16 Brilliant New Uses for Old Jars, From Craft Projects to Food Prep

To-Go Snack Containers

Packing a snack you don’t want to get crushed? Put it in a jar. While chips, popcorn, fruit, nuts, and more can be crushed into crumbs while stored in bags, all do very well housed in small or medium jars.

Jars can also be a great way to pack crudités and dips: Layer the dip on the bottom of the jar (try hummus or guacamole) and stick firm veggies, like carrots and pepper strips, vertically into the jar for a quick snack.

Ingredient Storage

No need to buy anything new for a chic decanted look in your pantry or open shelving. Use old or thrifted empty jars to decant various dried goods. If the ingredient isn’t immediately obvious by appearance (such as flour, corn starch, or baking powder), be sure to label the top.

Mise en Place

Mise en place, the culinary term for prepping ingredients before using them, can be exceptionally helpful whether you’re preparing a weeknight recipe or hosting a dinner party.

Pre-chop all your ingredients, measure out liquids, and keep them in sealed jars in the fridge for up to five days or until you need to use them for your recipe. If you bake the same cookies or fry up the same pancakes every week, you can also batch the dry ingredients together in a jar to save time in the future.

Terrarium Greenhouse

Use jars to create mini-ecosystems for wee plants that thrive in the high humidity of a closed system. Terrariums can be built in all kinds of glass containers, from big fish tanks and 5-gallon bottles to glass canisters and, yes, even old tomato sauce jars.

Breakfast Vessels

If you meal prep your breakfast or prefer a grab-and-go meal as part of your morning routine, medium-sized jars (like jam jars) can be your best friend.

Use the jars to portion out overnight oats, chia pudding, or yogurt, and add toppings (such as chopped nuts, shredded coconut, and fresh or dried fruit) to create a parfait ready in an instant. 

Cocktail or Coffee Shakers

A jar with a sealed lid is the perfect vessel for shaking up a beverage. In lieu of a traditional cocktail shaker, take a large glass jar and fill with liquids and ice, seal, and shake.

Jam jars with just a little bit of the good stuff at the bottom are also great for mixing up fruity cocktails, and the same goes for making salad dressing in near-empty mustard jars—it’s the best way to make the most out of the product and create something new.

Fermenting and Preserving

If you’ve gotten into pickling or sourdough, glass jars are the best tool to have on hand. All you have to do is sanitize the jar's interior and top (immerse it in boiling water after washing it with soap), and you'll be ready to go. 

Marinating

If you’re into marinating legumes, olives, artichokes or other ingredients, jars are a great vessel to do so in. You can shake everything up to make sure it’s evenly coated and even serve right out of the jar on charcuterie boards or at cocktail parties. A jar of house-marinated olives can also be a nice homemade gift.

Infusion Containers

Infuse olive oil with chilis, herbs, or other flavors. Add desired ingredients to a jar, cover with good quality extra-virgin olive oil, and allow the flavors to soak for a few days or weeks (taste to determine desired strength).

This also works for infusing alcohol with flavorings, such as coffee beans or berries. Typically, less than 24 hours of infusion time is ideal for neutral-flavored liquors like vodka.

Flower and Herb Vase

Need an impromptu vase for flowers or herbs? Fill an empty jar with some water, and voilà! Jars work especially well if you’re propagating plants and need a temporary vessel for them to root or if you're going for a cottagecore aesthetic.

DIY Portable Lights

Clear or tinted jars can be filled with battery-powered twinkle lights for a quick and easy decoration that can light up indoor or outdoor spaces. This also works with glow sticks or LED candles.

Votive Holders

Why buy fancy candle holders when you can make the sweetest ones with old jars and a sprig of fresh herbs? For this classic Martha project, clean and dry old jam or yogurt jars, use twine to attach a sprary of woody herbs like rosemary or thyme, insert a candle, and let the magic ensue.

Dry Bathroom Storage

Lidded jars can be great for storing items like cotton swabs, cotton pads, cotton balls, bandages, and more bathroom items you don’t want absorbing moisture. (Clear jars also help you see and keep track of when your medicine cabinet needs a restock.)

Garden Shed Organization

A row of jars is the perfect way to store odds and ends—but odds and ends that you want to be able to see. Creating a rustic yet aesthetic storage system for gardening supplies is a great idea for giving old food jars a new job.

Loose Change Receptacle

Empty your pockets and oversized wallet by dedicating a change jar to house all those coins. When it’s full, take it to the bank or donate the value to a good cause. 

Snow Globe

For the ultimate wintry flex, DIY a snow globe using an old jar. You can use any size, though this is an especially good use for wide-mouth jars.