linda’s blog

I received a great question yesterday about the advantage of using one size/shape nut milk bag over another. I thought I’d post the question and answer in case anyone else had this burning question.

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QUESTION: Hello I am interested in the nut milk bags, however I am not sure what the advantages of each bag is. For example the advantage of having an oval opening compared to the regular 12×12 bag.

ANSWER: I have a link that gives pros/cons for hemp vs nylon and I’ll describe the other sizes here. Even though you didn’t ask about materials, I thought I’d send it along just so you would have it.
http://www.vt-fiddle.com/rawfood/difference_between_nylon_hemp_bags.php - link for hemp vs nylon

• The v-shape bags are used JUST for filtering juices (in your blender) and nut/seed milks. They would not be used for sprouting because there wouldn’t be enough room for the sprouts to grow.

• The oval shape is nice because there are no corners for the nut/seed mash to get stuck in. Not that it is difficult to wash out or anything. We made the ovals because we had enquiries asking if we would make this shape for customers. I’d say if I were wanting to sprout, the 12 x 12 square would still be my preference for a bag. If you wanted a larger bag for making nut/seed milks or juices, the oval shape really does filter beautifully. Something about the rounded shape just feels nice.

A bit of history: we started our nut milk bag business by making the 9 x 12s - they are the standard size nut milk bag. We tested out our bags with our first wholesale customer and so we feel we make the best bags out there.  We were then asked if we could make a larger bag for some wholesale customers so we made the 12 x 12 bag. These bags are great because they give you the best of both worlds - ample space for sprouting and lots of room for making juices and nut milks. Beer makers, tempeh makers and other fermented product makers really like the 12 x 12 size (and they prefer the hemp bags). Then we were asked if we would make a funnel shaped bag that would be less material to have to deal with for squeezing out the liquid but large enough to hold the bags - so we make the 9 x 12 and the 12 x 12 into v-shapes (the 12 x 12 v-shape by special request). Finally the oval bag was asked of us to make and we make the 9 x 12 oval (by special request) and the 12 x 12 oval bag. We’ve also gotten some other custom size/shape bags that we’ve made for various projects and businesses.

All of these shapes and sizes and materials really suggest that there’s a lot of personal preferences for straining/filtering needs. Hopefully this helps you decide which bag(s) will be the ones you want to use or carry in your store.

Greetings! I’m back in the kick of keeping up with my blog. Keep your fingers crossed that I make a point to do this each day! If I keep it short and sweet, this will probably be the key to getting this done.

Today I wanted to send props out to the GREAT GREAT companies and people that are carrying our nut milk bags. As you may have understood from yesterday’s post, we’ve been selling our nylon 9 x 12 bags and 12 x 12 bags to Matt Monarch and his Raw Food World for a year or year and a half now which is totally RAWSOME!

We’ve got our bags out there to a lot of places and I’ll mention them each separately so’s I can give them their due. They are all great people and great companies. Today I’m talking about VitaMix.

Matt just sent me an email saying he finally found the link to our bags from the Vitamix website. YIPPEE! So I thought I’d post it for yas: https://secure.vitamix.com/acb/stores/4/Accessories-C3.aspx - Makes sense the bags would be under the Accessories page! Here’s the direct link so’s you don’t have to scroll down and aggravate the carpal tunnel in your wrist! https://secure.vitamix.com/acb/stores/4/NEW-Vita-Mix-Nut-Milk-Bag-P894C3.aspx

VitaMix is my absolute favorite appliance. I use it every day. I sell the basic model because that’s what I use and love. I know people love the old ones they have and the even more fab new models. I haven’t met a person yet who has disliked their VitaMix. So we were totally pleased as punch to work with them!

If you’ve never used the VitaMix, you are totally missing out, man! Ask anyone who has finally decided to get one and they will tell you they don’t know why they’ve waited so long. You can grind up nuts and seeds - even small seeds like flax - into fine flours, you make the CREAMIEST of dressings and smoothies. The VitaMix masticates greens so it’s the only way to blend up greens. You can use the VitaMix along with our nut milk bags to make your own juices. You can use the VitaMix to make ice creams AND soups. If you keep the thing running for 4 minutes, you’ll boil whatever you have there in the pitcher so for raw food dudes, you run it for a minute to heat things up. Let’s see, what else does the VitaMix do - well, it won’t change the oil in your car but it’s my main tool that I use for everything I make in the raw world and it’s a quick way to make me my healthy meals. OH yes, I make fruit leathers with it, dressings, puddings, smoothies, crackers, shakes, ice creams, flours, pastes, pates, condiments, sauces, soups. I’ve even made skin care products with it - blends up the CREAMIEST moisturizers! VitaMix is the muscle car of blenders. Very powerful. LOVE IT.

SO YAY! Thanks Matt, for finding us on VitaMix! And YAY to VitaMix for their killer blender. Happy Day everyone!

Take care,

Linda

p.s. look at the new and improved V-Shape bag - it’s looks like our fair state so we are calling it the Vermonter! http://vt-fiddle.com/shop/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=3&products_id=7

Check out our NEW V-SHAPE BAG! We lovingly call it The Vermonter

SOME ADDITIONS: Added 8/14/09

http://community.vitamix.com/_nut-milk/blog/510942/22442.html - isn’t that cool? They included a little recipe in there for you!