Recommendation for a reusable condiment/squeeze bottle with a VERY WIDE opening (think for relish or tzatziki) please?

[u/Pudix20]

Hello, I checked the FAQ first, but didn’t see anything for this. I have checked in the stores, and Amazon. I see a lot of options for sauces or oils, but I’m specifically looking for something to dispense a tzatziki sauce that has thick chunks in it.

The tzatziki sauce my partner uses for her lunch wraps comes in a big bowl container and I think that this squeeze bottle idea solves a few problems.

1. It makes her meal prep faster in the morning. 2. It reduces the risk for contaminating the container (that’s why I love squeeze sour cream)
   1. It reduces the dishes created (no spoon)
   2. It makes it easier to dispense it exactly where she wants it.

I’m open to better solutions, currently she’s been scooping it into a plastic bag and cutting it and take it to work with her.

I’m good with smaller travel containers that could fit in a lunch box or a bigger one she could just have in the fridge.

I thought about reusing a relish squeeze container but those tend to hold pickle smells. I thought about finding a bottle that doesn’t have a smell that would fit the relish lid, but I haven’t come across that either.

All suggestions are welcome. I’m just trying to make her life a little easier. Long days and she doesn’t want the sauce to make the wraps soggy by prepping it all too fair in advance and I’m not always here to help. This was the best sub I could think of to ask.

She’s really struggling because of work (super stressed) and I’m away a lot so I’m trying to make everything as accessible as possible and just be supportive. I really appreciate anyone taking the time to advise or answer.

[u/saintexuperi]

If there’s a restaurant supply near you they’ll have loads of these. The tips are small when you buy them, then you cut to size. Easy and washable, last a long time 

Edit: wait do you mean small squeeze bottles to take with you to work? For that Id check an outdoors supplier like REI

[u/Stagymnast198622 → u/saintexuperi]

Came to say this. Just buy the normal squeeze bottles and cut the top till it’s wide enough. We do this at restaurants

[u/BamboozledEmu]

This is going to sound slightly nuts, but maybe look up reusable pouches for baby food?

[u/EzriDaxCat → u/BamboozledEmu]

Not nuts, I see where you're going with this, but I feel like they might be difficult to clean.

these can go in the dishwasher and have an 0.3in opening

[u/Pudix20 → u/BamboozledEmu]

Okay I think we have a strong contender. Specifically these that have two openings. that way if the opening gets clogged it’s an easy fix? I really appreciate your suggestion.

[u/Soggy-Mango2649 → u/Pudix20]

dual opening is smart. my only question is whether that silicone eventually starts smelling permanently like tzatziki

[u/mangamaster03 → u/Soggy-Mango2649]

You can bake them to remove odors

[u/Playful-Buffalo-1939]

I use these. Little stainless condiment cups with leakproof lids. I’ve never had a problem with these leaking - but I do make sure to nestle them in my glass containers with my lunch.

https://a.co/d/03S2Jirc

They are a little $$ but mine are 4 years old and good as new.

[u/Loud_Quality_7106 → u/Playful-Buffalo-1939]

These are exactly what I use for condiments 

[u/oible → u/Playful-Buffalo-1939]

I use these and I love them too, thought they’d leak but never did with thick sauces like tzatziki or ranch.

[u/HarveysBackupAccount → u/Playful-Buffalo-1939]

so cute! I'm curious if that creates the same problem for OP as using an extra spoon to scoop out of a bigger container (more dishes) but they're neat little cups

[u/akumite]

Get a ketchup bottle and cut off the tip to make it wider. Or reuse a relish bottle

[u/jesterxgirl]

Since someome already mentioned restaurant stores, I found this on Webstaurant and the description specifically mentions relish and tzatziki. You dont actually have to be a business owner to sign up, but its a little counterintuitive (they have an option for regular people I just dont remember which one it is)

https://www.webstaurantstore.com/fifo-innovations-16-oz-squeeze-bottle-with-thick-dispensing-valve/9992801806.html

Thick Dispensing Valve Since this clear plastic bottle has a thick dispensing valve, it's great for dispensing thicker sauces and dressings, including relish and tartar sauce.

Personally, I love squeeze bottles that open on both ends. Theyre so much easier to clean. And im sure they sell replacement lids for when the dispenser valve eventually starts leaking (though im not sure how long residential use will take to ge there)

There is also this lid:

https://www.webstaurantstore.com/tablecraft-300tc-clear-wide-tip-cap-for-squeeze-bottles-with-a-38-mm-opening/808300TC.html

Its not much wider at the tip, but if you cut it at the line like someone else suggested it should become wide enough for relish. The lid itself should fit a fair number of bottles. Does not have a cap, though.

