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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 of drops of washing-up liquid or vinegar for an hour or so. This will loosen the label, but if it still won’t budge, use cooking oil to scrub the jar clean. If stains and odours remain after rinsing, make a spreadable paste using equal parts bicarb and water. Apply it to the jar and lid, let sit for 15 minutes, then scrub and rinse. To sanitise the jars, pop them (and the lids) in the dishwasher and run the hottest cycle, thoroughly drying them with a tea 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
You can 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, as 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.
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Pour your own candles
If you want to give candle-making a try, there’s no need to buy expensive new jars – reuse old pasta sauce jars! Remove the label, wash and dry the jar, and create your very own candle scent. For a personalised 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 a homemade spice mix. Add the individual ingredients directly into the jar, stir to combine and seal with the lid. Label the jar with the name of the 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 centrepiece 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 table, assemble a group of different sized and shaped glass jars filled with flowers.
House craft supplies
Keep craft supplies organised by type in empty pasta sauce jars. Storing things like scissors, coloured 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 flavour
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 mint. Refrigerate for at least two hours for maximum flavour.
Candle holders
Turn pasta sauce jars into ambient candle holders in one of two ways: pop a tea light 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 cosy 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, 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. Simply fill the jar with water and add the herbs, removing leaves from the part of the stem that's submerged in the water. Once the cuttings start developing roots, it’s time to plant them in soil.
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 cover the lid with pretty fabric, tie ribbon around the rim and add a cute gift tag.
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