Reuse An Empty Butter Carton For Extra Fridge Storage

You know it well, the feeling of finishing something in your fridge and throwing away the store-bought container to free up space. Rewarding and cleansing, it feels so good to get to the bottom of that tub of cream cheese or spread that last slice of butter. However, as good as it feels to clear out your fridge, there's something that is actually even better — finding ways to upcycle a container, like an empty box of butter. Yes, these basic containers can actually serve another purpose besides keeping your butter protected in the fridge. They can be used as storage for smaller items to keep your refrigerator shelves tidy and organized, making more space for other types of food.

While there are many unique organization products for refrigerators, including unexpected Dollar Tree items, recycling boxes is both sustainable and cost efficient. These butter boxes can be cut on the top, bottom, or even on either side to open them up, depending on what you plan to store inside of them. Reuse these and save your old egg cartons for fridge organization to really double up on eco-friendly up-cycles.

So what, exactly, can you keep inside your butter boxes after they're done holding your spread? The size may vary slightly, though most containers are similar in size and length it seems. You can use these to store and organize those small packets you get from takeout, including condiments and even ginger, wasabi, and soy sauce pouches. These can make a fridge seem cluttered when left out on their own, but keeping them in a box will tidy up your shelves and make them easy to grab whenever you want them. You can also keep smaller yogurt or baby food pouches in these, stacking them so the box becomes a dispenser. 

Either cut off one of the larger top or bottom rectangles and even an end square to make it easier to pull items out. You can paint the outside of these boxes with non-toxic paint to make them more aesthetically pleasing, but it might compromise the integrity of the box, so keep that in mind. If you buy plastic tubs of butter, you can also repurpose these as storage for miscellaneous items or even store empty butter boxes inside until you need them! Always make sure to wash your vessels after their original use to prevent the greasy texture of butter from coating your items.