March 26, 2022

Use This Plastic Bag Hack to Avoid Greasy Containers

We’ve got a simple tip for you that will save you from having to clean those greasy containers right before Shabbos.

Do you like to cook soup in bulk and then freeze batches in the right size container for your family? It’s so simple to pop it out of the container and heat up in a pot for Shabbos – or any dinner.

But if you’re like us, you really don’t want to be washing out those containers in your clean pre-Shabbos kitchen! And do you also seem to run out of those large containers just when you’re in the batch cooking mode and have 9 containers worth of soup to freeze?

A reader shared this tip and we love it! Line the container with a food safe storage bag before pouring in the soup. Pour in the soup,

leaving enough room to tie off the top of the bag

in a knot.

When it’s frozen solid, you can either leave it in the container, or take it out and leave it in the freezer in just the bag. (We recommend double bagging if you’ll be removing it from the container.

That’s it! The container stays clean and ready for the next soup!

2 Gallon Storage Bags

These extra large storage bags will come in handy when you try out this hack.

purchase here

Esti Waldman

Esti’s career has brought her behind the lens of food, fashion, books, and families as a leading photographer. Her talent and technical know-how make the photography you see on the site so appealing.

Filed under: Tips & Tricks

Tagged with: kitchen hack, pesach, soups

17 responses to “Use This Plastic Bag Hack to Avoid Greasy Containers”

T

March 27, 2022

Genius idea!! why’d i never think of that ???

Reply
its private

March 27, 2022

If i pour the soup in hot won’t it melt the bags?
cute idea though!

Reply
1. Chanie
  
  March 27, 2022
  
  Obviously don’t pour it in hot. Wait till its cooled. (Many don’t pour hot into the containers directly either)
  
  Reply
Sara

March 27, 2022

Any link for those plastic containers?

Reply
1. betweencarpools
  
  March 27, 2022
  
  These containers are 2/3 Gallon (84 oz), and these are the smaller containers.
  
  Reply
Mom

March 27, 2022

My mother has been doing this for years…

Reply
Chavi

March 27, 2022

Before Shabbos I put some dish soap and hot water into the dirty soup container. As we clear off each course, we put the dirty silverware into that container. By the time Shabbos is over it’s all easy to wash and rinse.

Reply
1. Suri
  
  October 29, 2024
  
  this might be problematic. ask ylor to be sure! Soaking in order to wash easier after Shabbos…
  
  Reply
  1. batsheva
    
    March 23, 2025
    
    the way i learned it was, if youre really soaking something that is already hardened on in order for it to be easy to wash after SHabbos, that is problematic. but if it is not yet hardened, and you want to soak it, that would be fine because you are not “doing something” for after shabbos, you are preventing something from happening, which is allowed. but best for each person to ask for themself
    
    Reply
Miriam

March 27, 2022

When freezing soup in plastic bags like this post suggests it is more difficult to take out of the container and put into the pot. You need to let it defrost for a little while otherwise the plastic bag sticks to the soup because it has folds & creases into the soup as it freezes. It is hard to describe but it is not as easy as popping it out of the smooth hard plastic container. Still it is a good idea just give a little time for soup to defrost & release from bag

Reply
E S

March 28, 2022

You can use crock-pot liners instead of bags. It works well with hot soup (not boiling) and also releases more easily than plain bags.

Reply
Perle

March 28, 2022

Yes my mother in Europe has been doing it for years . I grew up like that !!!! I don’t do it for compote but for soups it’s A normal thing to do. I use a twist tie to close the top

Reply
Mindy Gotesman

September 6, 2022

hi,
are there any rectangular food containers recommended for soup storage? Why are we putting round containers in a rectangular freezer…..wasted space

Reply
1. Anonymous
  
  May 1, 2023
  
  I use storage size aluminum pans to freeze and warm my soup in the oven on Friday not so remove from freezer heat up on stove and into the oven on 250F
  
  Reply
Esther

January 22, 2023

this is a gerat trick I’ve been doing for years. The plastic bags in Israel can be put straight into a pot – they don’t melt. I take a pot, put in some water, and place the plastic bag with the soup into the pot, cutting off the knot so the frozen soup melts straight into the water.
another great reason to use this hack: all your containers stay pareve. No need to consider them Milichig or Fleighig.

Reply
Sori

February 10, 2024

Such a great and smart idea!! will be so much easier now to just rinse out my containers.

Reply
Dena

November 10, 2025

I use crock pot liners
And of course use flat rectangle containers, they stack so well in freezer
I bought mine in dollar store.

Reply