but if you ever find yourself in this situation again, know that a Ziploc bag works just as well as a funnel in a pinch.

A ziploc bag with the corner cut off, a pair of scissors, a red solo cup, and an empty bottle sitting on a table.
Photo Credit: ManMadeDIY

Just snip off one corner of the bag, push it into the opening, and pour. The bag gives you control over the flow, and there’s no tricky cleanup like with traditional funnels since once you’re done, you can just toss the bag!

A pair o f hands pouring orange juice from the cup into the bottle using a ziploc bag as the funnel.
Photo Credit: ManMadeDIY

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Ziploc bags are one of the most fundamental kitchen essentials, but they can do a lot more than hold your sandwich. These easy hacks prove that a little creativity can save time, cut down on mess, and help you stay organized in everyday life. The best part? These tricks use things you already have at home, so there’s no extra spending required.