Upcycle Used Tofu Boxes Into Clever Cabinet Storage

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Tofu has become a staple in many households, thanks to its popularity across countless Asian dishes and as a modern meat alternative for vegetarians and vegans. However, it does have one downside: the plastic containers left behind by every block of tofu, destined for the rubbish bin. Instead of throwing these containers out straight away, try your hand at this creative way to upcycle tofu boxes into clever cabinet storage, as shown by Amy Good on YouTube. Use makeshift sliding hangers made from cable covers to maximize your vertical storage space in the kitchen.

The hack is surprisingly simple to execute. First, get hold of two cable covers, and cut them to the length of your sliding hangers. Attach double-sided adhesive to the thin edges of both cable covers, with the insides of the covers facing each other. Tape them to the cabinet ceiling, leaving just enough space between the covers to slide your tofu box in. That's it! You can slide in other repurposed plastic containers too, not only tofu boxes. The great thing about hacks like this one is that you truly get to use every inch of cabinet storage space in your kitchen.

Not every leftover tofu container is a perfect, pearly white with a smooth, unmarked surface. Some of these containers have stubborn residue left by sticky labels or even unsightly branding still visible along the edges, often in unappealing colors. Thankfully, it's not too difficult to beautify these tofu boxes.

If you're aiming for a quick fix to get your boxes looking as unassuming as possible, try to remove the residue before attempting more creative solutions. Many people recommend Goo Gone for the job, so that could be worth a try.

Want a more interesting look for your repurposed tofu containers? Cover the edges with washi tape, such as this Songdao 20-roll washi tape set, or paint over them. Just make sure you use food-safe paint or a food-safe finish if you plan on storing anything edible in close contact with these containers. If you opt for the quirky washi tape approach, you can even use the same washi tape to give your kitchen cabinets a colorful makeover.

Upcycling tofu containers into cabinet storage is a clever hack to maximize vertical space, but not every kitchen is in need of that extra bit of storage. If this solution isn't the right one for your home, perhaps you'll prefer transforming your leftover tofu boxes into a DIY tofu press, as suggested on Reddit. A tofu press essentially squeezes excess liquid out of your tofu, preventing it from falling apart into soggy pieces during cooking and allowing it to marinate more effectively.

According to this Reddit user, you need three tofu boxes for this hack: one with holes in the bottom, one lined with foil, and one left as is. Wrap your block of tofu in some cheesecloth or a paper towel, put it inside the box with the holes, and place the lined box below that one. Finally, place the left-as-is container on top of the rest and push down, pressing any liquid out of your tofu and into the foil-lined box while keeping the tofu's shape intact. This DIY creation can be a neat alternative to a store-bought tofu press.

Even outside of the kitchen, don't be too quick to throw out plastic containers — there are countless creative ways to reuse plastic containers in your home and garden. For instance, why not repurpose your leftover tofu boxes into seedling starters for your garden? Simply poke some holes in the bottom of the tofu boxes to allow water to drain, and you have the perfect containers for your seedlings to thrive.