Storage is a constant struggle for any home cook, whether it’s finding space for all your pots and pans or utilizing every last inch of the fridge’s cheese drawer. The same can be true when trying to cram large items — think baguettes, dried spaghetti, or celery stalks — into Ziploc bags that are too small.
While they make Ziploc bags in a variety of shapes and sizes, you might be fresh out of the larger ones and need to make do with what you have on hand. The good news is there’s a simple way to double the storage capacity of a Ziploc bag in a matter of moments.
Seal Two Bags Together
TikTok creator Jacqueline Stein (@home_reimagined) enlightened us about this helpful hack. However, keep in mind that it only works for Ziploc bags with press-to-close seals, not those with sliders.
For this hack, you’ll need two Ziploc bags, one of which should be turned inside out. Take the inside-out bag, flip it upside down, and align its seal with the corresponding seal of the other, right-side up bag. We tested this hack with Ziploc freezer quart bags, which feature a pink seal designed to interlock with a blue seal on the other side. This makes lining them up foolproof — just look for the opposite color.
When those seals are matched up, press down to secure both bags together, creating a singular storage bag that’s doubled in size. This method allows you to store all sorts of oversized items, including paintbrushes, pipe cleaners, and rolled-up posters.
More from our network
House Outlook is part of Optimism, which publishes content that uplifts, informs, and inspires.
How To Halve the Size of Ziploc Bags
On the other hand, sometimes Ziploc bags are way too big, like when you want a tiny pouch to carry snacks. TikTok creator Dustin Hadley (@that40yearguy) brought our attention to a solution for this very problem, though it requires sharp objects, open flames, and extra caution.
Take a sharp knife and heat the edge over a flame for 10 to 20 seconds. You can use an open flame on a gas range, the fire of a glowing candle, or even a handheld lighter. Lay the Ziploc bag flat on a cutting board, then take the knife and carefully slice down the center, from top to bottom, in a steady, continuous motion.
During this process, the heat from the knife will seal the plastic together on both sides, creating two smaller storage bags of identical size. This seal may not be airtight, so we wouldn’t recommend storing any liquids inside. But it’s perfect for toting around dry snacks such as chips or pretzels.
