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You may not think about it that often, but a cardboard container for kitchen salt (with a handy metal spout) comes in handy. Not only does it allow you to sprinkle all that fine salt more easily (without using a spoon, which can lead to unwanted moisture), but it can also be used even after it’s empty – by using it in the lid of the Mason Jar. Not only does this add extra life to what would otherwise have been thrown away, but it also allows other ingredients such as condiments, spices or cornmeal to be poured just as easily.
How to make a Mason jar dispenser
Making a Mason jar dispenser from an empty salt container is pretty easy. In addition to an empty salt container, you will need a Mason can and an X-Acto scissors or knife. First, remove the top of the salt container that you will cut to fit the ring of the Mason jar. I decided to use scissors as I have seen too many injuries from the X-Acto knife over the years. (This is what happens when you have an architect brother; sleepovers and cutting balsa with an X-Acto knife are NOT a good combination. But you are you.)
If you have a wide band lid, the salt container lid is almost perfect and all you have to do is trim the edges a little. If all you have are lids with little ribbons, you can draw an outline of the lid so you can cut the salt lid to the size you want. It’s important to make sure it fits well and covers the entire ring – otherwise your ingredients will leak out when you try to pour them out, resulting in the target being hit.
When I made my own Mason can dispenser, I used it for the raw sugar I buy in bulk from Costco. It is much cheaper to buy turbinado sugar in this amount than buying a smaller box with a metal spout, but it is not so convenient. I have tried putting sugar in one of the empty boxes before, but there has never been a good way to open and close the lid. Instead, I had to re-tape the lid with tape, which was painful and also made it difficult to reuse the box multiple times.
As it turns out, remodeling the old salt container was the perfect solution to my sugar problems, but you can use it for any spices or seasonings you want to add in small amounts.