The Clever Way Alton Brown Repurposes Egg Cartons

If you've ever wondered how you can reuse an egg carton, Alton Brown has you covered. Some people choose to recycle their egg cartons, while others repurpose them, creating useful items from trash. But the way Brown repurposes egg cartons saves on waste and helps organize your refrigerator.

Picture it: You've just grilled a batch of delicious hot dogs and are ready to top one off with your favorite condiments. You reach for the mustard (because who doesn't love to adorn their hot dogs with mustard?) and realize the bottle is almost empty. So, you shake it, bang it, and hold it upside down until the tiniest of dollops come trickling out. How often has this happened to you, and what does this have to do with egg cartons?

Hunger no more! Brown's hack helps you get every last bit of mustard, mayonnaise, ketchup, or other condiments out and onto your food.

In a YouTube video, Alton Brown shares that egg cartons aren't just for eggs. His hack turns your trash into a useable caddy in one simple step. After you've used all the eggs from the carton, simply cut the carton's lid off and toss it into the recycle bin. Next, place all your squeezable condiment bottles, caps sealed and closed, upside down into each empty egg cup. 

Gravity draws the mustard and other sauces to the top of the bottle, making them easier to dispense and causing less frustration when you're ready to munch on your favorite food.

Reusing egg cartons for reorganizing is a purposeful way to eliminate waste, but it may also be dangerous. The FDA's Food Safety & Inspection Service (FSIS) states that egg trays and meat cartons should not be reused due to the possible spread of bacteria. Food packaging may harbor bacteria from foods that could spread and contaminate your fresh food and other kitchen items, making you sick. Egg Safety recommends recycling those empty egg cartons rather than reusing them.

There are many ways you can reuse egg cartons outside of the kitchen, though. This Old House lists 10 ways to safely reuse old egg cartons. They recommend using them to plant seedlings, make a bird feeder, or organize Christmas ornaments.