4 tips to choosing the most effective food delivery bags
Having the best, most effective food delivery equipment – for instance pizza delivery bags that will not only keep food hot and stable in transit but also free of excess moisture – is vital for restaurants that deliver as well as commercial caterers. Whether you’re seeking to transport pizzas, subs, sides or six-course meals, there are several traits that indicate a food delivery bag is going to serve its purpose effectively and in a durable way for your purposes.
1. There are two types of food bag exterior materials
The two main types of materials on the exterior of food bags are vinyl and nylon. The key difference between the two basically comes down to breathability and the differing length of time that foods can be stored on the go. Especially for pizza, nylon is a good choice as it will help maintain crispy crusts and in general allow for the highest food quality during extended transit times.
Nylon is a good choice because it will allow steam and extra moisture to escape, but this is the costlier option. Food bags made with vinyl, on the other hand, don’t breathe, meaning moisture cannot escape from inside the bag. This leads to a shorter amount of time in which the food doesn’t turn soggy and in general doesn’t degrade. In general, vinyl is a good, cost effective option when hot foods don’t need to be in transit for longer periods. There are more resources available at Covertex Corporation for further references.
2. Traits of the three main materials that are commonly used as insulation in food delivery bags
All food delivery bags use a type of foam insulation, usually between 1″ and 2″, with the thicker material contributing to food staying adequately hot for a longer time.
Polyvinyl chloride (PVC) is a highly durable, lower cost foam insulation material. It is resistant to grease and chemicals, which contributes to its high durability.
Polyurethane (PU) foam insulation is if anything even more durable than PVC. PU is also lightweight, flexible and is more resistant to odors and mildew. The trade-off is its increased price point.
The third commonly used food bag insulation material, and also the most expensive, is polyester. This material retains all of the best qualities of PU and further adds the trait of being quite tough and resistant to potentially being damaged.
3. Two main types of food bag configurations
Bags with a top-loading feature are ideal for catering operations where there are several different food and beverage containers needing to be easily and quickly stacked in and loaded for transport.
End or sideloaded bags are especially perfect for sliding in pizza boxes or deli trays.
4. Different sizes and shapes of food bags
Food bags come in a variety of different sizes and shapes, depending on your operation’s needs. Pizza bags are usually in box shapes, while rectangular shapes are ideal for stacking food pans and other containers. Food bags further come in a wide range of sizes.