12 alternative uses for coffee filters

**Cataholic** · 07-27-2010, 10:28 AM

Either you guys buy very expensive coffee filters or super cheap paper towels. I can buy 120 filters for less than $1.50. Paper towels are nearly 75 cents a roll for 'decent' ones.

Anyhow- I use filters to make greek yogurt from 'normal' yogurt. A cost savings event all in itself.

I also use them to separate glass things that I might stack, and at times have used them to pick up odd things on the floor.

**sirrahbed** · 07-27-2010, 02:19 PM

Originally Posted by Cataholic

Either you guys buy very expensive coffee filters or super cheap paper towels. I can buy 120 filters for less than $1.50. Paper towels are nearly 75 cents a roll for 'decent' ones.

I wondered this exact thing. I believe paper towels are much more expensive than the coffee filters I buy - round ones with tucked/fluted edges for a dollar. The paper towel - even the store brand are over a dollar and not nearly as versatile or sturdy as the coffee filters

I think the type that are "V" shaped are more expensive. I love having a big package of round coffee filters on hand for all sorts of things like mentioned in the list. Put one in each of your cake pans to help them stack and not rust - easier to get apart too. Put one in your cast iron skillet. Kids having a popsicle? push the stick through a coffee filter for a drip cup. Each kitty can have one for his treats....LOTS of ways to use them! Great for picking up hairballs...I will have to try the greek style yogurt Johanna! Cool!

**Catty1** · 07-27-2010, 02:23 PM

Actually, for a coffee maker, I prefer a reusable plastic filter.

This article caught my eye cause I was wondering what to do with paper filters if I had had some left when I got the plastic filter.

**Cataholic** · 07-27-2010, 03:10 PM

Originally Posted by Catty1

Actually, for a coffee maker, I prefer a reusable plastic filter.

I trust you wash it out well after picking up cat poop with it? LOL.

**Cataholic** · 07-27-2010, 03:09 PM

Originally Posted by sirrahbed

I wondered this exact thing. I believe paper towels are much more expensive than the coffee filters I buy - round ones with tucked/fluted edges for a dollar. The paper towel - even the store brand are over a dollar and not nearly as versatile or sturdy as the coffee filters

I think the type that are "V" shaped are more expensive. I love having a big package of round coffee filters on hand for all sorts of things like mentioned in the list. Put one in each of your cake pans to help them stack and not rust - easier to get apart too. Put one in your cast iron skillet. Kids having a popsicle? push the stick through a coffee filter for a drip cup. Each kitty can have one for his treats....LOTS of ways to use them! Great for picking up hairballs...I will have to try the greek style yogurt Johanna! Cool!

I find it tough to locate non-fat greek yogurt anyhow. So, I buy Dannon (or what is on sale), fat free. I have a small strainer that I put one large coffee filter in, and spoon the contents into the strainer with the filter in it. Then, I place that over a larger bowl- make sure that it doesn't sit in the bowl, as the whey is going to collect there. My strainer has a 'leg'...so as long as I put the strainer in a bowl large enough to contain it, but small enough so that the strainer sits up in the bowl, all is good.

I don't rinse out the yogurt container, I put it in the fridge, with the lid on, and cover up the yogurt with another filter (lol, lots of uses). When the whey has run out (about 4-6 hours), I dump the contents back into the old yogurt container!

If you don't like the consistency...you can add some of the whey back in. AND, there are things to do with the whey...I don't...but search online and you can really squeeze the penny.

J loves parfaits (thanks to his aunt). I use the greek yogurt, berries, granola and honey. He will eat 3 cups worth of it.