I buy Ziploc bags in bulk at Costco every few months. One time I needed a baggie and realized I was out, so I used plastic wrap instead. It made due, but it was annoying and took much more time than I had originally cared to dedicate to wrapping food for my lunch.
Since the beginning of time (1986, obviously), Ziplocs have been a constant. What else would you put your peanut butter and jelly sandwich in? (Correct answer: your mouth).
The New York Times ran a piece about Steven Ausnit, the creator of the beloved Ziploc bag. In the early 1960s, Ausnit attempted to get record companies to put zippers on record sleeves. Of course, no one had ever heard of a zipper opening anything but pants, but it turns out they have a variety of uses, like opening a bag that holds your records, your makeup, or, well, your peanut butter and jelly sandwich.
It wasn’t until 1973 that the Ziploc became a common household use, with the press-and-seal option being released in 1965. Thank you, Ziploc. My lunches wouldn’t be the same without you.