As the golden hues of dawn caress the shores of Bangtao Beach in Phuket, the ebb and flow of the Andaman Sea gently unveils a less picturesque reality—a mosaic of plastic debris scattered across the sand, a silent testament to human neglect. This striking contrast between natural allure and environmental plight frames our urgent dialogue on sustainability and introduces a beacon of hope: Durbl products.The Weight of WasteThe images of Bangtao, captured with disheartening clarity, portray a beach gasping beneath the weight of plastic pollution. Each bottle, straw, and bag represents a piece of the million-ton puzzle that chokes our oceans annually. The implications are dire—marine species mistake plastics for food, ecosystems falter under the unnatural invasion, and local tourism, the lifeblood of Phuket, stands at risk as the beauty of its beaches wanes under waste.
A Sustainable Horizon with DurblIn this challenging scenario, Durbl emerges as a brand and a harbinger of change. With a suite of products designed to outlast and replace their single-use counterparts, Durbl embraces the ethos of sustainability. Durbl's items are meticulously crafted to reduce environmental impact without compromising quality or convenience. Durbl offers a pragmatic path forward for consumers and businesses, from reusable bags to containers.The Local Loom of ChangeWhile individual actions are pivotal, collective effort is paramount. In Phuket, concerted initiatives—beach clean-ups, recycling drives, and educational outreach—sow seeds of environmental stewardship. Durbl extends its commitment beyond products, actively engaging in community efforts to preserve the natural splendor of places like Bangtao. Through partnerships and sponsorships, Durbl aligns its mission with the pulse of Phuket's environmental heartbeat.Embracing the Durbl DifferenceEmbodying the essence of innovation and responsibility, Durbl products stand as a testament to what we can achieve when purpose meets practice. It's not just about selling a product—it's about promoting a lifestyle that values the longevity of our planet.As the sun sets on Bangtao, let it not be a curtain fall on its future. We invite you, reader, to take a stand, choose sustainability, and choose Durbl. Join the movement towards a cleaner, greener Earth—one product, one beach, one choice at a time.
Join the Durbl MovementTake action. Choose sustainable alternatives. Support the global effort to restore the vibrancy of Bangtao Beach and countless other natural wonders. Let your choices reflect your commitment to this planet we call home. Visit Durbl's website to learn how you can be a part of the change.
Sous vide: This is not just a mysterious cooking method reserved for top chef contestants. Although it may seem scary initially, we are here to tell you that you don't need a cooking degree to cook at home. But let's support it and gain a deeper understanding of what vacuum cooking is all about.Sous vide is known for its precise cooking, ranging from perfect protein to vegetables. The best part is that it is simple and easy, especially when using Durbl bags and containers. Let's have a deeper understanding of the significance of vacuum cooking.
What is sous vide?
Sous vide is a cooking method that involves sealing food in a vacuum-sealed bag and cooking it at a precise and consistently low temperature in a water bath. This cooking technique is known for its ability to produce food with precise doneness and enhanced flavors.Due to the proteins being sealed in a bag along with the sauce or marinade, they are slowly and gently heated to the temperature of the water. This process aids in breaking down the food, making it more tender, and is an exact cooking method that yields consistent results.
How do you start your sous vide?
Preparing Ingredients: Choose the ingredients for cooking and process them appropriately, such as cutting into pieces, marinating, or seasoning.
Prepare Durbl Bags: Use Durbl bags designed explicitly for vacuum cooking, ensuring they can withstand high temperatures of 450℉. Place the ingredients and seasonings into the bags, leaving enough space to ensure effective sealing.
Vacuum Seal: Utilize a vacuum sealer to extract air from the bags, ensuring a tight seal. Follow the instructions of the sealer to complete the process.
Preheat Water Bath Equipment: Start your sous vide machine or prepare a water bath with a constant temperature. Set the water bath temperature, typically based on the ingredients being cooked.
Place in Reusable Durbl Bags: Insert the sealed bags into the preheated water bath. Ensure the bags are entirely submerged in water to guarantee even heating.
