An expat living in Australia has opened up about an all-too-common supermarket problem that most Aussies are probably familiar with.

On the popular forum site Reddit, one user asked: “Hey guys I just moved to Australia and I was just wondering, how the f**k do I open this?”

Then he attached a photo to his post, showing an unopened sheet of plastic produce bags provided at supermarkets.

An expat shared that he finds it difficult to open the plastic bags at the supermarket. Credit: Reddit.​

Hundreds of Aussies flooded the man’s post on social media, with the majority of them agreeing that these plastic bags are a headache to deal with.

And yes, we also agree! We can’t even count the times we have to stand awkwardly around the fresh produce aisles, trying to open one of these bags. Sometimes, they even end up all crumpled and unusable!

Ever since the man brought up the familiar issue on the forum site, his post had already received over 7500 reactions from users, with over a thousand comments suggesting different ways on how to open up these bad boys.

A majority of users suggested rubbing the plastic sheet until it splits apart. Pinch the opening area with your thumb and index finger then rub them against each other. And then once you see a slight opening, you blow down into the bag until it expands and fully opens.

Others also suggest licking your fingers a little to wet them and give them a bit of grip before trying to split the bag open.

If it still doesn’t open, one user suggests turning the sheet over and doing the same process on the other end of the plastic bag.

However, many pointed out that blowing down into the plastic bag and licking your fingers can be improper to do since people are wearing face masks these days. And you have to admit, with the pandemic stuff going on, this behaviour can be a bit unhygienic.

So, other users suggested more ways on how to “wet” your fingers without licking them.

“Get some water on your hands near the fresh veggies and then try,” said one user, and a local fruiterer agreed, adding: “Steal some moisture from a display of wet produce like broccoli.”

A third user suggested using the wet wipes provided at the entrance of some Woolies stores. “I hang one of those on the trolley and use it to wet my fingers,” they said.

On the other hand, a handful of other people advised ditching the single-use plastic bags altogether.

“No need for a bag for like 90 per cent of vegies. For the rest, you can get little reusable cloth bags which are the bomb. So much nicer than that plastic trash,” one user wrote.

Another agreed and added: “That’s what I do. I also bought a small batch of reusable bags online for buying snow peas or beans. They just go in the wash!”

“I bought 100 brown paper bags and use those instead, better environmentally, and you don't have to deal with opening those things,” wrote a third.

“Hopefully we will see the end of these things soon with the majority of packaging going paper.”

Members, do you encounter this problem at the supermarket too? If so, how do you open these plastic bags?

Share your tips and tricks with us in the comments below!

 

[Floosy]

The bags have been manufactured in such a way that the pleat down the sides have a long and short fold. Look at the side of the bag and you will see that you can simply pull up the shorter fold, close to the top edge and that creates an opening. Voila!
If not wearing a mask, moisten your finger tips by breathing warm, moist air onto them.

 

[Zac]

Expat living in Australia ‘opens up’ about an all-too-common supermarket problem​

An expat living in Australia has opened up about an all-too-common supermarket problem that most Aussies are probably familiar with.

On the popular forum site Reddit, one user asked: “Hey guys I just moved to Australia and I was just wondering, how the f**k do I open this?”

Then he attached a photo to his post, showing an unopened sheet of plastic produce bags provided at supermarkets.

An expat shared that he finds it difficult to open the plastic bags at the supermarket. Credit: Reddit.​

Hundreds of Aussies flooded the man’s post on social media, with the majority of them agreeing that these plastic bags are a headache to deal with.

And yes, we also agree! We can’t even count the times we have to stand awkwardly around the fresh produce aisles, trying to open one of these bags. Sometimes, they even end up all crumpled and unusable!

​

Ever since the man brought up the familiar issue on the forum site, his post had already received over 7500 reactions from users, with over a thousand comments suggesting different ways on how to open up these bad boys.

A majority of users suggested rubbing the plastic sheet until it splits apart. Pinch the opening area with your thumb and index finger then rub them against each other. And then once you see a slight opening, you blow down into the bag until it expands and fully opens.

