Reusable sandwich packaging that’s not ££ or a huge pain to wash every day?

[StroppyTop]

3 packed lunches every day, soon to be 4 when the office opens - has anyone found reusable that is easy to wash every day and won’t break the bank?

Separate smaller Tupperware is an option for me but won’t fit it the small lunchboxes 2 of the DC prefer.

Are beeswax wraps long-lasting and easy to clean?

I use beeswax wraps and small recycled paper bags sometimes one or other sometimes both sometimes in a box. All depending on who is taking it and what bags wtc.
Beeswax are great. Mine have lasted around a year. They are then compostable.
As they get close to end of life they do start to shed wax and need to be replaced. Do NOT drape over sink taps partic when the tap is hot. !

I've just looked up the product I recommended (!) and the velcro fastenings seem to be much improved from the ones we've got.

I'm not keen on the wax wraps. I have one of these bags which I love. It's easy to clean.

I wasn’t keen at all in the wax wraps until I was somewhere very remote and no alternatives and used daily for walks. I was converted. For partic things.

I love the idea of just using one of those slim Sistema type boxes with no foil or cling film, but I have a feeling that that only works without disaster if your sandwiches are of the "single thin slice of cheese/ham/cucumber, all very neatly assembled" variety. My sandwiches tend to be huge bulky affairs, constructed in a rush with leftover salad, badly cut crumbly chunks of cheddar etc inside, practically falling apart unless they are really tightly wrapped, and with plenty of chutney or mustard on the bread just waiting to smear itself gleefully all over the place. Any similar sandwich makers out there who have made that system work for them without completely changing their choice of fillings?

@RaspberryThief I often have quite fat sandwiches. The slim sistema box helps to squash it all in. Bit like sitting on your suitcase to get it zipped.

I mean, it may not look pretty but I have the advantage of getting to eat my lunch in private so it's fine.

i use paper sandwich bags as at least easy to recycle

I use a little square sandwich size sistema for mine and ds lunch .

Sistema sandwich box linked earlier by Lizzie are brilliant.

Raspberry, you are so wrong. As Lizzie says, those sistema, flatten down fat sandwiches : my Dh makes the best BLT, which is Uber fat, using Aldi malted bloomer bread which is one of the fattest there is!

Not super eco, but the IKEA sandwich bags. They are plastic resealable. About £1 for two sizes of 20 ish of each. I have been using and rinsing the same couple for about 2 years now as they are pretty thick and durable. So plastic yes, but washable. I just wash and open bag to dry on drainer.

Using atm to take baby bowl/ spoon out and about. It often gets used and filthy in cafe and I can just put really dirty bowl/ bib/ spoon back in bag and seal, and clean and sort out at home. Doesn’t leak.

Our I dian takeaways come in plastic boxes that are the perfect size for sandwiches afterwards.

we use these Sistema Bento boxes they work really well at keeping the sandwiches together. DS2 in particular likes hearty fillings!

I made my own beeswax wraps, because I am ridiculous.... but I also have a lovely compartmentalised box. Will check brand later...

I have some of those sandwich wraps with the velcro and they are great, the velcro doesn't get near the sandwiche on mine and the inside is really easy to wipe clean.

I got mine from Avon but I don't think they do them anymore. They do have them on ebay though.

I don't like beeswax wraps as they never seem clean as you can only rinse in cold water or the wax melts. DD likes salami or chicken so not idea if you can't wash properly.

We use reusable plastic sandwich bags, can't remember the make but they are still going strong after quite a while (although to be fair covid has stunted the amount they are used!)

We use these: nomnomkids.co.uk/products/4-wave-reusable-sandwich-bags?variant=36971683086490&currency=GBP&utm_medium=product_sync&utm_source=google&utm_content=sag_organic&utm_campaign=sag_organic&utm_campaign=gs-2018-10-24&utm_source=google&utm_medium=smart_campaign

They’re lightweight and go in the dishwasher. Robust so far, had them about 6months. Wax wraps were a nightmare to clean

Another vote for the slim looking sistema sandwich boxes, even for more chunky sandwiches! Ours are still going strong (at least 8 years! I think longer). Their split ones were good too. Easily able to fit in to their character lunch boxes and still in rotation years after school was done.

@OddBoots

Possibly a daft suggestion but how about a wrap instead of a sandwich for the teens, the fillings are more contained so don't usually need an extra covering.

Not daft at all - they often have wraps. I think I partly need to rethink the necessity of wrapping sandwiches in anything unless it’s messy like tuna Mayo.

Sorry @Janek - misattributed you there! In-depth Velcro details much appreciated, thank you. Will try not to melt ours when I invest…

@HeronLanyon

I use beeswax wraps and small recycled paper bags sometimes one or other sometimes both sometimes in a box. All depending on who is taking it and what bags wtc. Beeswax are great. Mine have lasted around a year. They are then compostable. As they get close to end of life they do start to shed wax and need to be replaced. Do NOT drape over sink taps partic when the tap is hot. !

Thank you, another heat warning heeded!

@RaspberryThief

I love the idea of just using one of those slim Sistema type boxes with no foil or cling film, but I have a feeling that that only works without disaster if your sandwiches are of the "single thin slice of cheese/ham/cucumber, all very neatly assembled" variety. My sandwiches tend to be huge bulky affairs, constructed in a rush with leftover salad, badly cut crumbly chunks of cheddar etc inside, practically falling apart unless they are really tightly wrapped, and with plenty of chutney or mustard on the bread just waiting to smear itself gleefully all over the place. Any similar sandwich makers out there who have made that system work for them without completely changing their choice of fillings?

Yes! Someone once looked at my lunch and said ‘I’m not sure you’re supposed to try and get that much food between two slices of bread’

Not exactly what you are asking but I've started using foil instead of cling film because it's at least recyclable (although we use take away boxes/tupperware for leftovers taken as a meal - just don't tell the posters on the other thread who think leftovers are grim!🤣)

@Branleuse

i use paper sandwich bags as at least easy to recycle

This is good. Am guessing eBay is the place to look for them.

@FreddieStandensBFF

We use these: nomnomkids.co.uk/products/4-wave-reusable-sandwich-bags?variant=36971683086490¤cy=GBP&utm_medium=product_sync&utm_source=google&utm_content=sag_organic&utm_campaign=sag_organic&utm_campaign=gs-2018-10-24&utm_source=google&utm_medium=smart_campaign

They’re lightweight and go in the dishwasher. Robust so far, had them about 6months. Wax wraps were a nightmare to clean

Ooh pretty! And love anything that will go in a dishwasher.