15 Smart Ways to Reuse Pasta Sauce Jars
Instead of recycling those old marinara jars, put your creativity to the test and upcycle them.
Instead of recycling empty pasta sauce jars, repurpose them in one of these creative ways. The glass jars come in a variety of shapes and sizes, and are surprisingly versatile; they're excellent storage vessels, serve as handy kitchen accessories, lend themselves well to craft projects, and even double as decor.
Before you reuse the glass jars, there are a few essential steps you need to take—because you don't want your overnight oats to come with a hint of pasta sauce! Start by soaking the jars and lids in hot water with a couple drops of dish soap or vinegar for an hour or so. This will loosen the label, but if it still won't budge, use cooking oil or rubbing alcohol to scrub the jar clean. If stains and odors remain, make a spreadable paste using equal parts baking soda and white vinegar. Apply it to the jar and lid, let sit for 15 minutes, then rinse. To sanitize the jars, pop them (and the lids) in the dishwasher and run the hottest cycle, thoroughly drying them with a dish towel at the end.
Once clean, the pasta sauce jars are ready to be reused in one of these 15 clever ways.
Prep Layered Salads
Reuse pasta sauce jars to assemble single-portion layered salads. Prep a couple of them ahead of time and separate the leafy greens from wet ingredients such as tomatoes and dressings to prolong freshness. The ingredient combo possibilities are endless and the jarred salads make for a quick and easy grab-and-go lunch at home or at the office.
Make Overnight Oats
If you love a healthy and hearty breakfast, use old pasta sauce jars to make your own overnight oats. As the oats sit in the sealed glass jars, they absorb the added liquid to produce a deliciously creamy texture. They're a great make-ahead breakfast and can be topped with whatever fruit, nuts, or seeds you have on hand.
Get Crafty
Get crafty and grab glass paints or markers to decorate old pasta sauce jars. Before you start, clean the glass jars. Wash them in hot, soapy water, dry them thoroughly, and wipe them down with rubbing alcohol to ensure all food residue and oils are gone and you have a blank canvas to paint on.
Store Dry Pantry Goods
Repurpose pasta sauce jars as storage vessels for dry pantry goods such as rice, beans, and pasta. It's cost-effective, the clear glass allows you to see what's in each jar, and the flat lids allow for space-saving stacking. Plus, the airtight seal prolongs freshness and keeps unwanted pests out.
RELATED: Your Pantry Will Look Instantly Organized With These Smart Hacks
Pour Your Own Candles
If you want to give candle-making a try, there's no need to buy expensive new jar—reuse old pasta sauce jars! Remove the label, wash and dry the jar, and create your very own candle scent. For a personalized touch, create a custom label to stick on the jar.
Whip Up a Homemade Spice Mix
A small pasta sauce jar is an excellent container for mixing a homemade spice mix. Add the individual ingredients directly into jar, stir to combine, and seal with the lid. Label the jar with the name of spice mix and the date it was made to eliminate any future confusion.
Mix and Store Homemade Salad Dressings
Making your own salad dressing allows you to control the ingredients and adjust the seasonings to your taste. If you have an empty pasta sauce jar on hand, repurpose it as a salad dressing container. Add your ingredients directly into the jar, then shake well to combine. Store in the refrigerator with the lid on.
Display Flowers
For a charming centerpiece or desk accent, arrange flowers in old pasta sauce jars. Use tall glass jars that have a wide mouth opening to comfortably fit multiple flower stems. To set a festive yet causal table, assemble a grouping of different sized and shaped glass jars filled with flowers.
House Craft Supplies
Keep craft supplies organized by type in empty pasta sauce jars. Storing things like scissors, colored pencils, rulers, and paintbrushes in the glass jars keeps them within easy reach while preventing clutter on work surfaces and inside storage drawers.
Pickle Vegetables
Use pasta sauce jars to pickle vegetables such as red onions. Unlike traditional pickling, this process takes under an hour and doesn't require any fancy kitchen equipment or special canning jars—old pasta sauce jars will do just fine!
Infuse Water With Flavor
If you're trying to up your water intake, there's a surprising tool that can help: empty pasta sauce jars. Fill the clean glass jars with water and infuse them with fruit such as lemon, berries, or cucumbers, and fresh herbs like a big bunch of mint. Refrigerate for at least two hours for maximum flavor.
Light Candles
Turn pasta sauce jars into ambient candle holders in one of two ways: Pop a tealight candle inside the glass jar or add water and a floating candle for a little more movement. It's a simple way to reuse the glass jars and set a cozy atmosphere at the same time.
Pack Up Leftovers
Pack leftovers into old pasta sauce jars to store in the refrigerator. They work especially well for leftover soups, chilis, stews, and sauces. Add a label with the description of the leftovers and the date the meal was cooked either to the lid or the side of the jar.
Propagate Herbs
Propagate herbs such as mint, basil, rosemary, and thyme in glass pasta sauce jars. Fill the jar with water and place herb stems in the jar, removing leaves from the part of the stem that's submerged in water. Once the cuttings start developing roots in the water, it's time to plant them in soil.
RELATED: How a Gardening Expert Turns One Plant Into Dozens—for Free
Package Cookies for Gifting
For a simple but festive way to package homemade cookies for gifting, upcycle old pasta sauce jars. To dress up the cookie jar, you can place a decorative muffin liner at the bottom, cover the lid with pretty fabric, tie ribbon around the rim, and add a cute gift tag.
Maria Sabella is a lifestyle writer with a passion for home and interiors — from paint colors and holiday decor to the latest design trends. Her work has appeared in outlets including Better Homes & Gardens, The Spruce, BuzzFeed and Bustle.
Readers Also Read
How to Give Old Sheets a Second Life
What to Do With Leftover Pickle Juice
10 Things You Should Think Twice About Tossing
50 Healthier Lunch Ideas That Will Keep You Full
