- Keep food fresher and bug free!
- Jars are a mixture of “bought” and reused. Have fun writing on them! 😀
I was getting tired of endless bags of open food packages piled in the pantry. If I needed certain nuts or seeds, etc, I had to search several bags and sometimes would have the misfortune of one opening up spilling/which in turns equals wasting and if you know me, you know I don’t like to waste. I really try to avoid that. Also taping flour bags closed (we know tape is a useless tool when spilled flour is involved) and in this house we eat rice; a lot of it. Dragging that fifty pound bag in and out of the pantry is not an easy chore.
Refining the pantry was in order. It was time to make kitchen time a bit more effortless. Using clear jars was my solution. I liked this idea very much as I found it really made cooking easier. As silly as it may sound, more fun. I really like seeing all the pretty jars lined up with yummy things inside (Can you say biscotti’s? Delicious!). The ease in finding anything from the raw sugar to chia seeds really made anything I created more enjoyable.
As you can see from the photos I wrote on some of the jars. Of course I know what is inside, but when others need to cook, I am not asked, “What/where is the flour, sugar, baking soda, etc.!” It does help my life a lot when I can label and others can read. A bonus, you can really show off your creative side with fancy lettering and impressive artwork!
The top picture are glass jars with lids, that I purchased at Target. They come in different sizes. I love the way they look on top of the counter. They have an assortment of glass jars. I chose this type knowing I cook a lot and taking the lids on and off had to be simple and fast. They have jars with a painted area you can write on it with chalk. Love that! Whichever type of jar you use, I’m sure you will find the ease in organizing foods this way. Also if you live in areas where bugs are an issue, this will cut down, if not stop them coming all together.
Tip:
1. I write on the glass with a Sharpe. Washes off easily if I need to switch out and put something else inside. You can also use water based acrylic paints. Test paints first and of course don’t paint on the inside of jars…you don’t want chemicals mixing with your food! 😛
2. Reuse good glass jars and lids.
3. To clean the labels off I use olive oil (any will do). I will lay the jar down onto a plate and pour a dollop of oil over it. Wipe it on and leave for a day or two. Some labels are more stubborn. Soaking the jar in water can work too, but some labels don’t come off too well with that method. Some labels come off in hot water and some in cold. You never know until you try, however, I pretty much only do the oil method. And hey, no toxic chemicals; just olive oil, and if it gets all over my hands, well now I’ve just moisturized them!
4. If jar lids have an odor from whatever product was inside, you can try soaking them in baking soda or vinegar or one day baking soda and the next vinegar. Sometimes lemon juice can help with odor as well. Regular dish soap can work too. If lid gets rusty, then I don’t use it all.
Here’s to ideas for a more stress-free life! Stay tune for more. Have a happy day everyone! ❀