Gripstic

Before I looked up this product on Daily Grommet, it sounded as if it was something I’d use on my car. It is not. It is something for my freezer that I have been in desperate need of ever since my beloved Eurosealer died but have been too lazy to find something better than my jerry-rigged solutions.

In all fairness, it’s in my nature to jerry-rig and forget it. Classics are notorious for not realizing that the definition of jerry-rigging means temporary. Ever since I turned 30, I’ve been trying to eat more fruits and vegetables. But, they go bad so quickly that I end up throwing out more than I eat. Then I re-discovered frozen vegetables. But, I couldn’t figure out how to keep my frozen peas closed once I’d opened them.

First, I used chip bag clips … bulky and they popped off. Then I found the Eurosealer that seals off the bag anew each time you open it. I instantly bought it and as I sealed my bags, I imagined every hip European doing likewise. Only stupid Americans didn’t know about the ingenious Euro-sealer. It worked brilliantly for about 6 months then it needed new batteries and then it died.

Without my precious Eurosealer, I was no longer able to smugly seal my bags and I was desperate. I used clothes pins — a great pinch hitter for chip bag clips but a really bad idea for frozen peas—and then I settled on using rubber bands from my daily WSJ delivery — good but often my freezer was left with tons of wounded vegetables littered across the battlefield waiting for some medic (me) to clear the bodies.

Without even trying them—they’re en route to me—I know they’re going to save myself from euro snobbery and the death of innocent frozen vegetables. According to the Daily Grommet, they are “an ingenious, strong & reusable device (that) seals snack & frozen food bags. Slides on to lock & seal tight. BPA & Phthalate free. Recyclable. Dishwasher & freezer safe. Three sizes in assorted 15 pac” $18.95. I’ll report back to you if I return to the arms of my Eurosealer.