Harriet Meirs (or whoever) Green Bags

[Stinky The Clown]

Do these things work? Specifically, with tender fresh herbs, like basil?

[Tektonik]

1. If only Harriet made her green bags for her face

[Tektonik]

2. On a serious note

MY mom uses them to keep grapes crisp, and they do a good job. Just make sure to not wash the fruits or w/e before they go into the bag, and whenever you open the bag to take something out try to wipe off any apparent moisture collecting in the bag.

[The empressof all]

3. I have some...and honestly I'm really not sure if they work

You do need to keep the produce dry. They work for somethings better than others I think. Bananas on the counter definitely do better in the bag. I chop and prep salad every three days or so and keep cut greens in the bag. They seem to stay crisp but that might just be because I'm using them quickly.

My advice is to see if you could score one from someone else and try it with the basil. Or better yet just get a big old flower pot and grow some in a sunny window. Stick a big old Jar on top of it and you'll have a moist warmer climate in there for it to grow.

[eleny]

5. Speaking of bananas...

A friend sent me one of those emails with all sorts of household tips. One of them was to break the bunch of bananas apart into singles. It's supposed to keep them from going speckled so fast.

I bought a bunch that was fairly green the other day and broke them into singles and I think it's working. They usually turn very fast for us but not these. I expected them to start speckling by now.

The only way to know is to try it out. It could vary by climate. I don't have the green bags. Mine are just on the counter.

[Longhorn]

7. Great tip!

I just got some bananas yesterday. I'm going to give that a try. Thanks! :hi:

[eleny]

8. Let us know how it goes

:hi:

[flamin lib]

4. Yes, they work. I've found that they work better for some items than

others. Bananas don't turn brown but do ripen. Green beans go bad faster than without. Brocoli lasts for weeks. Lettus and carrots do too. Cabbage lasts forever--might as well be a Twinkie.

[eleny]

6. If they keep lettuce and cabbage from going bad, I'm glad to learn this

I like to buy a head of cabbage and then make a little bit of slaw every couple of days. The cut end always turns dark needing lopping. Could be the exposure to the knife. But the outer leaves also get speckled by the time I'm finished with it, too.

They'd be worth it if they keep lettuce in good shape. Lettuce is usually so delicate. The only lettuce that keeps on its own is the one with the roots and soil still attached. But that's pricey and not always available.

[pengillian101]

9. Head lettuce/cabbage

"The cut end always turns dark needing lopping. Could be the exposure to the knife. But the outer leaves also get speckled by the time I'm finished with it, too.

They'd be worth it if they keep lettuce in good shape. Lettuce is usually so delicate. The only lettuce that keeps on its own is the one with the roots and soil still attached. But that's pricey and not always available."

********
Years ago, rubbermaid held home parties. Perhaps they still do. They had a luttuce keeper that was a gem. It came with a plastic knife, so it would not ruin the whole head of lettuce. Rust stain is always a problem with lettuce.

Just a few weeks ago, I purchased a luttuce keeper from a www.harrietcarter.com catalog because it looked so much like the old one I used to have that worked so well; I bet they are avalable everywhere. Week old lettuce is very fresh. There is a little spike plastic piece on the bottom that has ventilation holes keeping the lettuce off the bottom of the bowl and that's the trick I think.

[eleny]

10. I used to have a Tupperware lettuce keeper that worked well

It didn't come with the plastic knife. But those should be available. Btw, I've got a glass knife around here somewhere around here that was my mother's. She used it for slicing beef roasts super thin.

[pengillian101]

11. Glass knife...

I've never heard of a glass knife before. It's gotta be major
superior to a plastic knife, eh? And perhaps a valuable collector's item?

Thanks for posting about it.

[zabet]

13. Glass knives were very popular during the depression era..

you can find them easily on ebay. I have 2 and they are great. Just be sure to look closely at the blade edge and make sure it is not chipped before purchasing. The clear glass ones are cheaper than the green glass ones. :hi:

[eleny]

14. Thanks, I just found some glass knives on ebay

Looks like the one we have must be a Vita-Tex. From memory, it has the stars etched into the thick handle. I'll have to dig it out and see what shape it's in. I think ours might have a chip. But I suppose it can be ground down.

[Stinky The Clown]

12. We still have two of them (blended households)

We have one of the plastic knives, too.

We don't use a lot of iceberg lettuce (what that base spike thing is for), but they work great for any lettuce. Use the base spike as a spacer to keep the head off the bottom.

[eleny]

15. I avoided iceberg lettuce for many years

Then hubby and I were talking about it and he said people probably like it for the crunchiness. That's all it took. Now I enjoy it once in a while. I can be such a maroon! :-/