The husband and I order takeout once twice a few times a week. I've been trying to find other uses for those handy little plastic containers before they end up in the recycling bin. Here are a few:
- Of course the most likely way to reuse a takeout container is for food. They're great for packing lunches or taking snacks along for the day. However, the containers can become fragile when frozen so they're not ideal for freezing foods.
- Takeout containers make excellent paint trays. They're especially handy if you need to save your paint overnight -- just snap on the lid and the paint will stay fresh until the next time you need it.
- It seems like there are a million tiny items floating around my desk and in my junk drawer. Takeout containers can help organize small things -- staples and paper clips and stacks of sticky notes.
- Speaking of staying organized, these plastic containers are handy for storing kids items like crayons, markers, and stickers. Hand your child a stack of takeout containers and help them organize the small stuff.
- I have difficulty keeping all of the chargers for my various electronic devices organized. That is, I did until I started putting them in these plastic containers and labeling them. Now when I'm looking for even the most rarely used charger, I know exactly where I'll find it.
What are some of your clever re-uses for takeout containers?
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I don't use them for food anymore because of BPA.
Well, aside from the usual food storage, I've used them as planters, dirt scoops (for potting dirt), piggy banks, food storage obviously, and recently to store some mini Japanese paper lanterns while I pack up house. My biggest beef is when they pierce or slice the lids to let steam out, so you can't really re-use the lids for food storage.
using them for organization is a great idea thanks!!! wish i had this list (or thought about reusing for organization) a month ago when we were renovating our kitchen and ordered takeout daily!
Great timing. I had to clean up an avalanche of containers last night and was wondering what I could use them for. Thanks! Off to organize charging cords.
that is genius! i cannot believe that i did not think to throw in all of our kazillion wires and adapters into device-specific containers for easier wrangling and finding. thank you!
Love these kinds of posts. The paint idea is great, I'm totally using that. We actually don't eat out much, but reuse a lot of sour cream, yogurt, feta cheese, etc. containers to pack leftovers for next-day lunches. Also, salsa and pickle jars for storing homemade sauces. The jars work great for disposing of hot grease or oil, too (if you're too lazy to find a place to dump it in the yard, like me!).
Oh, and smaller jars a great for storing dried herbs from your garden.
Those containers are not recyclable in my city as they are not the right type of plastic. It's a good reason to avoid getting take-out, actually ;)
They are great for delivering meals to sick friends, since they don't have to worry about returning the dishes.
I think the best thing to do with those containers is to avoid them. BPA is no joke. MonicaK and Ms. Melly are right on.
Most take-out containers are plastic #5 (see bottom of container) and can be recycled at Whole Foods in Manhattan. However, I've taken to not ordering from places that use plastic containers since I'm sick of people using plastic for everything.
Michelle
hmm... one question...dont take outs allow ur own containers if you like it?
I just made ramen in the same white container that's pictured above!
Ramen package + scalding hot water from the break room = cheap lunch at work. Don't have to worry about heating it and exposing myself to BPA (since BPA only comes out of plastic at high temperatures), and I get to reuse the container until it cracks.
Two words: Tiffen Carrier. (Bing if you don't know what I'm talking about)
I hate plastic containers. I especially hate the kind pictured here because the lids are hard to get on and off and you wouldn't want to microwave them because of the chemicals. I don't use them for paint either because they are too wide to fit on my easel. I usually use small glass jars for that.
For wires, I fold mine Japanese style so they don't get tangled.
Great idea for organizing kids trinkets and pencils, chalk, etc..
In this case I'm going to have to agree with the several other posters who just stay away from them, but kudos for thinking of some new uses for those who already have them!
Our kids' Montessori accepts these for instrument-making. It's an unbreakable, "toolable" medium that is a non-food use and shows children some principles of re-use other than pitching containers into recycling bins. Ironically, I think the take-out containers are the only plastic materials in the classroom, save some markers. :-)
@darcitananda and others: I agree that using your own containers whenever possible is ideal. My sister is a waitress at the El Dorado Grill in Madison, Wis., and shares stories about regulars who will carry leftover vittles home in their bare hands or tucked into a purse pocket before accepting a Styrofoam box when they forget their canning jars.
