A mom and home chef took to TikTok to show that more than just the Parmesan in the container is worth the shake — the lids can be reused time and again.
The scoop
TikToker Valerie Skinner (@balancingval), who refers to herself as "Your Elder Millennial Mom Chef Friend," shared a hack to show how to repurpose the lids from your Parmesan cheese shakers.
@balancingval I you go through a lot of parmesan cheese like we do in our house, you're going to love this easy life hack. Once it's gone . . . DO NOT THROW OUT THE LID! The lids often fit standard mason jars, and they have holes that allow you to easily shake out dry ingredients like seasonings, sugar, or even craft supplies like glitter. It's a simple way to repurpose the lid and create a functional shaker jar! ⭐ Spices – Store and shake ground spices or herbs. ⭐ Sugar – For easy dispensing in baking or coffee. ⭐ Grated Cheese – Store and shake out grated cheese like parmesan or cheddar. ⭐ Nuts and Seeds – Dispense nuts, chia seeds, or sunflower seeds. ⭐ Oats – Store and pour oatmeal for easy use. ⭐ Flour – Store small amounts of flour for sprinkling. ⭐ Powdered Sugar – Perfect for dusting baked goods. ⭐ Rice – Easily measure and pour out rice for cooking. ⭐ Cocoa Powder – Use for topping desserts or hot drinks. ⭐ Bread Crumbs – Dispense breadcrumbs when cooking. ⭐ Sprinkles – Great for decorating cookies or cakes. ⭐ Cornstarch – Easy access for cooking or thickening sauces. ⭐ Bath Salts – Dispense bath salts without spilling. ⭐ Baking Soda – Handy for sprinkling into cleaning solutions or baking. ⭐ Sand or Gravel – Store small amounts for craft projects. ⭐ Crushed Red Pepper Flakes – Convenient for spicing up dishes. ⭐ Craft Glitter – Perfect for shaking out controlled amounts during crafting. ⭐ Beads – Use to store small beads for jewelry making. ⭐ Homemade Seasoning Mixes – Keep and shake out custom blends like taco seasoning. ⭐ Coffee Grounds – Store small batches of ground coffee for easy dispensing. #KitchenHacks #LifeHacks #MasonJarHacks #RepurposeIdeas #DIYStorage #HomeOrganization #ParmesanLidHack #MasonJarLidHack #StorageSolutions #EcoFriendlyHacks #ZeroWasteLiving #UpcyclingIdeas #KitchenStorageHack #PantryOrganization #FrugalLiving #SmartStorage #RecyclingHacks #HomeHacks #EasyLifeHacks #BudgetFriendlyHacks #CreativeStorage #OrganizationTips #SustainableLiving #FoodStorageIdeas #parmesancheese ♬ More of My Time (Lofi) - Muspace Lofi
"We go through a lot of shaky cheese in this house, and if you do too, you're gonna wanna learn this," Val says as she shakes a Parmesan cheese container.
She goes on to explain that when you're done with the container, you shouldn't throw out the lid. Instead, once you've recycled the bottom part of the container, keep the lid and wash it.
"The lids often fit standard mason jars, and they have holes that allow you to easily shake out dry ingredients like seasonings, sugar, or even craft supplies like glitter. It's a simple way to repurpose the lid and create a functional shaker jar!" reads the video's caption. A much longer list of items you can store and shake through the lid is listed just below.
How it's working
Repurposing product containers and employing hacks like this is a great way to save money. By making your own easy-to-use containers for all kinds of dry goods, you're saving yourself from buying a specialty product. It may also help organize your pantry so you don't forget about food and end up wasting it.
It's also a great way to avoid contributing to the enormous amount of waste wreaking havoc on the planet. According to the Environmental Protection Agency, households in the United States produce 292 million tons of trash annually. About 40 million tons of that waste is plastic, Statista reports, only around 5% of which gets recycled.
The rest ends up in landfills and oceans, where it takes hundreds of years to break down and create dangerous microplastics as it does. These minuscule pieces of plastic harm the health of ecosystems, wildlife, and humans.
So, repurposing even part of the container is a step in the right direction.
What people are saying
Other users were delighted by the home chef's hack.
"Omg genius," commented one.
"Brilliant," added another.
"WHAT!" a third exclaimed, "Now I need to start eating shaky cheese for the lids."
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