What uses do you have for margarine tubs?
I use them to store coffee filters in. It keeps the filters from picking up odors from the cupboard and keeps them dry.
I use the lids from 3-lb. margarine tubs for short-time coverage of bowls of food, stuff like my morning grapefruit, to cover up the morning oatmeal, that sort of thing. Not anything where I want to keep something fresh, mind you, just to keep dust and flying objects off the food. It helps the environment by saving the margarine tub from the landfill, and forgoing the use of plastic wrap for all but long-term storage where freshness counts.
I also use the lids from the 3-lb. margarine tubs as mini cutting boards, for apples, etc. Instead of taking out the big cutting board to cut an apple or two, I have only a margarine lid to wash, and they're pretty good for cutting.
The 3-lb. (and smaller) tubs are also good for sending home "care packages" if someone comes over for dinner. They don't have to worry about returning the dish.
My husband uses the tubs to mix things like paint, etc.
- djkc
You can use them to make stencils for a group of young children's craft projects. Best of all they are FREE.
Syd Barr
I use the small (8 ounce) margarine tubs to store ice cream and sherbet in. When I buy a carton, I immediately open it and pack it into these small containers. They hold a single serving, and help us stick to our diets. It is too easy to scoop out a pint into a large bowl..Saves temptation. And the bonus is...no ice crystals in the container. I also do the same thing with Jello and puddings. Sure is cheaper than the packaged ones that you buy.
- Harlean from Arkansas
We live on a small farm, so we use margarine tubs for measuring feed. It is much easier for the kids to understand 10 scoops than pounds of feed.
Also great for freezing garden made apple sauce, tomato sauce, etc.
- Dee Wolters - Viola, ID
They make the cutest little purses for my grandaughters.
I have punched small holes, close together, just under the rim of a tub with a hand held hole punch. Then with heavy crochet cotton worked about 3" of double crochet. Next, work a row of 'pass through', (dc, ch.2, skip 1 ch, dc), continue around and join. Add another few rows of half dc, all the way around in each stitch. Enough to make a little flounce when a drawstring or ribbon is passed through and tied in a bow. Chain about 18" to 24", turn and single crochet back to end.
PennieRose
You can use the 3lb tubs as containers for make-it-yourself bathroom disposable disinfectant wipes. Cut a paper towel roll (Bounty holds up best) in half with a steak knife or scissors. Place in margarine tub cut side up. Mix 1 1/2 cups water with 1 cup Pine-Sol or your favorite disinfectant and pour into tub on top of towels. Let sit until thoroughly wet, then remove core, and pull towels from the center.
You can do the same for baby wipes, just substitute cooled, boiled water and a tbsp of baby wash and a tbsp of baby oil.
Cheryl
I like to use my margarine tubs to start my garden seeds. I punch a few drainage holes in the bottom, fill with dirt and plant my seeds. Once the sprouts are nice and strong, I transfer them to a clay pot.
I found that you can use the margarine tubs to put beer in and put them in the ground so that the nasty little slugs can fall in and expire.This is a good method to use to keep them off your hostas.
Ivy2001,
Cut a lid in half and use as a tool to scoop up diced veggies for a stir fry, etc.
I use margarine tubs to discard potato peels, orange peels, apple peels, and such like to keep from encouraging bugs in my kitchen. I just put the discards in the tubs and then into the trash. No smells of bad leftover food.
- Peggy
I use margarine tubs under plants. I sometimes use the biggest lids for
snack plates but by far the most unusual use I have made of them is as
critter catchers.
One night several years ago our power was off for several hours due to
a thunder storm. When the lights came back on Mom went into her bathroom
and at first thought she saw the tail of one of my black cats when she
first went through the door. That was no problem and she just went on
in, shortly thereafter came a shout. " Oh my God! There's a snake in the bathroom! Linne! Come now! " I grabbed a 3 pound tub and lid, dashed
in, caught the little black snake who had very likely come in a small
hole in the window screen, carried it quickly outside so it wouldn't
sure mother and put it in the bushes. Then I came back in and shook all over
because I'm not crazy about snakes, but can't see killing a small
nonpoisonous one who is only threatening our nerves.
Every once in a while this memory comes back and I've caught plenty of
lizards and frogs in them, too. However I've been catching lizards and frogs
for so long to take them outside that I just catch them
and mice in my bare hands. I save the tubs for the occasional bee or wasp
if for no other reason than they are nearly impossible to swat and I hate bug spray, also we need them to pollinate.
My mom has cut some of the big lids for quilting templates, but really
prefers the translucent plastic from bacon packages for this. It is
really excellent for tracing small craft parts on too.
Of course the main use for them is storage, plants, and animal dishes.
- Linne Dodds
We have gerbils, and they love to chew. The chew sticks you can buy at the stores are expensive, and don't last long, because the gerbils chew constantly. I put small plastic bowls and lids in the gerbil cages and let them chew on them. It's much cheaper than always buying the commercial chew sticks, and I've always got small butter tubs, or yogart cups and lids on hand.
I use the large lids under the plunger in the bathroom, so it catches the drips when it is used.
I use the margarine tubs to put my S O S pad in after using them. Cut a few air holes in the lid first so the pad can dry out.
You can also use the lids as the drainage tray for your little pot.
When you put the SOS or Brillo into the tub, add water to cover and baking soda first and they won't rust.
- Mari & Barry
When reading about the uses for margarine cups, I thought about how I use apple sauce/dessert cups. Here are some of my ideas.
Living on my own, I buy my apple sauce, and some desserts, in the single
serve cups. I wash them up, then keep them in the closet with my dishes. When I need a small container, for serving a condiment, they're handy.
They're large enough for a serving of pickled cucumbers or beets, or a side of cole slaw. These are especially handy for people who do not like their foods leaking one into the other [finicky children, and me].
They also come in handy at get togethers where you serve chips and dip. Place the chips on a plate and the dip in the cup, then go sit down and gab and munch, without having to sit all huddled around a bowl of dip.
Works with veggies and dip, or cocktail shrimp and your choice of sauce as well.
Some other uses are - premeasuring ingredients when cooking or baking. Laying out small supplies [different colored beads] when crafting. They
can also be used for children who like to water paint, to hold the water.
SOS & Brillo Pads --- - Mari & Barry Wrote:
~ ~ ~
When you put the SOS or Brillo into the tub, add water to cover and baking soda first and they won't rust.
This is another simple way:
I keep mine in a laundry soap cap in the freezer never any rust and always handy.
If you have a lot of plastic containers, you could donate them to a local food bank. Sometimes they get huge quantities of food, and have no way to divvy it up.
Our family saves all (well, not all but most) of our plastic containers from margarine, cool whip, cottage cheese, sour cream, ect and use them at family dinners for leftovers! That way they're getting reused and we don't have to worry about returning dishes.
Rebekah
I just fall back on the time worn idea that requires no thought or talent..... leftovers!
