I buy a lot of jams, pickles, sauces and various condiments that are often sold in beautiful glass jars. Once I get down to the dregs of any one of them, I can’t help but wonder what to do with the empty jar.
I love a good jar to use in my kitchen, and I also don’t like to spend money on glassware (it can be expensive!) if I don’t have to. That’s why I always peel off the sticky labels, give the inside a good scrub with soap and water and repurpose those cool containers.
But even I, a second jar upcycler, was surprised when I ran across this genius hack from TikTok content creator @nissasmariah7 that gives empty pasta sauce jars a new purpose. The video shows how to turn an empty pasta sauce into a travel cup for iced coffee, tea and so much more. Here’s what you need to know.
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@nissamariah7 Save your sauce jars for your matcha/coffee!! #fyp #matcha #matchalatte #matchatok #matchalover #matchatea #nurse #nursing
♬ original sound – Anissa
Why Do You Need This Empty Pasta Jar Hack?
If you’re a regular buyer of jarred pasta sauces, this is your sign to think twice before you toss that empty jar. Repurposing them to hold your iced coffees, matcha lattes, smoothies and other cold beverages is a great way to build your glass cup collection without spending a cent.
Pasta jars usually come with very secure lids that when screwed on tight, won’t leak or accidentally come undone, which makes them the perfect travel “mug” when you’re commuting to the office. It can shake and roll around in your bag all it wants—no spillage here! Pasta sauce jars also come in a range of sizes, so they can accommodate various drink size preferences. If you ask me, I’m using the largest jar there is. I always need a huge iced coffee in the morning to get through a day in the office!
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In addition to carrying your coffee, repurposed pasta jars make great storage solutions. Use them to stash pantry ingredients, such as coffee beans, dried pasta, rice or sugar. If you often buy a specific brand of sauce, you’ll end up with a matching set of DIY pantry containers. You can also use them as a makeshift vase to hold some pretty flowers. If you want to do some good for Mother Nature (and really, you should be kind to her!), repurposing these glass jars is a smart and sensible way to reduce waste while practicing sustainability.
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How Does This Empty Pasta Jar Hack Work?
This hack is so easy to do. To repurpose a pasta jar as a cup, give it a thorough wash with soap and hot water to loosen the label and the sticky adhesive. Remove the label and any lingering glue particles (If the label is stubborn, you might need to use a bit of soap and a scraper or a damp cloth to remove any remaining residue.) Rinse the jar once more and then dry it completely before adding it to your caffeine collection.
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