5 Useful Ideas for Empty Holiday Popcorn Tins

If you have read any of my articles you know I am a big fan of reusing, redoing, and making do with items we find in our everyday life. The metal popcorn tin, a lot of us get for a gift during the holiday season, is one of my favorite things to recycle.

Here are five ways I have used several of them in my home:

[1] The tin makes a wonderful portable charcoal grill for picnics or camping. Use a bottle cap opener to make some air holes about an inch from the bottom of the can, to enhance air circulation. Crumble a couple of large pieces of foil, two feet or more, in a loose ball and place them in the bottom of the tin. Add an easy to light charcoal to the top of the foil.

You can use an old rack from a cooking stove, refrigerator or canner, to grill your food on. After washing and drying it, lightly rub a small amount of olive oil over the tines then place it on the tin's rim. Strike a match and get ready to make the food of your choice, allowing the grill to get hot before placing your meat on it. The tin will last 1-2 seasons depending on how often you use it.

[2] Using the same method you can also have a portable smoker by adding damp to wet hickory chips on top of the charcoal, then placing your meat a few inches above the chips. My insert came from my old canner, all I did was turn it upside down and sit my meat on it. You will need to add some holes in the lid of the tin, to release some of the smoke. I used a hammer and a large nail to form a large and small circle in the lid. Soon you will be known as the best cook at the camp grounds.

[3] Pop Corn Tins also make great storage units for out of season clothing. Place clean clothing in the tin, add a softener sheet before placing the lid on so your clothing will still be fresh smelling when you need them. In most cases the tins are air tight, so bugs, ants and other little no seeums can't decide to make your clothing their winter homes.

[4] Pop Corn Tins also make a great storage container for dry pet food. If you buy your pet's food in the large paper bags, these tins work great at keeping the food dry and fresh for your four legged family members.

[5] If you have run out of room on your pantry shelves for can goods, the pop corn tin is ideal to store extra can goods in. My Mother kept three of them stacked in a corner of her kitchen. She had them colored coded with red foods [tomatoes, etc] in one, green foods [beans, broccoli, etc] in another and boxed food items in the third one.

If you are lucky enough to receive one of these versatile tins for Christmas, enjoy the pop corn with a smile, knowing what a great gift you have been blessed to hold in your hands.