Cooking Time: Determine the appropriate cooking time based on the selected ingredients and set temperature. Considering that vacuum cooking often requires longer durations, plan accordingly.
Finish Cooking: After cooking, remove the ingredients from the bags. To enhance color and texture, you can consume them directly or undergo a brief surface treatment, such as searing or grilling.
What is the origin of the sous vide?
The concept of sous vide cooking traces back to the early 1970s when French chef Georges Pralus introduced it. He discovered that placing foie gras (goose liver) into a vacuum-sealed bag and slow-cooking it at low temperatures resulted in a more tender texture without significant loss of volume. Over time, sous vide cooking gradually transitioned from professional kitchens to home cooking, gaining widespread recognition worldwide.
What are the benefits of sous vide?
There are many benefits to using the sous vide method. Here are a few standouts:
Texture and Mouthfeel: Slow-cooking at low temperatures and sealing ingredients in a durable freezer bag allows sous vide to maintain the original texture and mouthfeel of the ingredients. Meats tend to be more tender, and vegetables retain their crispness.
Nutrient Preservation: Low-temperature cooking aids in preserving the nutritional content of food, causing less damage to vitamins and proteins compared to traditional cooking methods. This promotes healthier food preparation.
Precise Control: Sous vide enables exact control over temperature. This means you can set an accurate temperature, ensuring that ingredients reach the desired level of doneness throughout the cooking process, avoiding overcooking or undercooking.
Consistent Results: Thanks to precise temperature control, sous vide produces consistent cooking results. Similar temperatures and time settings yield comparable textures and appearances, ensuring predictability and satisfaction with each cooking session.
Flavor Infusion: Since ingredients are in a Durbl bag, they can absorb seasonings and spices more effectively, resulting in more prosperous and intense flavors.
Extended Shelf Life: Vacuum sealing allows ingredients to be stored in refrigeration or freezing for a longer time, slowing the impact of bacteria and oxygen and extending the shelf life of ingredients.
What are the best bags to use for sous vide?
You can sous vide in a vacuum-sealed bag, a reusable silicone bag, or a silicone container. Most sous vide bags sold are plastic, but we're partial to food-grade platinum silicone Durbl Bags and Containers because they are reusable, plastic-free, and BPA-free.Durable bags also have the added benefit of being dishwasher-safe, making them easy to clean up once you're done cooking. Bonus: they're endlessly reusable, so you don't have to worry about single-use plastic waste from those plastic sous vide bags.
What about sous vide recipes?
There are an endless number of recipes you can make using the sous vide method. Here are some of our favorites using Durbl bags:1. Orange-Infused Pepper-Marinated Cod:Cod chunks seasoned with orange juice and pepper, vacuum-sealed and slow-cooked in a low-temperature water bath.2. Olive Oil Rosemary Vegetable Parcel:Seasonal vegetables (such as carrots, onions, and broccoli) seasoned with olive oil and rosemary, vacuum-sealed and slow-cooked in a low-temperature water bath.3. Lemongrass Coconut Chicken Thighs:Chicken thighs soaked in lemongrass coconut milk, vacuum-sealed and slow-cooked to tender perfection.
I had the kind with a plastic slider on the top - I hated using them & they didn't seal well and things got freezer burn quickly. These seem to seal much better and are much easier to use, and the silicone being really clear so you can see the contents easily is very helpful too. You can fit a lot more in them than you think, I've been using the snack size more than I thought I would. I wish they would offer the quart size individually - I don't understand why you can get every size except that one. Definitely recommend them
These are great, but I wish they would offer more buying options. They only come in a 3-pack and they don't offer just the size you want individually. I am loving using these for work lunches and that they are safe to heat up in the microwave. They seal well and are heavy duty enough to be sturdy, but don't feel heavy to cart around.
I bought these to stop buying 1-time use Zip-Loc bags. They aren't quite as convenient to use or store, but overall MUCH better. I will buy more. I also bought another top brand but I am sticking with Durbl.