I used to purchase bread bags years ago from mail order catalogs such as the King Arthur Bread Baker's Catalog, and other similar sources..These places generally sell bags in quantities ranging from 25 bags to 100 bags..Which is OK if one is just an occasional baker of breads..
I found that for a bread baking enthusiast, 100 bags per purchase was not enough for me..I was constantly running out of bread bags at a time when I really did not want to place an order with KA..Then, I started working as a Garde Manger chef at an artisan bread bakery / soup cafe..Then, I found out how inexpensice a box of 1000 plastic bread bags were compared to the prices that KA and others were charging for 100 similar, or identical bags..
I have not purchased bags in quantities of 1000 for a while, but a very short Google search brought up the following site..I am positive that there are many other similar sites selling similar products..The prices are reasonable per 1000 bags, with a lot of choices..
As I post this response I am awaiting a return phone call from the Customer Service representative for International Plastics to see if they deal with individual small accounts such as home bakers like us represent, or just wholesale accounts..
Without having ordered from them, International Plastics seems like an OK business with which to take a chance in ordering plastic bread bags from..They are located in Greenville, South Carolina..
There is quite a large selection to choose from, from economy bags at 0.65 mil up to heavier weight bags at 1 mil..Most case sizes are boxes of 1000, with some of the smaller economy bags coming in boxes of 2000..The largest size bags in the 1 mil thickness are in boxes of 500..
The prices are pretty reasonable as I remember them compared to similar weight and size bags that we purchased at the bakery mentioned in my above post..The only caveat to ordering large boxes of 1000 plastic bags is the shipping costs..Just like paper, cases of plaastic bags are heavy, although not quite as heavy as equivalent amounts of paper, and will cost a little bit of money to ship..To someone living on the West Coast of the United States, a closer company might be in order, as regards to shipping costs..That being said, I can assure you that the eventual price per plastic bag, regardless of what size is chosen, and even including shipping across the USA; will be much less than buying the equivalent sized bag in lots of 100 from King Arthur, and other similar websites..
Customer Service got back to me in a reasonable period of time, approximately 1.5 hours, were quite friendly, and answered all of my questions with no hesitation..I was told to tell any forum members that were interested in their products that they would glady send out free samples if you simply call the Toll Free 800 number on their website, ask for Jennifer at extension # 111, and tell her what sized bags you were interested in..I was not expecting an offer of free samples to individual home bread bakers that would in all likelihood end up being a very small account..I was pleasantly surprised..
The toll free number is 1-800-820-4722
Just mention that you are a member of The Fresh Loaf artisan bread baking forum, and that you are calling them in response to Bruce's telephonic enquiry on April 6, 2009..
Bruce
Edit: I forgot to mention that there is no minimum order, and that a single box of 500, 1000, or 2000 bags is perfectly OK with them..
Like others I used to buy bags from King Arthur -- but their prices were going out of sight and they no longer came with twist ties. So I start looking elsewhere and found very nice bags from Pleasant Hill Grain. They have a large bag that is 100 for $ 7.99 and they have heavy twist ties -- 2000 for 8.99. What I like about these bags is that they are 2 mil thick and I get many uses out of them before they get used to put "trash in".
Checkout ULINE Shipping Supply Specialists (uline.com). They have many clear plastic bags to pick from. The KAF bag is approximately 9 x 18.
ULINE has a 9 x 20 (product no. S-10885) 1 mil poly bag for $37 per case, qty. per case is 1,000. Weight per case is 12#.
Tie wraps (S-566) are 4 inch in length and $8 per 2,0000.
These bags are FDA and USDA approved.
Although they do sell bakery and coffee bags in paper w/window and glassine, the largest is only 11 inches in length. A little short for a 12-13 inch loaf.
Bread Bags
Teresa of Northwestsourdough sells bags on her site.
http://www.northwestsourdough.com/store.html
Kent
Plastic Storage Bags for Breads
I used to purchase bread bags years ago from mail order catalogs such as the King Arthur Bread Baker's Catalog, and other similar sources..These places generally sell bags in quantities ranging from 25 bags to 100 bags..Which is OK if one is just an occasional baker of breads..
