Reusing Food Packaging

Making Baby Crinkle Taggies From Cereal Bags

The plastic bags that cold cereals are packaged in can be cut into large squares and sewn between two pieces of cotton fabric, with several ribbons on each side extending through to the outside. When finished, these are called "crinkle taggies". They make a noisy entertainment for babies, with the satin ribbons babies love to touch.

Source: I'm sure I read about them some place on the internet.

By funnyfarm from Nevada

Reuse Large Ice Cream Tubs

I buy ice cream in the clear buckets with handles. After the ice cream is gone, I wash and dry the bucket and lid. Then I use the bucket as a container for storing flour, sugar, cornmeal, cookies, chips, etc. I take an index card write the name in maker and tape it to the lid after trimming off the excess. I make sure that the entire index card is covered in tape, so that it is protected from dirt, water, etc. These containers are great because they are stackable, clear, and cheap to replace. The handles make them easy to carry around.

By Jennifer from Annville, KY

Reusing a Wendy's Frosty Cup

After you have finished off your cool, refreshing Wendy's frosty that comes in a clear plastic cup with a clear plastic dome covering. Wash it and reuse in the bathroom for a toothbrush holder. Use another cup without the dome cover as a drinking cup. Adds nostalgia to the bathroom. Maybe check on eBay for matching shower curtain and towels? Is that going too far? Who would want a Wendy's bathroom?

By Vickie from Canton, MI

Paper Plate Holders

When my kids were younger, we would go to picnics and it would always end up that one of the 4 would end up with there food on them, the paper plates would give a way. So I started looking for anything that would work to hold there paper plates, in a pinch.

I found that a lid from a plastic gallon of ice cream was my answer. It fits the paper plates perfectly and the kids didn't wear their dinner.

By Cindy K. from Elkhart

Reusing Food Packaging

I reuse bread bags for used kitty litter. The plastic grocery bags are easy to tear, but the bread bags are more durable. I reuse the plastic grocery bags (what few I get) in my bathroom for those smelly items before I put it in the trash.

I also take the large dry dog food bags, (the kind that are made out of some sort of fiber, not the regular paper ones) and made tote bags, etc. I made one crossover type bag for picking blueberries. It is hard to sew, but if you sew with tissue paper, it doesn't slide as badly. I've got one now that I cut down and cut square handles in it for when I brush my dog, iI put the hair in it, or I put all his grooming stuff in it. I found the tips for doing these on this site!

Of course, I can hardly ever throw out a plastic butter container. I reuse them for leftovers, cold, old grease, etc. I borrowed some softener and put it in a plastic squeeze mustard container I'd saved. And the plastic squeeze ketchup/mustard bottles you can buy at the dollar store, I put liquid shortening in one, and some vinegar in the other, so when I want to add some vinegar to my pot of beans to get rid of the gas, I just squeeze it in.

I rinse out plastic "zip" bags and reuse if they've had cookies, chips, or sandwiches in them. I'm careful not to reuse any that have had meat, etc. in them.

I've been recycling food containers for many years before recycling was hip. I used to save boxes, cans, etc. for my preschool room's kitchen. It was much cheaper back then from the "store bought" play food.

Probably the best, most recent re-use of an item is what my dad did last week. He killed a copperhead snake and didn't want the cat to get to it, so he put it in a plastic coffee container with a tight lid before disposing of it. He offered the container to me, and I quickly told him "No Thanks!"

By Denise from GA

Reuse Cardboard Containers for Leftovers

Save all your cardboard cartons; milk, cream, half and half, ice cream, etc, I wash them out in warm water, using a dish mop. I invert them on a paper towel and the next day when dry, I keep the top closed from dust, etc with the wide parcel tape until needed. I use for soups, stews, and even for steaks, fish, chicken pieces, etc. It is not good to freeze in plastic or foil, so this works really well.

By Barbara from B.C., Canada

Reusing Bakery Trays

I bought some pull-apart bread last week. The tray that is on the bottom is black, but can't be recycled in this state. The center has a ring in the middle, and two other rings larger toward the edges.

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Save Plastic Fruit Containers For Storing Small Items

My wife buys Dole mandarin oranges for my son. The jars the oranges are packed in are a durable plastic, and the label is the kind that can be easily and completely removed. Since it is not glass (and therefore unbreakable), these jars will make great storage for all manner of things in a workshop, sewing room, etc.

By Roger from Hampton, VA

Reusing Food Containers

I have a habit of re-using containers from food and drink items. This morning my visiting son yelled to me that the coffee creamer had gone bad. I knew immediately what had happened.

I use the flavored refrigerated creamer for coffee. When it was empty, I cleaned it out and put mixed pancake batter in it. Easy and simple way to have your pancake batter ready to go in the morning without having to mix every day.

