The Last Thing To Do Before Throwing Away Your Parmesan Shaker

When you buy shelf-stable parmesan from the store, it almost always comes in a plastic container with a screw-on lid. This lid has two separate openings: one for when you want to lightly sprinkle your dish with parmesan and one for when you need to measure out more than a dusting. This design is simple, and it is also ideal for administering the perfect amount of parmesan to your dinner. But have you ever thought about how it would be perfect for other dry condiments or spices too?

Next time you shake out the last of your parmesan from the jar, separate the lid from the bottom. You'll want to rinse out the bottom so that you can recycle it, if possible. But don't toss the lid. It turns out that parmesan shaker lids twist perfectly onto Mason jars, making them a convenient dry storage hack for your home kitchen.

After rinsing and drying your parmesan shaker lid, you can twist it onto a Mason jar. Mason jar lids are typically sealed, so if you store something in them, you have to completely unscrew the rim to access what is inside. With the shaker lid, you won't have this problem. For dry spices and condiments, this is a game changer. You can store things like sugar, cinnamon sticks, paprika, oregano, or anything else that you keep on hand. The added benefit, of course, is that storing things in Mason jars reduces using plastic and is stylish. Plus, you won't feel like you need to hide these away in a cupboard.

If redoing your spice rack isn't your thing, though, you should still keep the parmesan lid. In addition to convenient storage, some people say that screwing these lids onto Mason jars is the perfect way to make a portable drink vessel to use with a straw. Whether it's boba tea, iced coffee, or something similar, you can keep the big side closed while sliding a straw into one of the parmesan holes — it's cute and it seals. So the next time you tap out the last of your parmesan, keep the lid.