Opening Jars

[gabsmom123]

I notice everytime I buy a new jar of pickles, sauerkraut or anything that has to be open I have the hardest time opening the jars. Does anyone else agree with this also. If so what tips do you have for opening the jars.

[DeBora4BobbyL]

I personally either use a butter knife to tap on the lid to loosen it or I use something that won't skid to open it. They now have rubber thingys that will aid in the opening of jar lids. Good luck!

[grannyof7]

I used to have a hard time as well trying to open up jars. My husband used to do it for me but now I can open up my own jars by giving a Good Wack with the palm of my hand on the bottom of the jar. Works every time for me and they sure do open up a whole lot easier;

[gabsmom123]

I actually have tried both of those ways and I have not had very much success. I think I may just be too "weak" to open them by myself ;)

[egsavoy]

Another method is to run hot water from the faucet over the top of the lid for a couple of minutes. It causes the metal to expand a little, and helps to loosen the seal.

[Liza50]

You are not the only one! I thought I was just getting weaker in my old age.
I use the little rubber mesh squares, about 6 x 6 that are sold to go under bowls to stabilize them. I got 3 for a dollar at the dollar store. Thin and flexible, they give me just enough traction to open the jar. When all else fails, there is always the husband and son!

[ej2mom]

You can turn the bottle or jar upside down and give the cap a good bang on the counter. This has never failed for me.

[Lizzie-boo]

I have some trouble with jars too. I was a little leery of the smacking method, but have used the rubberized pads to help. What works best for me is a little tool I bought at a kitchen store called a JarKey. It's a bit like an old style bottle opener (the kind with the round circle at one end). You just use it to pry a little on the jar lid and it pops the seal, which makes it much easier to open.

Liz

[barbszy]

The solution that has worked best for me is just to put on my rubber dishwashing gloves. Also, put the jar down on a table low enough so you can get leverage (I'm short--the countertop is too high for me to do this).

[harleyhonnyy]

I use the pointed end of a can opener. Put the pointed end under the cap & push down-----------works every time. Listen for the pop easyyyyyyyy

[Lizzie-boo]

Harleyhonnyy, I live in Wisconsin, too (Iola, home of the Car Show) but only for the time being (my house is on the market and I'm moving to Pennsylvania where my husband got a new job.) Where are you?

Liz

[LifeStar]

The simplist way I have found to deal with this is to buy some of those thicker rubberbands, about 1/4 inch wide or so... when I bring home a jar, I stretch a rubberband around the edge of the lid and it works like those rubber pads, giving your hand a good gripping surface. You can just leave the rubberband around the jar lid all the time, so every lid can have it's own very cheaply. The smacking on the bottom works to release the vaccum seal, but you have to hold the jar upside down for that to work. I hope this helps!

[dval]

I take the jar and give it a GENTLE back & forth shake while holding it upright. Then I smack the bottom and it opens. Sometimes I have to do it twice but it always works. Which is more than I can say for hubby. :)

[happy2bg33k]

I use either one of those rubberized grippers (which I can never find when I need it!) or use a spoon under the lid to make the seal pop open.

[cat lover]

I use a "Wizard Jar Wrench". It is a kitchen tool I have had since I was married way back in 1973! I don't see them in stores any longer, but occasionally in the thrift stores. They look like a giant nut cracker. The other tool I got about 6 years ago is a plastic "Jar Pop jar opener" It works on the method everyone is talking about putting a knife under the edge of the seal and listening for the seal to break. I have seen those recently in stores. I guess the best thing to do would be look online under "jar openers" and you will probably get some pictures of several type and then you can do a search for a store that would have what you like. Good Luck!

[Sketchy83]

When I can't find my litlle rubber grippy circle, I use two rubberbands. Place one rubberband around the base of the jar, and place the other around the cap. Then twist! The extra traction should help you to open the jar without issue.

[cat lover]

I bet those large wide rubber bands that come on broccoli would work for this idea. I'll have to save a few next time, thanks!

[goldeagle1]

Growing up in a feminist household, my dad would always joke that women would starve to death if there were no men around to open jars -- that always got my mom, my sister and I to glare at him.

However, like a previous posting, I use thick rubber bands around the jar top to open things. Sometimes I let my dh open a jar -- just to make him feel good!

[Coll]

My method is I hold the lid and someone else holds the jar, we both twist in opposite directions. It doesn't always work, sometimes I say a bad word and then I'll hit the bottom and it will open.

[Sammi1961]

I do the same thing that ej2mom does, I turn a jar upside down and bang it flat on either the kitchen table or the counter and then twist the top off. I have also tried the rubber grip jar openers. My mom had an electric jar opener that worked wonders and opened any size jar. I would love to have one of those.

[cat lover]

I also have a metal jar opener, looks sort of like tongs but the end is rounded and fits around the jars, then you just squeeze and twist and it usually works.

[debknechtel]

I always use the Rachael Ray way...turn it upside down and bang it on the counter...works every time...on all sizes.


hugs Debbie

[RobertaD]

I have arthritis in my thumb joints and have a heckof a time opening jars that have already been opened LOL. I had a heck of a time yesterday getting a 20 oz pop open. I give jars to DH if he is home, make him useful, otherwise I use the knife under the lid trick to break the seal.'

Roberta

[Bilby]

I used to have a sheet on no skid stuff that went under a floor mat but no longer use the mat or the skid stuff. So I chop up the skid stuff in biggish squares for jars etc, there is a particular salsa jar that is always hard to open and the rest I cut smaller squares for under the couch so it doesn't skid when the kids flop on it.

My mum has a thing that looks like a rubber/plastic nut cracker only bigger and she swears by that.

[cat lover]

Bilby, the thing your mum has sounds a lot like the metal contraption I use, and if it is similiar; she's right; it opens a jar everytime!

[ellenmelon]

I'm a fan of the can opener under the lid rim, but I use a spoon because sometimes the can opener bends the lid too much and then it doesn't seal so well again, but if you're careful anything to pry and break the vacuum seal will work

[strmywthr3]

I use those rubber circles. I have bad wrists and always struggle with getting jars open. those rubbler circle things are the best!

[cat lover]

I looked when I used mine the other day and it actually has a name on it---- Wizard Jar Opener. I know even my grandmother had one of these so it must have been around a long time. I never see them in the stores although ever now and then I do see them in a thrift store. Younger people must give them away when they close up a relatives house; shame they don't know what good gadget them are giving away! LOL