Rachel Ray's Garbage Bowl vs A Plain 'Ol Plastic Trash Bag
As you know, I've been following Rachel Ray on The Food Network lately.
And I tend to agree with much of what she says... and lots of the ways she does things... including the whole "garbage bowl" concept.
Well, to an extent...
The idea is, that it's wise to have a grab & go type of receptacle within reach and accessible all throughout the prep and cooking phases of a meal.
I agree wholeheartedly.
But I have to say, I couldn't help but laugh when I saw Rachel Ray's "official garbage bowl" for the first time at Kohl's the other day. (Kohl's is the exclusive retailer for The Food Network's products & utensils.)
Yeah, maybe it's got a flat bottom, so it's less likely to slide around. But a bowl is a bowl, right? I mean pretty much any type of bowl would serve the same purpose in a pinch.
Well, I've got one better...
How many of you do what I do?
I simply hang a plastic grocery bag from a kitchen cabinet door knob, then I toss everything from food scraps to emptied cans to plastic wrappers and paper towels in there -- while I'm preparing whatever it is I'm preparing in the kitchen.
It's convenient. It doesn't move or get in the way. It frees up counter space. It holds much more than a bowl does. And it can easily be replaced... for FREE.
Best of all, it's 100% trash, so there's nothing to clean out afterwards. No need to find a place to store that huge bowl in my already overstuffed kitchen cabinets. And no need to buy anything... period.
...Just a thought.
how do you recycle and/or compost if it's all in one bag? seems messy to have to separate it later...
one main reason I like using a "garbage bowl"....it's REUSEABLE!!! Anotehr thing, it can also be used specifically for food scraps if you compost! I also just recently started using book bags, etc for grocery shopping, beats all those lame plastic bags (double bagging, yuck!) that get thrown in a cupboard and taking up space for that ONE REUSEABLE "garbage bowl".
Good news... it looks like Rachel Ray approves of my garbage bag technique!
(Thanks Madeline.)
I agree that some sort or trash container/bag is helpful so that you don't have to open a pantry or cabinet everytime to need to through something away real quick. I use an old plastic bowl that I lost the top to. My Grandma has always used a bag hanging from a knob too! I think paying for the official "garbage bowl" is a bit much!! The only thing I would worry about with the bag is that sometimes they tend to have holes in them and I wouldn't want it dripping anything down over the counter area. Maybe just double bag it though!