There are some kitchen gadgets you use for a while, decide they are more trouble than they are worth, and eventually send to a drawer or donation box.
This little bag holder has had the opposite experience in our kitchen.
I stopped thinking about it because it just works.
It holds a zipper storage bag open while I fill it, which means I do not have to hold the bag with one hand while trying to spoon food into it with the other. That sounds like a small thing, but small conveniences can matter quite a bit when your hands are tired, stiff, or simply busy doing something else.
How the Bag Holder Works
The holder has two adjustable arms with clips at the top. You attach the sides of an open zipper bag to the clips, then adjust the arms to fit the size of the bag.
Once the bag is held open, you can spoon or pour food into it using both hands.
We recently used it while processing butternut squash to freeze for pies and casseroles. It kept the storage bags open while we filled them and made the job noticeably less awkward.
We also use gallon-size storage bags to collect kitchen scraps that will eventually go into the compost. The holder works well for that too.
Which Bag Sizes Fit?
I have tried gallon, quart, sandwich-size, and snack bags.
The gallon, quart, and sandwich bags all fit well.
With the larger bags, the bottom of the bag rests on the counter. I especially like that because the weight of the food is supported by the counter instead of hanging from the clips.
Snack bags fit too, but they are short enough that they may not reach the counter. They are fine for lightweight contents, but a heavier load can sometimes pull the bag loose from the clips.
That is probably the main limitation I have found.
This is not a device meant to suspend a heavy bag full of food in the air. It works best when the bag is either lightly filled or large enough to rest on the work surface.
It Is Also Handy for Drying Bags
Another use I did not initially buy it for is drying washed storage bags.
You can clip a washed bag onto the holder and leave it open so air can circulate inside.
One bag stretched over both arms gets plenty of airflow, or you can sometimes hang two bags on one holder.
If you wash and reuse some of your zipper bags, this is a much tidier solution than trying to balance them over utensils, bottles, or whatever else happens to be standing near the sink.
Easy to Store
The arms adjust for different bag sizes, and when I am finished using it, the holder folds almost flat.
That matters in our kitchen because I do not want another gadget taking up permanent counter space.
It can be stored in a drawer, cabinet, or narrow space until it is needed again.
Who Might Find It Useful?
This is not an essential kitchen tool, and it certainly does not perform some miraculous task.
It simply makes one ordinary job easier.
I think it could be especially useful for anyone who finds it difficult to hold a storage bag open while filling it, whether because of hand strength, arthritis, coordination, fatigue, or simply because they would rather use both hands for the job.
It can also be convenient for batch cooking, freezing garden produce, portioning leftovers, meal prep, or collecting kitchen scraps.
The best compliment I can give it is that I no longer think much about using it.
I set it up, clip in a bag, fill the bag, and move on.
Sometimes that is exactly what you want from a kitchen gadget.
I’ve linked the bag holder below if you would like to take a closer look.
Purchases made through that link may earn Senior Notions a small commission at no additional cost to you.