Best kitchen trash bags

Top pick: Glad ForceFlexPlus Tall Kitchen Drawstring, 13 gallon. The ForceFlexPlus line is the one to beat for everyday kitchen duty — the stretchy film gives when you cram it full, and the drawstring holds the load without tearing at the rim. Buy the big box; you'll use them every week.

Who the others suit:

• Hefty Ultra Strong — if you want a sturdier-feeling bag and like a scented option; a solid mainstream alternative to Glad.
• Glad ForceFlex (Pine-Sol scent) — same stretch, with odor control for a bin that sits a few days.
• Genuine Joe heavy-duty — thicker film for sharp or heavy kitchen waste.
• Compostable 13-gallon liners — for food-scrap collection or a compost bin; they're not meant for heavy mixed trash.
• Seventh Generation flap-tie — fragrance-free and unscented, for sensitive noses.
• Bulk 120–500 count cases — cheapest per bag if you have the cupboard space.

Skip the cotton "kitchen bags essentials set" — that's a reusable cloth liner, not a trash bag.