Learning how to open stuck jars is a handy skill, especially for us empty nesters who no longer have strong young adults at home to do it for us! I don’t contend with stuck jar lids very often, but when I do, I find it quite annoying when I have to drop what I’m doing to go find help.
But I’ve picked up a few tricks that enable me to open a jar with a tight lid on my own, and I’ll be sharing those with you here in this post! You probably won’t need to try all 11 different ways to open jar lids, but it’s always good to have a few options you can try if your first couple of attempts don’t get it to budge!
11 Ways to Open a Stuck Jar Lid
1. Rubber Glove
Pull on a pair of rubber gloves, then hold the jar firmly in one gloved hand and twist the lid of the jar with the other. The gloves will give you a better grip on both the jar and the stuck lid, making it easier to twist off.
2. Towel
You can unscrew a tight lid using a towel for added grip. Just put the towel over the stubborn lid and twist. (If a dry towel doesn’t work, try a damp cloth!)
3. Silicone Hot Pad
If you have a silicone hot pad or oven mitt, you can use it to open stubborn jar lids. Silicone is very effective when you need a good grip around the rim of the jar lid.
4. Rubber Band
There are so many great uses for rubber bands around the house, including as jar openers! I keep a large rubber band in my kitchen drawer just for this purpose. Place the rubber band around the lid you’re trying to open, then grip the lid and twist.
5. Mousepad
One of the most unexpected ways to open a jar is with the aid of a computer mousepad. Just place the bottom of the mousepad against the lid of the jar, then grip it with your hand and twist.
6. Duct Tape
To open a tough jar with a piece of duct tape, place a piece of duct tape around the edge of the lid, leaving one end of the tape loose to use as a handle. Pull on the loose edge in a counterclockwise direction and the lid should twist off with minimal effort.
7. Hot Water
To loosen a jar lid with hot water, turn on your kitchen faucet and try running the lid under hot water for 30 seconds or so. The heat will cause the lid to expand slightly, loosening the seal and making it easier to open the jar. Just be careful not to burn yourself!
8. Tap the Lid
If the lid of a jar of food just won’t come unstuck, try tapping it with a spoon or the handle of a butter knife. Sometimes food gets trapped near the lid and makes it hard to unscrew. Tapping the lid helps dislodge the food, which could solve the problem!
9. Tap the Bottom of the Jar
Another easy trick that people swear by for removing glass jar lids is to flip the jar upside down and smack the bottom of the jar with your hand. This may disrupt the seal enough that the lid will twist right off.
10. Break the Seal
As a last resort, you can use a bottle opener to either pry the lid off the jar or pierce the lid and break the seal. You won’t be able to use the lid anymore, but at least you’ll get it off! (Be sure to use a bottle opener for this, not a knife — you don’t want to end up in the emergency room!)
11. Use a Gadget
If you frequently struggle to unscrew jar lids, consider investing in a jar-opening gadget! They can accommodate several different lid sizes and aren’t terribly expensive. Just slide the gadget over the lid, grip, and twist!
How do you deal with stuck lids?
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I have a Black And Decker jar lid remover and it is automated.
Please log in or create a free account to comment.I have invested in the best lid remover!! Search: Kuhn Rikon Gripper Jar Opener. The teeth grab the lid when you turn the top knob. Fits all sizes of jar lids. Be sure to search exactly as named….they have lots of different products. I have given this to some folks with bad arthritis and they love it.
Please log in or create a free account to comment.Hello You’ll! I’ve found that dampening a paper towel(or cloth) adds a little extra gripping power. So far, that’s worked like a charm for me. The damp paper towel is also great for spreading out on top of that plastic-topped food tray. It keeps your plate, and your beverage from sliding off and making a mess.
Please log in or create a free account to comment.If I can’t get the lid off, I take my sturdiest knife and stab the top. The little hole it makes releases pressure and the lid comes off easy. If it is something like pickles you can still use the lid and jar when you store the remaining portion in the fridge. Since you aren’t fiddling around with the side of the lid it isn’t dangerous.
Please log in or create a free account to comment.I’ve used a gadget- I don’t know what it’s called. It’s a small round circle you can easily buy, which makes opening jars easier. It’s kind of like the silicon trivets, but much thinner.
Please log in or create a free account to comment.Hi, after spending over 30 years in Catering & Hospitality industry and having chronic arthritis, the only method I use is to knock the lid on the kitchen unit top/wall to release the vacuum. A good sound knock is enough, it is similar to knocking with a spoon but gives a firmer tap.
Please log in or create a free account to comment.I would not advocate piercing the lid with a nail or knife as these can introduce bacteria from the jar lid or item used to pierce, (jars are usually kept in ambient storage warehouses where rodents, birds etc can defacate and contaminate by other means).
It also saves purchasing any costly equipment.
Hope this helps.
Michelle
Hi, there is a small cheap easy to use plastic gadget that releases the vacuum in the jar, with no danger whatsoever to the operator- and it is very cheap. Available on the www. Just look for it. I have one and I am old, nearly 80 years and have Arthritis in hands wrists etc. No problem opening jars now, since my purchase of this gadget. Forget everything else – just Google.
Please log in or create a free account to comment.You can also use a spoon (or the end of a non-ornate utensil). Slip it between the lid and the glass, and push forward to break the seal.
Please log in or create a free account to comment.This takes 1 second – the best!
https://www.amazon.com/Opener-Jarpop-Jarkey-Vacuum-Breaker/dp/B01D50U4IE/ref=sr_1_12?s=home-garden&ie=UTF8&qid=1520238951&sr=1-12&keywords=Jarkey+Jar+Opener
Please log in or create a free account to comment.Hi LEH, you are sooo right! This is the gadget I just wrote about! Best ever.
Please log in or create a free account to comment.Best way to open a stubborn jar for me (severe arthritis) is to tap a very small, clean nail into the lid with a hammer…it releases the vacuum.
Please log in or create a free account to comment.I’ve tried just about everything else..