I use the clear ones for dried bulk goods storage - beans, rice, spices. Unfortunately, not every take out place is willing to reuse a clean used container. :(
I do wish someone would put out safe PBA versions of some of the takeout containers - I find the good ones vastly superior to any tupperware commonly on the market for their stackability, size, and ease of cleaning, but I just don't trust using them in microwaves. :( I'm even leery of the ones that say "microwave safe" because you never know, right? Especially with cheap manufacturing, which is definitely where these are coming from.
But gosh darn it they're the perfect size to hold lots of adult size meals in the fridge.
Apprently, Ina Garten loves to store her food and ice cream in one of these containers. =)
speaking of food storage...does anybody know a good glass container that is not too heavy in weight?
Pyrex containers are great for my lunch but too heavey to carry around..=(
ha. I thought that first container was the one peed in at the doctor when I was pregnant. Which needless to say are great for salad dressing.
@EveRoc, I like the pierce lids for taking salads to work (without dressing). They allow a little air exchange and keep everything from getting mushy.
BPA is only a problem at high temperatures. It doesn't warrant that no foods can ever be put in them again. I like to re-use containers like these to bring a meal to a friend's if they're sick, store veggies in once I've opened some, or place salads in for one's lunch the next day.
@MonicaK - are you committed to glass? i use glass/pyrex, tolerating the weight since i take them in a BAGGU bag that sits nicely on my shoulder. however, i also use stainless steel, which more lightweight! not good for soup/liquid, but for pasta, sandwiches, etc - just perfect.
i use LunchBots: http://tinyurl.com/34xq6eh
jessica o'brien
http://jessicafulkerson.blogspot.com/
@Jesica, thank you for the recommendation. The reason why I like glass is because I can reheat it in the microwave oven in my office.
I guess there is no other option...funny because companies like Corning Wear makes light and durable dinner wares.
I use the black squarish ones to store and organize my rubber stamps, loose ribbons, and various other small art/craft supplies
Great idea for chargers! I use the shallow ones for watering plants from the bottom up. African Violets particularly like it.
darcitananda, if you've found a tiffin that's microwave friendly, I'd love to know where. All the ones I've seen are metal or non-microwaveable melamine.
Our town does not recycle these, so they go into the trash. And I feel guilty *every* time!
My town does not recycle these, either. I use them to bring cold dishes to work, and throw them away there. I live alone but love to cook, so I often pack up these with food and give them to others. I used up a bunch when I way over-bought on birthday cake for a party ... sent everybody home with a container or two of cake!
Zojirushi makes a microwaveable bento set (think tiffin) that fits inside of a thermal container.
I use these containers for storing only cold food, but I thought BPA was restricted mostly to polycarbonate? That doesn't mean there aren't other nasty leachates, however.
I use them for my cats' meals. After, I bin them so there's no need to wash their dishes with ours
Our local homeless shelter/soup kitchen accepts these (as well as all deli, hummus, etc. type containers) as donations. We wash them and always have a bag going that we drop off when it's full. The shelter/kitchen uses them for food distribution.
Many good ideas here, folks.
I acquired similar lightweight containers at the market where I buy bulk grains. Instead of throwing them away, I reuse them next time I buy in bulk. I label the lids with a permanent marker for regular bulk purchases, which also helps me remember what to buy.
We also reuse the stackable clamshell that held fancy costco apples when we buy more apples at the bulk foods market. (The old UPC is marked out.)
Strange that something so obvious (the apple package) took a while to occur to me, but if it means less single-use plastic in landfills, and less damage to pretty fruit, it works for me.
Now when I go shopping, I carry my list, the cloth shopping bags, and the empty bulk food containers.
tip for those who don't like microwaving plastic - you can always bring your food in a plastic container, dump it into a reusable dish that you keep at work, and then microwave. That way you know for sure that you are microwaving something that won't harm you, plus you feel more like a civilized person eating out of a dish (if you're me). I do have one of those pyrex things but I am not sure I trust the lid with soup.
I use these for starting seeds. With the raised lids they make a great little environment, just drill a couple of holes in the bottom for drainage.
I must be some redneck who doesn't give a hoot about BPA or toxins from plastic, but I use the containers for both hot and cold food.
I also must live in a place that is full of people like me because there is also no recycling services whatsoever. So I get the most use out of them I can before filling that landfill.