12 Ways To Use a Linen Tea Towel

I love linen and cotton tea towels. Not only are they made of natural fibres but they have a rustic charm that harks back to times gone by. Tea towels were traditionally more decorative than dish towels. They were used when something fancier was called for during the transition from the kitchen to dining. A dishtowel was used to wipe up spills and dry dishes. In modern times, the lines between the two have become a little blurred so, in this post, I’ve collated 12 ways to use a tea towel in the modern kitchen.

I use my tea towels for almost everything!

So read on. I’m sure there are a few ways you’ve never thought of.

12 Ways to Use a Linen Tea Towel

Line a serving basket or tray with a tea towel. It stops crumbs from falling out and keeps things from moving as you walk with the tray. This is a must for me. In my earlier days as a waitress, I was known for lamb racks slipping off the plate and into customers’ laps because I walked too fast. Oops.

Another way to use a linen tea towel is as a cover that keeps food warm. This is my favourite way to wrap a batch of scones just like my nan used to. It looks so pretty when you pop the wicker basket on the table and unwrap them. Bread rolls straight from the oven work well too.

You can place old tea towels between your pots to protect them from scratches when stored. I stack my pots and frypans so this is a very useful way to use tea towels when they are getting old and you no longer want them in view of the household.

One of my favourtie ways to use a tea towel is as a napkin or casual placemat. In fact, I did this for Christmas 2021. I bought a bunch of red and white cotton teatowels and used them on the table. They cost around $6 and I’m now using them in the kitchen.

Other Creative Ideas

• Dry and store salad greens. A dampened cloth keeps them fresh for days if you don’t wrap too tightly
• Line the crisper drawers in the fridge to reduce moisture and food spoilage. This is an old trick. Not only does it help keep veggies fresh, it stops the drawer getting dirty. Double win.
• Place a tea towel under a cutting board to prevent it from slipping when you are chopping
• Use a tea twoel as a teapot cozy.
• To create a seal over a pot when steaming food
• For use as a potholder when removing things from the oven
• Wrap a present. Be creative here. Don’t just think Christmas like this cute image but theme the teatowel with the birthday gift, add some pretty ribbon and you have a present that is 100% reusable.

Don’t forget to use your nicest tea towels for display! Our Vintage Farm shop has a range of 100% handmade linen teatowels perfect for hanging over the oven rail or warming a plate of scones.