I’m Leaving an Ashtray on My Kitchen Counter Forever (It’s So Smart!)

As a frequent traveler, I’m always on the lookout for meaningful souvenirs. One of my all-time favorites is an ashtray I “borrowed” from a cruise I went on more than a decade ago. While I’ve always appreciated the classically simple Wedgwood china memento, it has sat unused in my kitchen cabinets ever since I brought it home. 

Until now, that is. I came across an ingenious tip to repurpose an ashtray as a spoon rest in my kitchen. I knew I had to give it a try. 

In The Kitchn’s Instagram Reel from Apartment Therapy’s Senior Lifestyle Editor Quinn Fish, Quinn shares a few ideas on how to repurpose ashtrays you just couldn’t pass up at the thrift store — even if you don’t smoke. My personal favorite is to use it as a spoon rest. It’s the most creative way to keep your counters clean while you cook — and show off your style or remember a favorite vacation, too.

If you have a vintage ashtray lying around your home or always spot cute ones at the thrift store, then this one’s for you too.

I broke out my stepstool and retrieved my beloved ashtray from the dusty top shelf and cleaned it thoroughly. I cooked a pot of quinoa to serve as a base for my lunches for the upcoming week and immediately put the ashtray to use. My ashtray has notches that are just the right size for resting the neck of a spoon or spatula, which is what makes this trick so smart. The water and oil from the spoon dripped right into the ashtray and made for effortless cleanup. Prior to learning this hack, I used a small saucer — but it took up too much room on my counter.

Glass, stainless steel, stone, and china are the safest materials for ashtrays-turned-spoon-rests, as they’re generally food-safe. But if you use one with notches, like mine, your spoon likely won’t ever even touch it. Try to avoid older painted ceramic ashtrays that you’re not sure are food-safe.

If you already have a beloved spoon rest or you have an abundance of chic ashtrays and nothing to do with them, there are plenty of clever ways to repurpose them. Here are a few of my favorite ideas.

• Transform them into candy dishes for individually wrapped peppermints or — to really lean into the grandma aesthetic — butterscotch candies.
• Corral trinkets and organizers like chip clips in your pantry or paperclips on your desk.
• Stash one under a plant pot to collect excess water and protect your furniture at the same time.
• Place under a taper or pillar candle so wax drips don’t touch your table.
• Add one to your bedside table to use as a jewelry holder.