Every so often a great discovery comes along. Sir Isaac Newton discovers gravity. Einstein discovers the theory of relativity. Copernicus discovers the sun is the center of the solar system.
And . . . . { drum roll please }
Bloggers discover that parmesan cheese container lids fit on canning jars!
That’s kind of cool, dontcha think?
As long as you use a regular mouth sized canning jar (not the wide mouth variety) the flip top parmesan lids screw on nicely and give you a way to either sprinkle or pour the ingredients out.
I suppose you could just recycle a used parmesan container too if you were looking for storage for one of your homemade mixtures, but the canning jars are more durable, look a little nicer, and and with glass you don’t have to worry about any of those BPA plastic chemicals leaching out into your food stuffs. You can also get a little more size variety as you can use either quart size or pint size jars.
Now, what shall I do with this great discovery? I’m thinking maybe a batch of my crumb coating for fish would store very nicely in this container.
How about you? Did any ideas pop into your head for how this could be useful?
Please share with a quick comment!
Brew Dudski says
March 2, 2018 at 5:15 pmMy Kraft Parmesan cover does not fit! Won’t screw on for anything. Hubby tried too. Any clue why? I have Ball and Mason. Picture shows Kerr.
Benny says
June 10, 2016 at 3:02 amHow bout thumb Tack’s or nuts n bolts it would work great for pour side
Bette spencer says
February 24, 2016 at 9:46 pmHow about homemade carpet refresher. Baking soda and favorite oil sent.
Kathy Nash says
January 18, 2016 at 8:51 amYou could put raisins in the jar and put them in the cupboard. That way you see how many you have and it serves as a serving container for salads.
Ellen says
October 14, 2015 at 2:00 pmJust found out that hellmann’s mayo lid fits as well…great for canned jelly
Debster says
April 19, 2015 at 11:54 pmThis was one of my first pins. I finally got around to trying this today and I was a little disappointed to find out that while the Kraft lid fit, the the store brand (Winco) did not. Well darn!
Sandra says
February 3, 2014 at 7:48 amYou ladies are awesome!!!!
Linda says
January 26, 2014 at 2:34 pmOMGosh! You won’t believe what just happened! I was making your recipe for Caesar Salad Dressing and putting it in one of my pint jars. I accidentally put the canning jar lid on the Parmesan cheese container and didn’t notice until I was ready to shake up the Parmesan mixture. Where’s my lid? Oops! I noticed I had put it on the Parmesan jar and it fit !!
Well, that in itself was an amazing discovery since I had wanted to order plastic lids for my canning jars for a long time but couldn’t see spending money on them. Well, lo and behold! After making the Caesar Salad Dressing from your website, I went back to the site and discovered that YOU TOO had made this discovery! What are the odds that I’d find your article on this just MINUTES after I’d discovered it for myself? Well… now I’m spooked!!
Linda says
January 26, 2014 at 2:57 pmBTW, I’m so happy to have discovered this that I went back and commented on some of the comments here. You guys are great!
Beverly says
January 26, 2014 at 3:59 pmOh that is very weird Linda! We’ll chalk it up to great minds think alike – or have the same accidental discoveries – ha!
Carol says
January 12, 2014 at 11:44 amPowdered sugar!!
Linda says
January 26, 2014 at 2:55 pmYes!! I’m so tired of shaking out powered sugar through a strainer! This sounds wonderful! I hope the holes are not too big. But I don’t really care if they are. I don’t mind if the sugar isn’t super fine when it comes out of the holes.
Tracy says
January 10, 2014 at 1:09 pmWhat brand parm and what size is the cap in the photo from?
thanks
Beverly says
January 10, 2014 at 7:56 pmI believe that was an Aldi parmesan container, in the 8 oz size. The Aldi containers are the same size as the Kraft parmesan containers and those are usually the only two brands I buy.
Lara says
January 13, 2014 at 4:48 pmI rarely buy Kraft but I do by from Sam’s the larger off brand containers and they fit wonderfully
Amanda says
November 18, 2013 at 12:13 pmThis was the very first thing I “pinned” when I first became addicted to Pinterest. I finally recently put it to use! Homemade breadcrumbs now have the perfect spot in my pantry 🙂
Beverly says
November 18, 2013 at 3:36 pmI feel honored to have been your first pin!! That’s great that you’ve found a way to put it to good use. 🙂
Natalie says
July 21, 2013 at 3:58 pmI screwed this onto a mason jar to use as a lid for a beverage. I can open up the “sprinkle” side and put a straw in to drink through. This is great for when I’m outside! Thanks for the discovery.
Beverly says
July 21, 2013 at 7:59 pmExcellent way to use this idea to make an on-the-go beverage container! Thanks Natalie!
Beverly says
June 24, 2013 at 3:39 pmThe homemade flea powder I am going to make and the homemade carpet powder I already make! This is so awesome – thanks!
And the fact that we get spices in 1 pound packages and I put them in canning jars anyway – this will be perfect for me to sprinkle or use a spoon in… now just to find someone that buys parm cheese (we buy ours whole and have to grate..)
Beverly says
June 24, 2013 at 7:34 pmThose are all great uses for this idea. Hopefully someone will save you some parmesan containers!
Chef Kirsten Helle says
May 31, 2013 at 12:43 pmWhat a FABULOUS idea! I buy my spices in bulk and usually just keep them in my old family jar collection, but would be nice to have a shaker. Love this! Thanks so much!
Elisabeth says
April 14, 2013 at 9:47 pmThe larger jars of Kraft Parmesan cheese from Costco have lids that fit wide-mouth canning jars perfectly! It’s great to know there are size choices; makes them that more useful.
