Rosh Hashanah

Unlock the Potential: Chanie Apfelbaum’s Genius Uses for Empty Duck Sauce Jars!

Chanie Apfelbaum September 27, 2024

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Open any refrigerator in an Ashkenazi Jewish home and you’re likely to find a bottle of duck sauce. We all grew up on duck sauce chicken, and in my house, we never serve schnitzel without it on the side—just like my Mama used to do!

Duck sauce is the go-to, never-fail condiment that pairs beautifully with just about everything. It’s always a good idea to keep a bottle on hand.

But what do you do when you’re either down to the last bit in the jar or facing a completely empty one? I’ll show you!

1. Pomegranate Pucker Sauce

Bottom-of-the-jar recipes are my specialty, and I’ve created this Pomegranate Pucker Sauce that’s perfect for the High Holidays!

Ingredients:

1/2 cup duck sauce

1/4 cup pomegranate molasses

1 tbsp Dijon mustard

1/2 tbsp silan

2 tsp fresh thyme
2 cloves garlic, crushed

Directions:

Add all the ingredients to the duck sauce jar and give it a good shake!

Use this sauce on whole roasted chicken, chicken wings, roast, meatballs, and turkey!

2. Apple and Honey Pickled Beets

What if you have an empty jar? Don’t throw it away! It’s the perfect size for homemade pickles!

Ingredients:

1 package Gefen prepared beets

1 and 1/2 cups water

1/2 cup apple cider vinegar

1/4 cup honey

1 tbsp kosher salt

2 garlic cloves

Directions:

1. Slice each beet into 8 segments and add to the duck sauce jar.

2. In a small saucepan, heat the water, apple cider vinegar, honey, and salt and bring to a simmer until the honey and salt fully dissolves.

3. Pour the mixture over the beets and add the garlic cloves. Cool and cover the jar.

4. Refrigerate overnight or until ready to serve!

Note: Some poskim require an emptied glass jar to be toiveled before using it for other foods. Please consult with your local Orthodox rabbi. (Read more about tevilat keilim here.)

3. Apple Harvest Flower Vase

But wait, there’s more! You can also use the jar as the perfect rustic vase for your Rosh Hashanah tablescape. I love to buy flowers in the same color tone as apples and create an apple harvest bouquet.

Purchase a bag of mini apples and assorted flowers in coordinating colors. Use extra branches to stick into the apples to fit the bouquet. 

How To Remove The Label:

To remove the duck sauce label from the jar, pour hot water over the label and let it soften. Add some Comet, Ajax or Barkeeper’s Friend to a steel wool soap pad and scrub the sticky residue off the jar with hot water.

Longterm Use:

After use, you can fill your jars with dry beans, grains or pasta! Again, some poskim require an emptied glass jar to be toiveled before using it for other foods. Please consult with your local Orthodox rabbi.