transporting UGOs

March 29, 2005 4:10 PM

GarlicFilter: I have a tremendous, if petty, dilemma: Everytime I go to ol' Ess-A-Bagel here in NYC on 21st/1st (best bagels in the country, hands down) and eat a delicious, creamery bagel, I want to buy a few more Everything or Garlic bagels to take home. Problem is, they stink my bag up something terrible.

So, Mefites: how does one transport garlicky/stinky objects without having the smell linger in your bag? Getting a separate bag is not really an option as I am always carrying a lot with me and don't really have free hands (and, as an environmentalist, can't really condone getting extra plastic bags at every corner).

posted by yonation to food & drink (7 comments total)

one of those insulated lunchbag things--they're small, and seal pretty well. when you're not using it, you can fold it/roll it up tiny.
posted by amberglow at 4:22 PM on March 29, 2005

they're washable and rinse-able too.
posted by amberglow at 4:22 PM on March 29, 2005

Ziploc makes these bags with little zippers on them. They're just the thing, and tough enough that you can reuse them for a good long time (months).
posted by ikkyu2 at 4:39 PM on March 29, 2005

Next time you finish a loaf of bread, clean out the plastic bag and take it with you to the bagel shop. Stuff the smelly bagels in there. It'll keep the stink off your other stuff and give you added milage on a non-biodegradable plastic bag. it's win-win.
posted by TBoneMcCool at 4:40 PM on March 29, 2005

Goldang, I miss Ess-A-Bagel. Lived on 14th & B for about 5 years--_loved_ that place.

Storage-wise, though, you're in a conundrum. The basic issue is that any kind of bread product needs to be stored in a breathable bag if it's not going to get all damp and clammy after about an hour or so (especially if it's still warm when you put it in). It's a trade-off...the more the bag breathes, the longer they'll stay great, but the more stench will get out.

If you're only going to carry it around for a little while, the Ziploc will work fine, but for anything longer-term, you've got to either use a solution that lets air (and odor) in and out, or live with damp bagels.
posted by LairBob at 6:32 PM on March 29, 2005

You might try the ziploc bags that are designed for veggies and the like. I forget the branded name for the technology ("freshness protector" or whatever) but they are designed to breathe a bit. They may be an ideal middle ground for the tradeoff LairBob speaks of, though it could backfire and make your bag stinky and your bagels damp. As the Dukes of Hazzard liked to say, ain't but one way to find out...
posted by rorycberger at 7:18 PM on March 29, 2005

There's a type of bag called Smelly Proof Bags that work wonders. A good friend of mine inadvertently had them tested by US customs dogs, and they worked flawlessly.

I'd assume they also work on garlic bagels.
posted by mosch at 2:31 PM on March 30, 2005