7 Clever Ways to Get Every Last Bit from Your Almost Empty Jars

Being a frugal cook, you’re probably used to swishing a little water around in your spaghetti jars to get the last bit of sauce off of the sides of the jar. But for those situations where cold water isn’t necessarily the best option, here are some awesome ideas for saving the last of the yummy stuff at the bottoms and from the sides of your jars and bottles:

  • Mayonnaise

Make some salad dressing right in an almost empty mayo jar.

  • Orange Marmalade or Other Citrus Preserves

Just add a bit of vinegar to the jar to loosen the preserves. Then add just a bit of corn starch and water before you put the top back on an shake vigorously. You can also add a little bit of orange or lemon juice if you’d like. And voila! You’ve got a great sweet and sour stir fry sauce.
  • Mustard

Add a bit of mayo and horseradish and you’ll have a great meat condiment for a sandwich. You could also add a bit of vinegar and honey to create a yummy vinaigrette for salads.
  • Extra Italian Salad Dressing

Stretch the last of some Italian dressing at the bottom of the bottle with vinegar and a little bit of water. This will make for a great chicken marinade.
  • Peanut Butter

Can’t get that last bit of honey out of the bottle or jar? Simply add in as much hot water as you have honey (careful with hot water if you’re using a plastic bottle!). Screw the lid back on and shake. You’ll have created a honey syrup that you can use to flavor tea, lemonade or cocktails. Store in the fridge and use when you can.
  • Nutella

Make a Nutella hot chocolate out of the remains of the Nutella jar. Simply heat up some milk in a mug in the microwave. Add 2 tablespoons of cocoa (baking or hot cocoa mix) to the Nutella jar. Then pour the warm milk into the jar, shake til you’ve got Nutella off of the sides of the jar, and pour your whole mixture back into the mug. Add sugar to taste and enjoy!

What are some of your best tips for enjoying every last bit of food in your jars? We’d love to hear your best ideas in the comments section below!