Yes You Can Reuse Those Jars!

I have to start this post with a confession. Are you ready for it?

I still buy jarred foods at the store. GASP! Are you shocked?!

It’s true. While I’m a great fan of scratch cooking and canning there are still plenty of things we don’t produce here, and even a few I just prefer to buy. Those jars of queso, for instance, are just way tastier than any cheese dip I’ve tried to make at home. We use about one jar a week when we host taco night for our neighborhood, which means we’re starting to have quite the collection of jars.

I can’t bear to toss them, our area doesn’t recycle glass, and they shouldn’t be used for canning. So how can I reuse these jars?

Food Storage. Just because you shouldn’t can in them doesn’t mean they are useless in the kitchen. I use them for dry storage of home grown herbs, leftovers I want to freeze, and even my homemade Ranch Dressing. Pretty much anything you wouldn’t want to waste a canning jar and precious lid for.

Gifting! Dress up the jar by painting the lid or covering it in pretty fabric or paper, then fill it up with cookies, candy, dry mixes or fancy nuts. Last Christmas I mixed up Hot Buttered Rum batter and gave it to my girlfriends in these jars.

Bits and Bobbles. These jars are great for storing assorted small items. My grandma always had a jar of rubber bands she saved on her windowsill. I remember plenty of times she used those rubber bands to pull my bangs out of my eyes. It was the 80’s! I like to keep buttons salvaged from worn out clothes. I rarely find a need for the buttons, but just looking at them makes me happy!

Homemade Salves. I used to use canning jars for my homemade balms and salves, but since canning lids are in such short supply it doesn’t make sense to use them for anything but actual canning anymore. Moving forward I’ll plan to use my queso jars.

Candles. I usually just use them to hold and catch drips from store bought candles but these jars would be great for making Yankee style candles. Those candles also make great gifts!

This is just a small sampling of how you can reuse jars. Do you have another great way to use or upcycle them? Share it in the comments!