steal this idea: egg carton mini cupcake holder
UPDATE: We received so many concerned responses about this post, we did some research on our end and I contacted the owner of Coffee to a Tea, where I purchased the above cupcakes. First, you are correct, readers — one should NOT re-use cardboard cartons that previously housed eggs; it is a health risk. From what we could find online, the plasticky versions are okay, but you’d want to wash them thoroughly first. Second, Coffee to a Tea does NOT reuse cartons — they buy them fresh. The following is an email we received back from owner Jilyan:
We really love that you love the egg carton idea so much! Thanks for posting about it. We most certainly do NOT use egg cartons that have housed eggs. You and your fellow bloggers are correct, that would be unsafe food handling. We purchase the unused egg cartons from a local dairy farm specifically for packaging our mini cupcakes. So please continue to enjoy our little guys worry free, and feel good about it since they are recyclable!
Thanks again,
Jilyan
Sugar Rush Baking Company
So there you have it, readers. Thanks everyone for waking me up about this. And now, let’s all enjoy a cupcake! –Mary T.
When I picked up some cupcakes recently from West Seattle’s Coffee to a Tea With Sugar, I was just as delighted by the packaging as I was by the product. Using an a fresh egg carton to house mini cupcakes is a great way to recycle, keeps the cupcakes from being crushed, and just looks really fun, too. Try this at home! –Mary T.
August 18th, 2008 at 9:08 am
Great idea as long as the carton doesn’t have bird doo or other unsanitary stuff on it.
August 18th, 2008 at 10:05 am
Okay, so I’m going to sound like my mother when I say this, but here goes anyway.
I worry about Salmonella. Other than that, I like the idea.
August 18th, 2008 at 11:47 am
Love it- I will “steal” this idea to transport birthday cupcakes to school on my Little One’s birthday!
August 18th, 2008 at 2:36 pm
i could eat that whole box , yuuummmmmm
August 18th, 2008 at 5:31 pm
To: Sciencegeek
If you use the styrophone egg cartons, you can wash them before you put the cupcakes in.
August 18th, 2008 at 5:39 pm
this is cute. i will risk salmonella for cuteness.
August 19th, 2008 at 7:12 am
salmonella – smamanella – bring on the cupcakes!
August 19th, 2008 at 10:24 am
Chad, they were excellent cupcakes, too!
August 21st, 2008 at 10:23 am
Good tip!
August 21st, 2008 at 4:16 pm
Um, no, this isn’t a good idea because of salmonella. Government health departments and extensions say you shouldn’t reuse just for this reason.
Do whatever you want at home, but don’t make other people’s kids sick. The kids can’t make their own decision – they just see cupcakes.
Have you ever had salmonella? It is by far the worst illness I’ve ever had the misfortune of getting. I don’t wish it on anyone, especially not for something weak like transporting cupcakes.
August 22nd, 2008 at 4:26 am
Interesting comments. I would actually guess that they are using fresh cartons — ie, cartons that didn’t actually house eggs previously — if indeed it is such a concern. There’s no way this would get past the health department if not.
August 26th, 2008 at 10:14 am
unless they are using fresh cartons/not recycling them, i’m in. but if these are recycled cartons, you couldn’t pay me to touch those cupcakes. i’m with mar on this one. frightening idea. cute. but absolutely frightening.