The $1.25 Dollar Tree Find I Can't Live Without

It always bothers me when I feel like I have to throw the last spoonful of any leftovers into the trash. I grew up as a member of the "Clean Your Plate Club," and while I've mostly learned to eat to satiety, I still feel guilty wasting food, especially in this economy.

Yet, sometimes, I can't bring myself to dirty a full-size container for two bites of sauce, especially if it'll inadvertently be pushed to the back of the fridge and forgotten. So when I came across Dollar Tree mini containers on one of the plastic hangers in the kitchen aisle, I tossed a 10-pack into my cart on a whim. (Now I understand why retailers call those plastic hangers "impulse strips.")

At first, I grabbed a package, thinking they'd be great for the kids' snacks and lunches. And they are. But they've turned out to be even better for all those small fridge odds and ends—just a spoonful of hummus or a drizzle of vinaigrette. It no longer feels wasteful, nor does it feel like a chore to clean them. Everything gets saved, and nothing gets lost.

Why Dollar Tree’s Surefresh Mini Containers Are a Must-Have In My Kitchen

The freezer-safe, BPA-free containers are small enough to fit right in the palm of my hand, yet they're the perfect solution for all of my "in-between" storage needs. They hold up to 2.3 fluid ounces, so they're great for saving those precious small amounts of homemade sauces—that last bit of pesto that's too good to waste, a spoonful of garlic aioli I want to finish up on tomorrow's sandwich, or the remaining tablespoon of herb butter that would get lost in a regular-sized container (the clear design really helps with this). 

They also come in handy for meal prep and portioning. For example, I can make individual servings of nuts for snacks, prepare garnishes like toasted seeds, grated Parm, or chopped herbs to pull out easily at dinner, or small portions of hummus that I can easily pop into a lunchbox and keep separate from the fresh veggies and crunchy pita chips. I even trust them with dressing or hot sauce, and that's saying something. As a nice bonus, they also come in a round or square shape, so you can choose your adventure.

Beyond the kitchen and lunch boxes, they're super handy for tidying up small craft bits, organizing vitamins for trips, and even collecting random tiny hardware pieces in my junk drawer. (Where do all of these rogue screws come from? Do you have this problem, too?)  

Because they're so affordable, I don't stress about sending them to school with my kids or home with friends filled with leftover party dips. At the same time, they've held up beautifully to repeated handwashing and daily use. For such a simple product, they've solved several small, daily challenges that I didn't even realize were bothering me until they were gone. Ten out of ten, would recommend!

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