Others also suggest licking your fingers a little to wet them and give them a bit of grip before trying to split the bag open.

If it still doesn’t open, one user suggests turning the sheet over and doing the same process on the other end of the plastic bag.

​

However, many pointed out that blowing down into the plastic bag and licking your fingers can be improper to do since people are wearing face masks these days. And you have to admit, with the pandemic stuff going on, this behaviour can be a bit unhygienic.

So, other users suggested more ways on how to “wet” your fingers without licking them.

“Get some water on your hands near the fresh veggies and then try,” said one user, and a local fruiterer agreed, adding: “Steal some moisture from a display of wet produce like broccoli.”

A third user suggested using the wet wipes provided at the entrance of some Woolies stores. “I hang one of those on the trolley and use it to wet my fingers,” they said.

​

On the other hand, a handful of other people advised ditching the single-use plastic bags altogether.

“No need for a bag for like 90 per cent of vegies. For the rest, you can get little reusable cloth bags which are the bomb. So much nicer than that plastic trash,” one user wrote.

Another agreed and added: “That’s what I do. I also bought a small batch of reusable bags online for buying snow peas or beans. They just go in the wash!”

“I bought 100 brown paper bags and use those instead, better environmentally, and you don't have to deal with opening those things,” wrote a third.

“Hopefully we will see the end of these things soon with the majority of packaging going paper.”

Members, do you encounter this problem at the supermarket too? If so, how do you open these plastic bags?

Share your tips and tricks with us in the comments below!

Unfold the bag and taking each corner gently pull. The bag will then open easily

 

[lorjim9]

Expat living in Australia ‘opens up’ about an all-too-common supermarket problem​

An expat living in Australia has opened up about an all-too-common supermarket problem that most Aussies are probably familiar with.

On the popular forum site Reddit, one user asked: “Hey guys I just moved to Australia and I was just wondering, how the f**k do I open this?”

Then he attached a photo to his post, showing an unopened sheet of plastic produce bags provided at supermarkets.

An expat shared that he finds it difficult to open the plastic bags at the supermarket. Credit: Reddit.​

Hundreds of Aussies flooded the man’s post on social media, with the majority of them agreeing that these plastic bags are a headache to deal with.

And yes, we also agree! We can’t even count the times we have to stand awkwardly around the fresh produce aisles, trying to open one of these bags. Sometimes, they even end up all crumpled and unusable!

​

Ever since the man brought up the familiar issue on the forum site, his post had already received over 7500 reactions from users, with over a thousand comments suggesting different ways on how to open up these bad boys.

A majority of users suggested rubbing the plastic sheet until it splits apart. Pinch the opening area with your thumb and index finger then rub them against each other. And then once you see a slight opening, you blow down into the bag until it expands and fully opens.

Others also suggest licking your fingers a little to wet them and give them a bit of grip before trying to split the bag open.

If it still doesn’t open, one user suggests turning the sheet over and doing the same process on the other end of the plastic bag.

​

However, many pointed out that blowing down into the plastic bag and licking your fingers can be improper to do since people are wearing face masks these days. And you have to admit, with the pandemic stuff going on, this behaviour can be a bit unhygienic.

So, other users suggested more ways on how to “wet” your fingers without licking them.

“Get some water on your hands near the fresh veggies and then try,” said one user, and a local fruiterer agreed, adding: “Steal some moisture from a display of wet produce like broccoli.”

A third user suggested using the wet wipes provided at the entrance of some Woolies stores. “I hang one of those on the trolley and use it to wet my fingers,” they said.

​

On the other hand, a handful of other people advised ditching the single-use plastic bags altogether.

“No need for a bag for like 90 per cent of vegies. For the rest, you can get little reusable cloth bags which are the bomb. So much nicer than that plastic trash,” one user wrote.

Another agreed and added: “That’s what I do. I also bought a small batch of reusable bags online for buying snow peas or beans. They just go in the wash!”