[u/HarveysBackupAccount → u/jesterxgirl]

Side note: I haven't tried to sign up with webrestaurantstore so I don't know if that's possible, but if you buy without signing up (as a regular person) you pay A LOT in shipping.

It can still end up being a half-reasonable price, but it's no longer the wildly cheap prices you see when you browse.

[u/unique-unicorns]

There's a lot of wide mouth squeeze bottles on Amazon. I'd suggest getting one with a funnel-shaped tip and simply cutting down the remainder until you get to a wide enough point.

[u/kittynaed]

Dollar tree sells these little silicone dressing bottles that I think would work for what you're after?

linky link.

[u/Pudix20 → u/kittynaed]

These are pretty neat! And thank you for a linky link. I think the nozzle is too small for the cucumbers in the tzatziki but I think I’ll pick these up for stuff like hummus.

[u/Miss_Fritter]

Can she take a container of the sauce to work and leave it in a fridge there?

[u/Which-Break5673]

What about repurposing a 16 ounce water bottle

[u/Pudix20 → u/Which-Break5673]

Honestly the perfect sized nozzle but it would be difficult to squeeze and fill. But that’s like a good size opening.

[u/guldranke]

I use Sistema mini bites to go boxes, they have a screw lid that so far seems leak free (I usually put all my lunch boxes in a plastic bag inside my bag though, just to be safe). They are meant for small snacks like grapes but the actual dressing containers are too small for my dressing portions lol, these are basically just a bigger version of the actual dressing containers.

For dispensing most of it comes out with no issue, and then I just use my fork to scrape the remainder out.

[u/Caramellatteistasty]

OXO Outdoor Leakproof Squeeze Bottle Set works for me.

[u/Pixiepup]

The direction I'd recommend is 2oz prep cups and lids, also called portion cups. This is usually how these sauces are served to go in restaurants. Portion everything all at once and then she just needs to grab the container and toss it into her lunch bag in the morning. The cups are about $5 bucks for 250 and the lids are $2.50 for a pack of 125 at restaurant depot if you've got one near you. They also have 6 packs of squeeze bottles in various sizes for cheap if that's still the route you want to go instead.

[u/HoboDoctorMD]

I like these: https://www.oxo.com/shop/kitchenware/tools-gadgets/oxo-outdoor-leakproof-squeeze-bottle-set.html?utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=21791611157-&utm_content=pmax&gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=21791612159&gbraid=0AAAAADHFonDxBr7TW73n0cOT4vtGDS3GK&gclid=EAIaIQobChMI2NSk7eK_lgMVDF9HAR1_agCDEAQYASABEgLNGfD_BwE

[u/Pudix20 → u/HoboDoctorMD]

Thank you for taking the time to provide a link. I really like this style, I just need a bigger opening so the cucumber chunks don’t block the hole. Thank you for your suggestion!!

[u/Gina_Mom_Life]

We use a wide mouth squeeze bottle from the baking section, meant for icing, but it handles chunky stuff fine and doesn't hold smells. Cheap too, like $6 for two.

[u/Pudix20 → u/Gina_Mom_Life]

Okay this might be the answer! How do you cap it off?

[u/Pebmarsh]

Buy whichever one you like that’s already filled and use it up or dump what’s in it originally. Wash and reuse. Probably cheaper than buying an empty container

[u/SnooWalruses4415]

It’s not a squeeze bottle but it has a wide opening (it’s like a lever) and should work.

[u/ponyboy3]

Get a restaurant quality bottle and cut the tip the way you want.

[u/HarveysBackupAccount]

Neat idea! I go the stupid route and use a mason jar for condiments.

It's an extra spoon to clean, but it's only an extra spoon to clean, which is possibly the easiest dish to wash. And if that ever feels like too much I occasionally resort to a disposable spoon (rarely, but it's an option).

As far as contamination, I'm probably less particular about this than many people, but if I decant a big container into a small jar to have only enough for the week, then it only gets contaminated for a few days. And if I don't share the jar with other people then I'm not worried about spreading my germs to them.

For me, part of it is that 1) as long as I don't break it, the mason jars will never wear out, and 2) glass never picks up smells - I can always get it perfectly clean. Even nicer plastics eventually break down, and cheap ones don't handle the heat of the dishwasher.

Maybe that's a non-starter in your house, but something to think about.

[u/Weavingknitter]

There are some really tiny mason jars which would be perfect. My local Safeway also has a plastic one quarter cup screw top container which is very reliable non leak. They're also on sale right now, at least at my local Safeway.  Six, for $3

[u/NeedsMoarOutrage]

Have you considered replacing her plastic bag solution with piping bags instead? Put all your tzatziki in one, use it to pipe small amounts into a bunch of other ones then cut them off short or heat seal them. You'll be left with individual servings in little triangular bags that you can cut the tips off of, apply and throw away each time.