For years, I thought coffee filters had exactly one job: making coffee. Then I noticed my mom kept a stack in the kitchen and reached for them when she was cooking, cleaning, or working on little things around the house.

I finally asked her why she saved so many, and she started listing all the ways she used them. After trying a few of her tricks myself, I understood why she never seemed to run out of coffee filters.

Wrap Sandwiches and Snacks

Coffee filters make handy wrappers for sandwiches, muffins, cookies, and other grab-and-go snacks. They also work well for crackers, popcorn, and trail mix when you don’t want to dirty another dish.

Filter Used Cooking Oil

If you reuse frying oil, pour it through a coffee filter before storing it. The filter catches small bits of leftover food that can affect the oil the next time you cook with it.

Create Disposable Snack Bowls

A coffee filter can work as a quick little bowl for popcorn, pretzels, chips, or other dry snacks. They’re especially useful for movie nights or parties when you don’t want a pile of dishes afterward.

Strain Homemade Foods

Coffee filters can strain broth, juice, yogurt, and other liquids when you need something finer than a regular strainer. They’re also handy for filtering used cooking oil and catching tiny bits of food.

Absorb Grease From Fried Foods

Place freshly fried foods on a coffee filter to quickly soak up excess oil. They work much like paper towels and can be useful when you’re already cooking and don’t want to grab another roll.

Make DIY Tea Bags

Loose-leaf tea doesn’t require a special infuser if you have a coffee filter nearby. Put the tea inside, fold or tie the filter closed, and steep it in hot water like a regular tea bag.

Freshen the Refrigerator

Fill a coffee filter with baking soda, seal it with a rubber band or a piece of string, and place it in the refrigerator or pantry. The baking soda can absorb unwanted odors without adding another scented product to the space.

Protect Cast Iron Cookware

Place a coffee filter between cast iron pans when you stack them in a cabinet. It creates a soft layer between the cookware and the surface and can also absorb a small amount of moisture that might otherwise sit against the metal.

Start a Fire More Easily

Crumpled coffee filters can make useful fire starters for fireplaces, campfires, and outdoor fire pits. Adding a small amount of cooking oil or melted wax can help them burn longer and make it easier to start the fire.

Clean Delicate Surfaces

Coffee filters are soft and low-lint, which makes them useful for wiping certain delicate surfaces. They can be handy for computer screens, television screens, camera lenses, and other surfaces that can be easily scratched by rough materials.