I found that for a bread baking enthusiast, 100 bags per purchase was not enough for me..I was constantly running out of bread bags at a time when I really did not want to place an order with KA..Then, I started working as a Garde Manger chef at an artisan bread bakery / soup cafe..Then, I found out how inexpensice a box of 1000 plastic bread bags were compared to the prices that KA and others were charging for 100 similar, or identical bags..
I have not purchased bags in quantities of 1000 for a while, but a very short Google search brought up the following site..I am positive that there are many other similar sites selling similar products..The prices are reasonable per 1000 bags, with a lot of choices..
http://www.interplas.com/poly-bags-bread-bags
As I post this response I am awaiting a return phone call from the Customer Service representative for International Plastics to see if they deal with individual small accounts such as home bakers like us represent, or just wholesale accounts..
Bruce
International Plastics Seems OK
Without having ordered from them, International Plastics seems like an OK business with which to take a chance in ordering plastic bread bags from..They are located in Greenville, South Carolina..
There is quite a large selection to choose from, from economy bags at 0.65 mil up to heavier weight bags at 1 mil..Most case sizes are boxes of 1000, with some of the smaller economy bags coming in boxes of 2000..The largest size bags in the 1 mil thickness are in boxes of 500..
The prices are pretty reasonable as I remember them compared to similar weight and size bags that we purchased at the bakery mentioned in my above post..The only caveat to ordering large boxes of 1000 plastic bags is the shipping costs..Just like paper, cases of plaastic bags are heavy, although not quite as heavy as equivalent amounts of paper, and will cost a little bit of money to ship..To someone living on the West Coast of the United States, a closer company might be in order, as regards to shipping costs..That being said, I can assure you that the eventual price per plastic bag, regardless of what size is chosen, and even including shipping across the USA; will be much less than buying the equivalent sized bag in lots of 100 from King Arthur, and other similar websites..
Customer Service got back to me in a reasonable period of time, approximately 1.5 hours, were quite friendly, and answered all of my questions with no hesitation..I was told to tell any forum members that were interested in their products that they would glady send out free samples if you simply call the Toll Free 800 number on their website, ask for Jennifer at extension # 111, and tell her what sized bags you were interested in..I was not expecting an offer of free samples to individual home bread bakers that would in all likelihood end up being a very small account..I was pleasantly surprised..
The toll free number is 1-800-820-4722
Just mention that you are a member of The Fresh Loaf artisan bread baking forum, and that you are calling them in response to Bruce's telephonic enquiry on April 6, 2009..
Bruce
Edit: I forgot to mention that there is no minimum order, and that a single box of 500, 1000, or 2000 bags is perfectly OK with them..
Plastic Bags for Bread
Like others I used to buy bags from King Arthur -- but their prices were going out of sight and they no longer came with twist ties. So I start looking elsewhere and found very nice bags from Pleasant Hill Grain. They have a large bag that is 100 for $ 7.99 and they have heavy twist ties -- 2000 for 8.99. What I like about these bags is that they are 2 mil thick and I get many uses out of them before they get used to put "trash in".
Half the price of KA and twice the Bag.
Dave
Plastic bags for bread
I get my bags from a local bulk food place. She sells flours and sells me the bags she uses for about $.08 each.
My local grocery store
My local grocery store (Raley's) has their own brand of food & bread bags. If you buy them on sale they are pretty inexpensive.
--Pamela
Bags, clear, plastic
Checkout ULINE Shipping Supply Specialists (uline.com). They have many clear plastic bags to pick from. The KAF bag is approximately 9 x 18.
ULINE has a 9 x 20 (product no. S-10885) 1 mil poly bag for $37 per case, qty. per case is 1,000. Weight per case is 12#.
Tie wraps (S-566) are 4 inch in length and $8 per 2,0000.
These bags are FDA and USDA approved.
Although they do sell bakery and coffee bags in paper w/window and glassine, the largest is only 11 inches in length. A little short for a 12-13 inch loaf.
Six locations in the U.S.
more on bread bags...a little late
Hi,
I'm investigating bread bags as well and ran across this link on the web.
If you have a Sam's Club nearby...
http://www.samsclub.com/shopping/navigate.do?dest=5&item=428458&pid=_Froogle&ci_src=14110944&ci_sku=741695
$21,95 for 1000! It says FDA compliant.
FYI,
MommaT
Fantastic price
Fantastic price, especially since it includes shipping.