I like the containers for homemade seasoning mixes; garden uses like homemade organic fertilizer or bug repellent (e.g., sprinkling diatomaceous earth); holding several small leftover bits of yarn which can be threaded thru the holes. Also great for keeping homemade spice blends to sprinkle in water on the stove for scenting the house.
Wide-mouth jars with these lids also work great in the shop for nails, washers, and other small hardware and fasteners. (If you don’t trust glass containers in the shop, just recycle the whole plastic Parmesan container–lid and jar.)
Remember, canning jars come in all sizes, from half-pint, pint, quart, half-gallon, and gallon. So the possibilities for using this tip are endless! 🙂
Linda says
January 26, 2014 at 2:48 pmThanks a bunch for this one! I didn’t know that. I’ve wanted plastic lids for all my mason/kerr/ball jars for a long time but I’ve been too tightwad to buy them. Now I don’t have to! I’m psyched !!
Schneb says
March 24, 2013 at 2:21 pmAnd this means that a mason jar lid can be used with the parmesan cheese container, too, right?
Not sure what to do with that, but seems like there might be some possibilities there.
Linda says
January 26, 2014 at 2:46 pmNot sure about that one, but how about this one just for the heck of it…
Transfer your Parmesan cheese to the mason jar and use the Parmesan cheese jar lid on it. Looks nicer and no PBA from the glass jar.
Chester Bealles says
February 28, 2013 at 11:17 amI have used this and plastic caps from mayo, some peanut butter, and metal lids from refrigerated salad dressings. They go on my home made pickles and jellies that are in use in the fridge.
Jackie says
February 3, 2013 at 12:36 pmIt would look even nicer if you spray painted the lid gold!
Beverly says
February 3, 2013 at 1:06 pmYou’re right Jackie! The parmesan cans can be “up-cycled” with paint or labels to make cute container.
Lara says
December 19, 2012 at 9:16 amHas anyone tried the larger caps from Sam’s or Costco? Do they fit either a regular mouth or a wide mouth jar?
Eirene says
December 4, 2012 at 1:26 amThanks for the idea!!!it will be very helpful 🙂
Kim says
September 22, 2012 at 4:18 pmHow clever!
Rachel says
August 31, 2012 at 7:26 pmI just recently started chopping up leftover fresh herbs (parsley) and storing them in the freezer in a ziplock bag… I think I will try storing them this way instead so I can have the option to sprinkle or measure an amount out. Thanks for the great tip 🙂
Bev says
June 24, 2012 at 7:35 pmGreat idea for summer! This certainly would be a way to have a beverage in a covered container to keep the flying insects and such out of it, and still be able to flip the lid open and have a sip.
Anonymous says
June 23, 2012 at 2:17 pmPut the lid on your mason jar drink. You put lid down and keep the critters out of your drink.
Diane says
June 13, 2012 at 8:47 pmI love the idea for baking soda and flour. I make bread and pizza crusts all the time, and this would be so much easier than dragging out the flour canister. Thanks!
Beckah says
June 13, 2012 at 12:46 pmWorks great! Peanut butter jar lids fit too! : )
Linda says
January 26, 2014 at 2:39 pmHmmm… I must be buying the wrong brand of peanut butter because my peanut butter lids don’t fit mason/kerr small mouth jars. What brand are you buying?
Angee says
June 8, 2012 at 4:49 pmI found a link on Pinterest for growing your own sprouts. I love it, but using cheese cloth is kind of a pain once the sprouts really start to, well, sprout! I can't wait to use this! Thank you.
Anonymous says
June 7, 2012 at 12:36 pmSmall jelly jar for crushed red pepper! Love it!
HardestyMom01 says
May 23, 2012 at 3:35 pmLove it! I am using my lid to place on a glass jar I lost the lid to. It will now hold my homemade scouring powder (1 part table salt and 1 part baking soda) and I can finally get rid of the plastic container. (One more step in ridding our lives of excessive plastic.) Thank you.
Tracy Wood says
March 27, 2012 at 4:58 pmShared some 'blog love' with you today in the form of an award!
Anonymous says
March 26, 2012 at 11:51 amGLITTER!
Susanne says
March 25, 2012 at 12:56 pmLove this idea! It would be great for storing dry ingredients or anything that comes in a box that is messy when it pours or things like bread crumbs, rice, etc. The great thing is you can open either side of the top and can use a measuring spoon as well. Thank you for sharing.Susanne 🙂
ireneadams says
March 23, 2012 at 7:19 amI think a seasoning mix with your fresh grown herbs nice Xmas gift
Bev says
March 22, 2012 at 7:05 pmI like to buy the "shredded" parmesan that comes in the same kind of container. It has the consistency of shredded cheese rather than the powdery "grated" parmesan.
Lorie says
March 22, 2012 at 5:38 pmHow about keeping baking soda by the sink for a mildly abrasive cleanser. Or flour near where you kneed your bread – just sprinkle on the counter. Flax seed to sprinkle in oatmeal. Too bad homemade glitter doesn't glitter cuz it would be perfect for that!
Tracy says
March 22, 2012 at 10:04 amI Love this!
Anonymous says
March 21, 2012 at 11:54 amnot if you get the lid from someone else
Pam says
March 21, 2012 at 12:53 amBut this means you would have to buy that powdered parmesan stuff just to get the lid?
Lisa says
January 19, 2016 at 12:38 pmIf you don’t have it then go to the dollar store and buy parmesan there.
queen of string says
March 20, 2012 at 11:38 pmI have a "make a mix" cook book and I like to keep some quick mix ( think b1squick) and muffin mix on hand to whip up all kinds of dishes quickly. This would be perfect for them.