Posted on January 8, 2009 - by Amanda
How To Open a Stuck Jar-Lid
It seems, at times, that there is an international jar conspiracy to keep us from accessing the contents. It’s like the jars want to save the lives of the pickles, the jam or the spaghetti sauce. Apart from a new UN resolution here are some solutions.
1. Ask a man.
They are stronger after all and their hands tend to be a bit bigger, easily spanning wide lids.
2. Grab a towel
Sometimes the increased friction can get that stubborn seal to pop.
3. Run hot water over the lid.
Sometimes it is sticky syrup sealing the lid shut and hot water can loosen and free the lid. Also the heat will expand the metal in the lid a bit and sometimes it will make the lid easier to open. Of course, after using the hot water you will need to revert to method two because the water makes the lid slippery.
4. Use the thick end of a butter knife to lightly dent the top edge.
This weakens the seal overall. Just hold a butter knife by the edged end and gently bounce the heavy end around the entire circumfrence of the lid. Many small dings will appear but the seal should be weakened, though not broken, and you will be more likely to get the thing open.
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January 9, 2009
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AimeeE said:
I use the hot water and the butter knife all the time when Brent's not home. I've never had success with the towel, so my technique may be lacking.
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January 11, 2009
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A.T. Nelson said:
I was surprised by this post for two reasons; 1, that "Ask a man" was the first suggestion and 2. that no one has jumped at you for that yet. As a man (and an avid AoM reader) let me say this: thank you. Ladies, when you ask us to do something physically-demanding that we can do and you can't, it makes us feel awesome. We don't want to open every jar, but your husband, boyfriend, or friend will be flattered when they are your first choice when the job requires brute strength. I would suggest, also, if you're romantically involved with the jar-opener, that you smile at him and comment on how strong he is, perhaps with a gentle squeeze of his arm. You will be amazed at what it does.
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January 11, 2009
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Amanda said:
@ A.T. Nelson
Your reasons are certainly very true and are likely are much of our own personal motivation for asking a man but we also think that it would be silly not to acknowledge the simple fact that men are almost always bigger and stronger and therefore better at jar-opening.
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January 13, 2009
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Manda said:
I love that 1 is "ask a man". When he's not around though i usually tap the edge of the jar lid on the corner of the counter. I find this will pop the seal and i can then open it with ease. Don't tap too hard- just hard enough to put a little dent in the side.
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January 14, 2009
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R. Noessel said:
5. Use a rubber glove. In my opinion rubber grabs better than a towel. I use broken balloons to grab stuck items like a needle going through thick cloth. Works great.
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January 17, 2009
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CynthiaJ said:
6. put a rubber band around the lid. I have never failed to open a stuck lid with this method, and it has even worked when the "tap the lid on the counter" method has not.
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March 26, 2009
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Auren said:
There's actually a product on the market that can do this when all else fails. It's called the OneTouch Jar Opener. You can watch a video of this product in action here: http://www.HealthWellnessHub.com/onetouchjar.php Best of luck, it has worked like a charm for me
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November 9, 2009
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Guest said:
Thanks R. Noessel when all the other suggestions I tried and had failed on this one particular stubborn pasta sauce jar your trying to twist it open with a rubber glove was the only one that finally got the sucker open, cheers,
Kari
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April 21, 2010
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Emily said:
What the hell?! Everyone is actually pleased by the "ask a man" suggestion?
That's just embarassing.
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April 21, 2010
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AmandaPatchin said:
What is embarrassing? That men tend to have stronger hands than women, or that we acknowledge it?