Uses for Glass Food Packaging

Food Storage

• Storing leftovers in glass containers eliminates the need to use plastic storage containers not labeled as safe for microwaving that can leach chemicals into food, especially when heating the food. Storing dry food inside jars keeps kitchen bugs out, excess humidity and odors. Putting cans of olives or other condiments in glass jars with tight lids for refrigerator storage reduces spills and can increase the shelf-life of the food. Glass containers provide an inert container for storing reconstituted fruit or vegetable juice in the refrigerator.

Outdoors

• Glass jars can hold candles to burn outdoors, even when it's breezy. A small amount of sand on the bottom helps weigh the jar and the candle sits on top. Glass jars make running soil tests easier, especially clear glass jars. Larger glass containers with holes poked in the lids and filled with water and plant food provide good ways to slowly feed a plant instead of flooding it with a bucket.

Hobbies

• Empty spice jars store small objects used for hobbies, like beads, buttons or sequins. The small jars with tight-fitting lids prevent spills and most jars are thick enough to resist breakage should the jar fall onto the floor. Small glass jars also make good containers for making homemade candles. Once the candle has completely burned, heating the jar and pouring out the remaining wax makes the container reusable again to create another candle.

Garage

• Often stain and sealer for wood come in metal containers with necks that are too small to dip a brush inside and wide-mouth glass jars provide nonreactive containers for small painting or staining jobs. An adhesive label provides a place to write the contents on the jar, in case of accidental ingestion. Baby food jars hold small screws, nails, washers and other small hardware. Keeping loose twist ties inside glass jars keeps them from falling out of the paper packaging and mixing with other items in a storage drawer.