2. Kitchen Helper Beyond Leftovers

The kitchen is the traditional home of the ziplock bag, but its roles here are more diverse than you might think. It can be a tool for cooking, prepping, and even kitchen safety.

1. Mess-Free Marinading and Coating

Marinating chicken, beef, or tofu becomes a clean, hands-off job. Place the protein and marinade in a sturdy freezer bag, seal it (removing as much air as possible), and squish it around to coat. Lay it flat in the refrigerator—the bag ensures even coverage and easy cleanup. The same technique works for coating chicken pieces in flour or breadcrumbs; just add the coating to the bag and shake.

2. DIY Piping and Corner Bags

Forgot a piping bag? No problem. Spoon icing, mashed potatoes, or whipped cream into a sturdy quart or gallon bag. Push the contents to one bottom corner, twist the top of the bag to create pressure, and snip a tiny piece off that corner. Instant piping bag! Use different snip sizes for fine lines or broad strokes.

3. Crumb-Catching Cutting Board Guard

When slicing lemons, onions, or especially crumbly bread, contain the mess. Take a gallon-sized bag and slit the sides and bottom seam open, creating a large plastic sheet. Drape this over your cutting board before you start chopping. When done, simply gather the plastic sheet, funnel all the scraps and peels into your compost or trash, and rinse the board—minimal cleanup required.