
Brown paper bags were once a lunchtime staple in schools and offices everywhere. It seemed like everyone carried their lunches in those little brown bags! But even though they’ve been largely replaced by reusable insulated lunch bags, that doesn’t mean there aren’t plenty of other ways to put them to good use! I actually keep a stack of paper bags in my pantry, and I use them in a lot of different ways. And today I’ll be sharing all of my very favorite ways to use brown paper bags, so you can see just how useful these bags can still be!
Here are 9 brilliant and useful things you can do with a classic brown paper bag.
9 Uses For Brown Paper Bags

1. Ripen Fruit Faster
You can quickly ripen some kinds of fruits by storing them in a paper bag! This works for bananas, tomatoes, pears, peaches, avocados, and more. Just place the fruit inside, roll the top of the bag closed, and let it sit on your counter for a day or two. Fruit releases ethylene gas over time, and the paper bag will trap the gas inside which will cause it to ripen faster. (This won’t work in a plastic bag, because plastic will also trap in moisture and cause the fruit to rot.)

2. Make Homemade Popcorn
If you have a brown paper bag, you can make really delicious homemade popcorn in your microwave! Homemade popcorn makes a great snack between mealtimes, and it’s even pretty healthy if you don’t go crazy with the butter. ;-) Get all the instructions for making paper bag popcorn at the link below!
Related: 2 Ways To Make Amazing Homemade Popcorn In Your Microwave

3. Clean Windows
Tear open a paper bag, bunch it up, and use it to clean your windows! Many people swear by using paper bags or newspaper to clean their mirrors and windows, because the paper leaves behind a lint- and streak-free shine!

4. Serve Snacks
Use paper bags to serve snacks at any party or gathering! They have a great rustic look as serving bowls, and you won’t have to wash as many dishes when your party is over. :-) Just roll the top of the bag down or cut it off with a pair of scissors, pour in your snack of choice, and serve!

5. Collect Recycling
I always hang on to my paper grocery store bags to use to collect my recycling. When the bag gets full, I can take the whole bag to the recycling center without having to transfer it in or out of another container.

6. Collect Compost
Speaking of collecting things, another great way to use paper bags is to collect items for your compost pile. Then when you take it out to your compost pile, you can shred the paper bag up and toss it in right in too! (Smaller pieces of paper bag will break down faster, so make sure to tear it up into small pieces if you can!)

7. Wrap A Gift
You can use a paper bag to wrap a small gift! Just cut the bag up so you can lay it out flat, and wrap your item up. Wrap a piece of cute twine around it as a finishing touch, and it’s ready to be gifted! (I love the rustic look of these little packages for handmade gifts like homemade soap and bath bombs.)

8. Filler Material
If you have access to a paper shredder, you can put a few paper bags through to create your own filler material. These little paper shreds can be used as filler for gifts or as packing material. You can also use it to cushion fragile items for storage.
Related: 9 (More!) Gifts In A Jar

