Reusing Food Containers

Tip: Repurposing Containers

I was thinking of posting this tip, when another reader asked the very question, so here goes: Save the containers that grocery and consumable items come in and repurpose them!

Here are a few examples:

• Plastic foam meat trays: cut notches on each end and use them to wind articles to keep them from tangling, from Christmas lights to fishing line.

• Jimmy Dean pre-cut sausage patty slices come on a very hard plastic twin tray, suitable for beading projects, to set on a bathroom or kitchen counter to hold jewelry, perfect size for a pencil/pen tray, etc.

• Coffee creamer shaker bottles can be used for glitter, powdered sugar, a few loads of laundry detergent to the laundromat instead of the whole box, bath salts, you name it.

• I always, always buy products in glass jars versus plastic, like salsa, jelly, peanut butter, etc. These are then washed and recycled as homemade jelly and jam jars (yes, they are safe, as long as you seal the jelly with a parrafin wax layer on top). I put hot peppers in vinegar in them, etc.
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• Other plastic jars with screw on lids are saved for camping trips and the like, to carry shampoo, syrup, ground coffee, sugar, etc. Keeps things from spilling, also raccoons, bears, and sugar ants can't unscrew the lids!

• Metal coffee cans instead of plastic store cooking oil after use.

• Spices in clear glass or plastic bottles-when empty, I use them to store beads I have sorted

• Rectangular plastic baby wipe containers store and carry medicine bottles all together neatly

• Green plastic berry baskets store kitchen sponges upright to air dry

• Plastic net onion bags are perfect for bathtub toys.

• Plastic liquid laundry detergent bottles with the spout removed are perfect to sit beside the sink for compost scraps; screw the lid on to keep bugs out, odors in, until you are ready to take them outside.
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• Any type of food or food safe container with a screw lid in your cabinets or pantry to store flour, sugar, corn meal, grits, macaroni, etc. and will prevent bugs. No food, no air, no survivors! Simple as that!

When you wash a lidded container, even though you dry it, before you store it, place a paper towel in it, then close the lid. This will absorb excess moisture until you are ready to use it,and will also prevent rust on metal canning jar lids stored on their jars.

By Gloria Hayes from Darien, GA

Tip: Reuse Plastic Food Containers for Storage

Tip: Caution when 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.

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

Tip: Reuse Food Containers for Packed Lunches

Save your plastic containers from store bought items to reuse at home. My husband uses butter bowls to take soups, spaghetti, etc. to work. Then throws the bowl away and has nothing to keep up with.

Tip: Using Lidless Containers

I poured a can of pineapple into a plastic tub and realized I didn't have a lid. Then I went to get one with a lid, and found out it didn't have one either.

Tip: Coffee Creamer Cartons

I like to recycle things and I have found that the containers for coffee creamers are great for elbow macaroni.

Tip: Reusing Food Containers

My favorite use out of these containers are when I share food with family or friends. Instead of putting the food to transport in a Tupperware and collecting the Tupperware back, this works better because my family/friend does not have to give these containers back.

Tip: Repurposing a Soda Stream Container

Years ago, liquid laundry detergents came out with the wonderful cap. You all know the one; it's not only a measuring device but it fits inside and doesn't allow a drip on the outside. One of the best things around.

Tip: Mark Real Margarine Container From Reused Containers

I use margarine and cottage cheese containers for storing food in the fridge. To ID which one is actually the margarine or cottage cheese, I put a rubber band around that one. It not only IDs it, but helps to grip the container especially if you have small children.

Tip: 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.

Tip: Easy to Hold Paint Container

I used a 35.3 oz. Nestle Coffee-mate container to apply water proofing sealer to our deck. The container is comfortable to hold and it made the job much easier. After I finished, I put it in the trash.

Question: Uses for Plastic Frosting Containers

What can plastic frosting containers be used for?

By Judy

Answers