I’ve always been a fan of this lunch-transporting classic, but there are more ways than one to utilize brown paper bags (just ask the cat!). Click here to find out just how versatile these recycled wonders really are.
1. Mushroom Keeper: I learned early on that the best way to keep mushrooms fresh and stop them from getting slimy was to place them in a paper bag. This way the excess moisture is absorbed while offering enough protection to prevent them from drying out too quickly.
2. Onion/Garlic Bag: It is best to store these culinary staples in a cool dry place. There is no need to keep them in the fridge, just toss them in a paper bag in a cupboard!
3. Instant Gift Wrap: By scalloping the top edge and adding a bit of tissue-paper, brown bags make for charming gift wrap.
4. Cleaning Windows: Reuse old paper bags to clean windows. Tear them open and use these new "sheets" along with white vinegar for a streak free shine.
5. Rehydrate Stale Bread: Place stale buns in a paper bag, run it under a bit of water then stick it in the oven. The bag will help the bread become moist once again by creating a steaming affect.
6. Ripen Fruits: If you are growing impatient with those unripe mangoes, avocados or any other fruit, put them in a paper bag atop of your fridge and speed up the process!
7. Flower Pot cozy: If you receive a small potted plant as a gift and don’t have a vessel for it (and loathe the plastic pot it arrived in) just cut a brown bag to size, or roll the top of the bag over and stick the plant inside. Add a bow with some twine for a sweet natural look.
Remember, you can recycle the bags when you are done with them, or tear them up and use them in your compost. And don’t forget to reuse the paper bags that came with your Chianti or that formerly housed your baguettes!
(Image: Flickr member Stevendepolo licensed for use under Creative Commons)
Small Cool Lessons: Discovering Small Space Design Ideas That Really Work
Beatriz's Fun & Functional Workspace
Good Food to Share 
The Big Book of Small, Cool Spaces 
Apartment Therapy Presents 
The Eight-Step Home Cure 
Sheex Bedding
A Work Week Menu Plan That You Can Do
How to Make Fresh Pasta Dough in the Food Processor
Sorry to sound confused, but how do we know these bags came from recycled sources?
I don't like the flavor or price of prepackaged microwave popcorn, so I use brown lunch bags to make microwave popcorn. Just put in enough kernels to cover the bottom, roll down the top, and put it in the microwave on the "popcorn" setting. Turns out great! Then you can melt a little butter and put some salt on it, or whatever else you want. I reuse the bags until they get too greasy or torn, then I recycle them.
If you need to get the skins off of cooked bell peppers, a paper bag can be your best friend. After putting the peppers under the broiler until the skins start to blacken, take the peppers out of the over, put them in a paper bag and fold the top over. Wait until the peppers have cooled enough to handle, and the skins peel off easily! The paper bag helps hold in the steam from the hot peppers which helps separate the skins from the rest.
If you throw an apple in the bag with the mango, avocado or whatever you want to ripen, that will hasten the process. Especially if the apple is a little over-ripe.
i cut off the top third of a paper bag, fold it back up and lay it inside the open bag as added support to the bottom and then put in gift baked goods, fruit, nuts etc and fold over any extra bag (if any). it's a nice way to recycle paper and give food to new parents or families in need and not make them feel responsible for washing and returning kitchenware.
Crumpled brown paper bags can be used as cushioning when moving or storing fragile items. I started using them when I ran out of bubble wrap a few years ago and so far nothing has broken.
Hey, thats an interesting compilation of paper bag use-cases. I am reposting this on our page with attribution.