If you’re like me and are always on the hunt for grocery packaging you can give new life as storage solutions, read on. These are my six favorite groceries with packaging that you should never throw away.
Trader Joe’s Glass Dip Jars → Homemade Jam or Chia Pudding Container
My husband is a big fan of Trader Joe’s Sweet Mustard Dill Sauce, which means that I always have a stock of empty jars (which, as it turns out, are perfect for storing small servings of my homemade raspberry jam). I collect the jars, and when I have a bunch I make a new batch of my jam and disperse them to make small servings, which are excellent for gifting to my friends and family. Those specific jars have a gold lid, which adds a chic touch to the gifts.
Rao’s Homemade Marinara Pasta Sauce → Nut Storage
I was recently on the lookout for a large glass container to store my mixed nuts that usually come in a plastic container, when I realized I had just used up a bottle of Rao’s Homemade Marinara Pasta Sauce. The 36-ounce jar of the sauce was exactly the size I was looking for! The mouth is wide enough for me to shake out a handful of nuts (which is what I usually have as a quick snack), and it’s clear so it’s easy to see when it’s time to restock.
Fancy Sauce Glasses → Open Shelving Containers
I may or may not have purchased the Cloud23 hot sauce primarily because of its beautiful glass bottle and wood bottle stopper. The packaging is so aesthetically pleasing that as soon as I’m done with the hot sauce, I wash it out and reuse it as a decorative storage container for flowers or trinkets on my kitchen’s open shelving. You can do the same with other chic bottles, like pretty much anything from Truff.
Mixed Nut Jar → Rice Container
I love Good & Gather Unsalted Roasted Whole Cashews, but they come in a plastic box, which isn’t my ideal long-term storage solution. However, I reuse it as a large container to store opened bags of rice, lentils, and flour. The container’s wide mouth makes it effortless to scoop out what I need, and it has an airtight lid, which keeps unwanted moisture and other contaminants out.
Nespresso Pod Sleeves → Loose Candy Dispenser
I’m a big coffee drinker, so I have an abundance of empty Nespresso sleeves, which I reuse as loose candy dispensers. Once the cardboard sleeve is empty, I refill it with loose chocolates and place it in my kitchen cabinet. Whenever I need a pick-me-up, I open the sleeve and grab the first chocolate that pops out. It offers a fun element of surprise, as I never know which flavor I’ll get!
If you’re inspired and are looking for additional grocery packing gems you should never throw away, check out how jars, cardboard boxes, berry containers, and milk jugs can also be repurposed easily. Happy upcycling!
Is there any grocery packaging you always reuse? Let us know in the comments below!
