25 Uses for Tupperware in a Dorm Room

I was out running yesterday when I started thinking about what kind of articles I could write that would interest the people who keep up with this blog. I thought for awhile to try and come up with something that would still be relevant to cooking, but something that wasn't necessarily a recipe. The first thing that came to mind was tupperware!

I don't think I ever go a day without using my tupperware in some way. Every recipe I have posted so far has involved a piece of tupperware, except for the Ovaltine, but even that involves a plastic container with a lid, so we'll let it slide this time. I think I purchased my Rubbermaid 24 piece tupperware set for around $20? You really can't beat that deal. Even though I know I got my moneys worth, I started wondering what else I could be using my tupperware for. So here is the unusual and sometimes practical list I came up with.

#25 - A fish tank
With all the carnivals and fairs that tend to be around college campuses I'm sure you've been in a position to win a goldfish or two. I know every time I've seen a carnival game that gives me the chance to win a new friend I normally turn down because I have no where to put it. But if you have a tupperware laying around, just fill it up with some water and you have an instant fish habitat. I definitely don't recommend this as a permanent installment, but its usually good to put the bag with the fish inside a container of water so that the temperatures will equal out anyway. So you could do this while you go out and buy a normal fish tank.


#24 - Ipod Boombox
Check out this sweet Instructable to find out how to make your very own Ipod Boombox.
http://www.instructables.com/id/Tupperware-iPod-Boombox/


#23 - Candy Dish
I don't have the money to buy a fancy glass or ceramic candy bowl to keep around. Plus, with all the people coming in and out of my dorm room I'm pretty sure a glass dish would break after about a day of owning it. But with a tupperware candy dish I never really have to worry about anyone knocking it over.


#22 - Heating up food
Here's another given. You don't even have to take the food out of the container. Just take it out of the fridge, pop the lid off and stick it in the microwave for a quick and easy meal.


#21 - To store left overs
Guess this is a given


#20 - Lunch Box
This is actually just a unique piece of tupperware I wasn't even aware of until just now. Cool idea
http://order.tupperware.com/pls/htprod_www/tup_show_item.show_item_detail?fv_item_category_code=21808&fv_item_number=P10055361000

#19 - Bring Milk and Cereal anywhere (without getting soggy)
Pretty clever idea. This instructable will show you how to have milk and cereal anytime and anywhere without letting your cereal get soggy.
http://www.instructables.com/id/How-to-eat-cereal-WITH-MILK-anywhereWithou/


#18 - First Aid Kit
Throw some bandages, disinfectants, needle and thread, gauze, small ice packs into a container and keep with you in your home, car, backpack, etc.


#17 - Car Repair Kit
This is a great idea and you will be glad you have it when you end up in a bad situation out on the road. Tire pressure gauge, tire repair kit, small flashlight, small tools, duct tape, emergency cash, etc. Chances are you probably have a lot of this in your car already, but make it easier on yourself by organizing it into a piece of tupperware that you can keep under your seat.


#16 - Coin bank
Keep a small tupperware dish in a drawer so that when you come home from work you can toss your spare change into it. Buy some coin wrappers or take the tupperware to your nearest Coin Star and cash in all the loose change.


#15 - Cereal/grain storage
Great way to organize your cereal, rice, sugar, flour etc. It might not seem like a space saver, but think back to the last time you started running out of your favorite cereal so you bought a second box only to end up stuck trying to find room for your now near empty box of cereal as well as your new full box of cereal. A tupperware will allow you to combine both boxes into one.


#14 - Small electric kit enclosures
I actually hadn't thought of this one before, but it makes sense. This allows you to see through the enclosure to see any loose wires you might have on your circuit board. This would also prove beneficial in a classroom setting. Students would be able to see the device without the danger of touching anything.
http://blog.makezine.com/upload/2008/03/tupperware_synths/tupperware_synth.jpg




#13 - Hardware, Craft, Electronics storage
Basically, anything that is really small such as nuts and bolts, colors and pencils, resistors and capacitors, etc can be organized into different pieces of tupperware.


#12 - Condiment packets storage
Check out this page and tell me that you don't have the urge to go out to restaurants and take a few extra condiment packets to take home for later. This is a great thing to keep in your dorm room and will save some money on condiments. Not to mention the wow factor when you open this bad boy up and whip out hundreds of packets of pure awesome.
http://condiment.portablefolkband.com/packets.php


#11 - Keep sake box
I don't really know if that is an appropriate name, but a tupperware would be a good place to keep small snippets of paper such as fortunes from fortune cookies, pictures, newspaper articles, magazine clippings, movie ticket stubs, etc. I'm sure there are other boxes as well, but they are probably pricier and less secure.


#10 - Keep items from getting crushed
I often find myself over packing my backpack for one reason or another. If I ever have something small or delicate I need to take with me and stuff in my backpack I will usually put it inside of a tupperware because of it's rigid structure. I never have to worry about anything getting crushed or damaged.


#9 - Keep things from getting wet
If you ever go fishing or take a trip to the beach, a tupperware could prove valuable as a storage for your phone or wallet.


#8 - Chips and dip on the go
I know I already mentioned food storage, but I thought this one deserved it's own spot. I never thought of bringing chips and salsa to lunch until I started using tupperware. In my head, I always imagined it as a hassle to bring a huge jar of salsa and a bag of chips with me to lunch, but when I can pour both into two separate tupperware dishes, it made it a viable option


#7 - Candy storage
Go out and buy some of the mixed bags of mini candies and pour it out into a tupperware and keep it in your backpack. You'll be everyone's friend!


#6 - Portable pantry
I actually just came up with this one and I will definitely be using this starting tomorrow. I often find that my plans are getting turned upside down throughout the day so often times I'm not sure when I'll be able to eat next. Putting small snacks such as a chewy bar, or beef jerky, or 100 calorie snack packs into a tupperware and bringing it with you in your backpack could be a life saver.


#5 - Strainer for pasta
If you make pasta often enough and have an older piece of tupperware that has seen better days, why not poke some holes in the bottom and use it to drain the water from your pasta.


#4 - Organize drawers
This one always seems to be one on a list of uses for tupperware, so I'm throwing it in as well.


#3 - Pot holder
No, not that kind of pot. Place a plant in your room to liven up the place. Place the pot inside a tupperware so that the water and soil don't make a mess. You should probably use a disposable piece of tupperware for this.

#2 - Thongs?
Well, it wasn't my idea, but sure, I guess that works.
Check out this link for 100 uses for tupperware containers:
http://www.siteimpressions.com/resources9/handouts/100_midget_uses.pdf


#1 - Cooking Dish
"Um, didn't you mention this before?" No, I didn't, #22 on the list is heating up food and I wanted to make sure that everyone knows there is a difference between heating up food and cooking food. I just want everyone to know that you can uses these tupperwares as a means of cooking fresh food, not just for heating up left overs, or ramen or something. I know that a microwave will never be as good as an oven, but make adjustments and you can eat exactly the same as if you were home!

The whole point of this article is for you to realize that you can make just about anything adapt to your situation if you try hard enough. I'm sure there are 100s of uses for tupperware I haven't even thought of, as seen in #2 of this article. Please feel free to leave a comment with other uses you have come up with.