9. Arts & Crafts
Cut open a few paper bags and use them for art projects like drawing and painting. Or you can use them to protect your tabletop from messy projects like DIY projects, egg dyeing, or pumpkin carving.
What’s your favorite way to reuse paper bags?
You can also use the lunch size ones for crafting. One of the blogs I follow they just scrunched up the bags and made pretty paper roses . They used them on a wreath.
Please log in or create a free account to comment.I cut some air slits in a lunch bag and transfer mushrooms from their plastic store container. No moldy mushies!
Please log in or create a free account to comment.Do you then put the mushrooms in the fridge? Or Where?
Please log in or create a free account to comment.We bake meringue cookies on paper bags. It’s great to be able to throw them out.
Please log in or create a free account to comment.My neighbor Tor dozens of brown bags into irregular shapes and made fantastic wallpaper for the guest bathroom!
Growing up we used brown paper grocery bags (interior) as cooling racks when making cookies. The paper absorbed any excess oils and you just toss the mess when done. I rarely make cookies any more, but when I do I cut open a bag and happily bake away!!!
Please log in or create a free account to comment.we did too.
Please log in or create a free account to comment.we did, too.
Please log in or create a free account to comment.I think someone already mentioned this. On one of the older comments on your site.,Back when I went to school we used paper bags to make covers for our text books. Shows how old I am. Also where I live we used to have to put our newspapers in them for curb side recycling. Now we have huge bins with covers..I’m just letting you know there seems to be an issue with your website that it says page not found when I want to see older comments.
Please log in or create a free account to comment.I am in love with my newest find…paper bag floors! Bags, glue, water, stain and varathane. Looks amazing!
Please log in or create a free account to comment.I love using paper bags for gift wrap! I tie mine with twine to complete the rustic look.
Please log in or create a free account to comment.A favorite small present I love to give is handcrafted soaps a friend of mine makes and packages individually in little brown paper bags. I accordion fold the top third of the bags and cut little designs…like making paper snowflakes back in grade school…into the edges. When unfolded and tied (like a drawstring, just above the bar of soap) with twine or ribbon, they resemble little luminarias, and are suitable for any time (“snowflakes” at Christmas, hearts for Valentine’s, random shapes the rest of the year). SO quick and easy, and I always receive compliments on my handcrafted gift wrap.
I love this idea.
Please log in or create a free account to comment.I use a paper lunch bag to mix my dry ingredients when I’m baking. Just shake or whisk to combine. Not only does this make for one less mixing bowl to wash, it’s easy to neatly pour the flour mixture from the bag into the wet ingredients. Just toss the bag when you’re done!
Please log in or create a free account to comment.Brilliant!!
Please log in or create a free account to comment.Tossing the bag even if recycling creates waste.
Please log in or create a free account to comment.I always bake my pies in a brown paper bag which makes the most beautiful pie crust. The paper bag also catches any spillage from baking that would create a messy oven.
Please log in or create a free account to comment.Genius! My mother used to bake turkey and chicken in a brown paper bag “tent”.
Please log in or create a free account to comment.Wow!
Please log in or create a free account to comment.I do a lot of crafts. When painting a wood item, I noticed the tiny wood fibers sticking up. So i took a crumbled up paper bag and rubbed it all over the painted wood. Yup! Took them right off. Put the next coat of paint on and got a very smooth finish.
Please log in or create a free account to comment.Perfect!
Please log in or create a free account to comment.I remember my husband saying that in boy scouts they were taught how to make eggs and bacon over a campfire for breakfast in a paper bag.
Please log in or create a free account to comment.We live in Southern Indiana and brown paper bags are scarce–wish we could find some!!!
Please log in or create a free account to comment.I bake my pies in a large brown paper bag. The crust always turns out perfect and if the filling runs over, the bag absorbs it so it saves you a cleaning job.
Please log in or create a free account to comment.How interesting!
Please log in or create a free account to comment.We use paper bags to coat chicken for frying. It is easier to throw away than to clean up a container. Easy Peasy.
Please log in or create a free account to comment.I use freezer paper to protect the table at crafting time. Even stops paint!
Please log in or create a free account to comment.I use brown paper bags when I cook meat like bacon or sausage. I lay the meat on several layers of bag to absorb the grease.
Please log in or create a free account to comment.You can stop a nosebleed using a piece of brown paper bag…
For avocados to ripen, apple or banana placed inside along with it will help OT to ripen in half the time as normal…
Please log in or create a free account to comment.Growing up we used brown paper grocery bags (interior) as cooling racks when making cookies. The paper absorbed any excess oils and you just toss the mess when done. I rarely make cookies any more, but when I do I cut open a bag and happily bake away!
Please log in or create a free account to comment.How clever!
Please log in or create a free account to comment.I use the lunch sized paper bags, combined with scented dryer sheets for pet waste pickup, in addition to the regular plastic bag for that purpose. Makes the job a little less unpleasant.
Please log in or create a free account to comment.Mess is contained in the plastic bag, dryer sheets mask the odor from me, doubled paper bag hides the mess from everyone!
Please log in or create a free account to comment.Make stars out of paper bags
https://www.facebook.com/404151036453828/videos/524081157794148/
Please log in or create a free account to comment.We used to use paper bags to cover our textbooks for school. Cheap and can be personalized. Do kids even use textbooks anymore :-) ? It doesn’t damage the book if you do it right too! Works for books you don’t want others to see while you are commuting too
Please log in or create a free account to comment.OMG Sarah what a memory jog. Today’s kids (at least high schoolers) don’t use any kind of covers, and I’m sure they’d think a brown paper bag is very declassé!
Please log in or create a free account to comment.That is a memory jog. I still cover books with the brown bags. Covered my first cook book in 1970 and liked the results so much, here I am still doing it.