Well you guessed it! He had grabbed the container with the batter and poured himself a big dollop in his coffee! You'd think he would learn after his big glass of hummingbird food "kool-aid" (stored in a half gallon milk container) he enjoyed last Spring.

By nonniebeth from Rome, GA

10 Ways To Reuse a Potato Chip Bag

Here are 10 ways to reuse potato chip bags.

1. At picnics or parties, use for most any food that doesn't need a lid container.
2. Use in car trunk to store either clean or dirty rags.
3. Use to wrap up breakables for transporting.
4. Put babies dirty diapers, especially throwaways when you are going to use a public trash can.
5. Use to store or carry baseballs. You can get about 12 hardballs in a large bag or 6 softballs.
6. Use the bag to collect berries, pine cones, or any other little treasures you find on your nature walks.
7. Use to carry your caught fish home.
8. Use to bury your desceased pet parakeet, fish, gerbils or hamster. Just wrap them up in a bag and bury.
9. Use as a trash bag for your vehicle.
10. A large empty potato chip bag will make 2 one time picnic table place mats.

So don't trash your chip bag. Reuse It.

By Mr. Thrifty from Shermans Dale, PA

Use Bacon Plastic Sheet for Glue Gun Work Surface

Does your glue gun make a mess on your work surface? I wash up the plastic sheet that comes under a pound of bacon and I place it under my glue gun and the drips will peel right off and your work surface will stay clean!

By Dianna from Derry, PA

Use Waxed Boxes for Paint Palettes

When working with acrylics, you can use a (washed) waxed box such as the ones frozen foods come in, as a palette. I have used cut down plastic 2 liter milk containers for palettes as well. No cost, no cleanup.

By Doggy from TX

Reusing Beneful Wet Dog Food Containers

These are 10 oz. containers with recloseable lids. They are dishwasher safe and can be sanitized. I find they are a perfect size for individual meat and gravy servings. Also, meatballs and sauce. We are now a family of two since our kids have grown. I still cook for an army and freeze portions in the Beneful containers. They are so easy to pop into the microwave. I can have liver and onions while my husband has meatballs and shells. These containers are great.

By Diane from East Hartford, CT

Reusing Containers for Food Storage

If you have a sleeve of crackers that you want to transport whole, slip them in a Pringles or Stax can. The same goes for cookies, especially the kind that you buy, as they are almost always in rows or stacks and can be easily transferred from the bag/box to the tube.

<p>Speaking of the tubes, if you can con your local grocer out of the clear plastic jerky tubes, you have the perfect spaghetti keeper. Now wait, I don't mean dry spaghetti, I mean the home made sauce with all the meats and goodies. Fill it almost to the top, let it cool, then put the lid on secure. Now, here is the trick; gently shake it back and forth to make sure the meats are evenly dispersed and lay it on its side!</p>

<p>If you put it in vertical, all the meat will settle to the bottom. By placing it in horizontal, it will all settle to the bottom, too, but evenly along the entire side of the tube. Then, if you only need some, you can literally thaw it for about 20 minutes, then slide out half and saw it off! You will then have the same amount of meat in the "top half" as you do in the rest of it. </p>

<p><b>Source:</b> The pringles was mine. The other I read in a Woman's Day years ago, when we were all going "back to nature". </p>

<P>By <a href="http://www.thriftyfun.com//profile/index.lasso?profile=thr980547">Sandra</a> from Salem, OR</p>

Recycle Flour Bags For Baked Goods

Recycle your flour bags by reusing them to store your homemade baked goods (cookies, pastries, etc). I carefully open the bags to begin using the flour and when its finished, I reuse the bag. If I need the bag right away, I transfer the remaining flour into a container, tap out any excess flour left inside and refill with my baked goods. If cost effective at the time, I try to buy the small bags of flour when at the market as they work best for me especially when I am sharing cookies with family and friends. They don't have to worry about returning a container, just discard the bag.

By sbb1 from Umm al Quain, UAE

Use Bags From Cereal For Camping

I save the bags from empty cereal, they are super to use to take camping to use as bowls, or cereal. When used, fold up to carry home to discard. They are also handy when small children come to visit to use for snacks. Fold over the top and cut a small circle. When the top is lifted, you have a small handle for the little ones to carry.

By Peggy from Cortland, OH

Reuse Produce Boxes and Packaging

In the produce section, there are the large apple boxes that come with recycled layers of pocketed cardboard (like eggs) that protect the produce during shipping. They are kind of lavender in color. These work so well for storing fruits and vegies/and the boxes themselves are great too. The top fits down over the bottom.

By Pamelaw from Sun Lakes, AZ