How to Use Up an Almost-Empty Jar

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Down to the last bit of your peanut butter jar, mayo, or sauces? Are you left with just crumbs in your potato chip bag? Here’s ways you can use up an almost-empty jar in new ways! Before tossing that jar, try some of these ideas.

What do you do when there’s just a little bit left in your jam jar, ketchup or sauce jar? Toss it? (By toss it, I mean recycle it, of course!) Instead of moving to the next jar so fast, think outside of the almost-empty box and make something different! You might find a new way to enjoy your favorite foods.

Ten ways to use up an almost-empty jar

1. Use mayonnaise to make the fluffiest scrambled eggs

To your almost empty jar mayonnaise add 2-3 eggs, your favorite mix ins such as veggies, meats, and cheese with seasonings. Close and shake the jar. Pour into a skillet for the best omelet or scrambled eggs.

2. Easy ranch from a mayo jar

To your almost empty mayonnaise jar add:

• 1 tsp ranch dry seasoning/dressing mix (more or less to taste)
• splash of milk- start with a little and add more as needed to make a creamy dressing.

Shake up the jar and pour over your salad for a deliciously creamy ranch dressing.

Or, turn your mayo into Blue Cheese Dressing:

To your almost empty mayo jar add in blue cheese crumbles, a squeeze of lemon juice and chopped parsley. Close the jar and shake it up, and you have easy blue cheese dressing.

3. Use an almost-empty peach jam jar to make a delicious Peach Ketchup

To an almost empty peach jam jar add:

• 1 tbsp hot water
• 2 tbsp ketchup
• 1/4 tsp cinnamon
• dash Worcestershire sauce

Replace the lid and shake it up. Spoon into a bowl and enjoy with Air Fryer Chicken Strips

This also works with apricot jam!

4. Turn peanut butter into a flavorful sauce for ramen noodles.

Peanut butter jar noodles:

1. Prepare 1 package ramen noodles- you can use the flavor packets or leave it out and cook in water or chicken or beef stock. It’s personal preference!
2. To a 16 ounce, almost empty, peanut butter jar add 1 tablespoon low sodium soy sauce, 1 teaspoon rice vinegar and 1/2 teaspoon sesame oil. Pour warm noodles in the jar with 2-3 tablespoons of the cooking liquid. Shake the jar until the peanut butter turns all saucy.
3. Careful not to add boiling water/too hot noodles and closing the jar; the jar will get too hot so let the noodles and liquid cool slightly. If it’s not creamy enough, add another tablespoon of warm liquid.
4. Topping options: additional soy sauce, chopped green onions, sesame seeds, grated carrots, or siracha. Enjoy!

5. Make Nutella into creamy Hot Chocolate.

To an almost empty Nutella jar add: 1 cup warmed milk and 1/2 tbsp cocoa powder. Stir inside the jar with a small rubber scraper to scrape the bits off the sides. Replace the lid, shake it well, pour it into a mug, and top with whipped cream.

Or make a scrumptious ice cream sundae:

Add a scoop or two of your favorite ice cream to an almost empty Nutella jar. Add whipped cream and your favorite toppings. Enjoy scraping the bits of Nutella off the sides with every bite. Yum!

6. Transform Thai Chili Sauce into chip dip.

To a bowl add 4 ounces softened cream cheese, 1/2 cup sour cream, 2 tbsp sweet Thai chili sauce, 2 tbsp lime juice. Mix all ingredients together. Garnish with lime zest, chopped green onions and/or sesame seeds.

Delicious with potato chips, pretzels, crackers, or pita chips.

7. BBQ Ranch Dip

This dip is so good on pretty much anything! Dip chicken nuggets, potato skins, crackers, pretzels, and so much more!

Combine together: 2 tbsp BBQ sauce, 2 tbsp sour cream (or Greek yogurt), 2 tbsp mayonnaise, and 1 tsp dry ranch seasoning mix. Stir together until smooth and spoon into a serving bowl.

For a dressing-like consistency add 1-2 tbsp milk to the above ingredients. BBQ ranch dressing is amazing over chicken, a salad, a baked potato, or veggies.

8. Turn Mustard into salad dressing

Make a no fuss Dijon vinaigrette. You’ll want about 1/2 to 1 tbsp mustard. Honey mustard, Dijon mustard, brown mustard or stone ground works best!

To an almost empty mustard container add: 1/4 cup olive oil, 1 clove minced garlic, 2 tbsp red wine vinegar, 2 tbsp finely minced shallots (optional) and a healthy pinch of salt and fresh cracked pepper. Replace the lid, shake up the bottle, and pour over a large salad, toss to coat.

9. Dijon Mustard to a sauce for vegetables

To the last of a jar or bottle of mustard, add:

• A spoonful or two of mayonnaise
• 1-2 tablespoons honey
• 1 tsp hot water (if needed to thin the sauce)

Close the bottle, shake it up, pour it over cooked asparagus, broccoli, carrots or ham. So delicious!

10. Make tea with Honey

Warm, cozy, comforting hot tea with honey.

To an almost empty honey jar add: hot water to fill the jar and your favorite tea bag. Let it steep 5-10 minutes and pour into a mug.

*Only pour hot water into a glass jar, and be careful touching the glass because it will get hot. If you have a plastic honey jar use warm water, or turn it upside down and use a small rubber scraper to get the honey out.

Bonus! Turn Potato Chip crumbs into breading for chicken strips.

Try it with peach ketchup!

Which one will you try first? Leave a comment below with your favorite way to use up an almost-empty jar or item.

For more videos, kitchen hacks, recipes and ideas follow me on Pinterest, Facebook, TikTok, and Instagram. Did you make this recipe? Share and tag me @StephGigliotti, I would love to see it!