“I bought 100 brown paper bags and use those instead, better environmentally, and you don't have to deal with opening those things,” wrote a third.

“Hopefully we will see the end of these things soon with the majority of packaging going paper.”

Members, do you encounter this problem at the supermarket too? If so, how do you open these plastic bags?

Share your tips and tricks with us in the comments below!

Not as easy to lick your fingers with masks on so very frustrating

 

[Ricci]

Do your shopping online - then it becomes somebody else's problem!!

 

[Phyll]

i tie a trolly wipe to my trolly , i also use it to wipe my hands on as walk around the store .

 

[Joyce]

Paper Bag = more trees chopped down,& they break apart when damp!

 

[lizandroly]

Hi. If you open at the corner of the bag you shouldn't have any problems. Someone gave this advice to my husband in a veggie department when they saw him struggling. Hope that is helpful.

 

[thomas]

Expat living in Australia ‘opens up’ about an all-too-common supermarket problem​

An expat living in Australia has opened up about an all-too-common supermarket problem that most Aussies are probably familiar with.

On the popular forum site Reddit, one user asked: “Hey guys I just moved to Australia and I was just wondering, how the f**k do I open this?”

Then he attached a photo to his post, showing an unopened sheet of plastic produce bags provided at supermarkets.

An expat shared that he finds it difficult to open the plastic bags at the supermarket. Credit: Reddit.​

Hundreds of Aussies flooded the man’s post on social media, with the majority of them agreeing that these plastic bags are a headache to deal with.

And yes, we also agree! We can’t even count the times we have to stand awkwardly around the fresh produce aisles, trying to open one of these bags. Sometimes, they even end up all crumpled and unusable!

​

Ever since the man brought up the familiar issue on the forum site, his post had already received over 7500 reactions from users, with over a thousand comments suggesting different ways on how to open up these bad boys.

A majority of users suggested rubbing the plastic sheet until it splits apart. Pinch the opening area with your thumb and index finger then rub them against each other. And then once you see a slight opening, you blow down into the bag until it expands and fully opens.

Others also suggest licking your fingers a little to wet them and give them a bit of grip before trying to split the bag open.

If it still doesn’t open, one user suggests turning the sheet over and doing the same process on the other end of the plastic bag.

​

However, many pointed out that blowing down into the plastic bag and licking your fingers can be improper to do since people are wearing face masks these days. And you have to admit, with the pandemic stuff going on, this behaviour can be a bit unhygienic.

So, other users suggested more ways on how to “wet” your fingers without licking them.

“Get some water on your hands near the fresh veggies and then try,” said one user, and a local fruiterer agreed, adding: “Steal some moisture from a display of wet produce like broccoli.”

A third user suggested using the wet wipes provided at the entrance of some Woolies stores. “I hang one of those on the trolley and use it to wet my fingers,” they said.

​

On the other hand, a handful of other people advised ditching the single-use plastic bags altogether.

“No need for a bag for like 90 per cent of vegies. For the rest, you can get little reusable cloth bags which are the bomb. So much nicer than that plastic trash,” one user wrote.

Another agreed and added: “That’s what I do. I also bought a small batch of reusable bags online for buying snow peas or beans. They just go in the wash!”

“I bought 100 brown paper bags and use those instead, better environmentally, and you don't have to deal with opening those things,” wrote a third.

“Hopefully we will see the end of these things soon with the majority of packaging going paper.”

Members, do you encounter this problem at the supermarket too? If so, how do you open these plastic bags?

Share your tips and tricks with us in the comments below!

the thing about using your own brown paper or cloth bags is that they weigh more than a plastic bag so therefore you are paying that little bit extra for the produce, do that for a few items and it is costing you a fair bit over the year. on that subject, I wonder if the checkouts allow for the difference when weighing the purchase, I haven't seen one yet that "calibrates" from a paper bag to a plastic bag

 

[Rob54]

I look for the moisture on the fresh broccoli…opening the plastic bags works a treat, when your fingers are damp.