How to Open a Jar with a Tight Lid
Have you ever found yourself trying to open a particularly stubborn jar? Maybe you arrived here by searching how to open a pickle jar. Well, in my case it was a jar of sun dried tomatoes. Here’s how to open a jar with a tight lid – 6 proven ways to open tight lids!
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Trying to Open a Jar with a Tight Lid
A couple weeks ago, I found myself in a bit of a conundrum. I was making this Chicken Parmesan with Sundried Tomato Sauce for dinner and needed sun-dried tomatoes (the sun-dried tomatoes that I had in the fridge were almost gone).
I had to open a new jar — but the lid would NOT come off.
First I tried one of those rubber grippers. That didn’t work. The lid didn’t even budge.
I was starting to get a little irritated, and my hand had a huge cramp in it. I put the jar down and walked away for a while. It was the tightest lid I had ever encountered.
All the trying had left deep marks from the lid in my hand. Then I remembered a few tricks for opening jars with too tight lids that I learned years ago. I had completely forgotten since I can almost always open the jar.
Tools to Help Open a Jar
You might not have realized that you probably own several random household items that are effective ways to help open a stubborn lid on a jar. Here are a few of my favorite handy kitchen utensils:
- Pair of Rubber Gloves
- Butter Knife
- Metal Spoon
- Bottle Opener
- Thick Rubber Band
Read on to learn how these common household items can help you open a jar with a tight lid.
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How to Open a Jar 6 Ways
There are plenty of tricks to open a stubborn jar lid, but here are a few of my favorite!
I always try the jar grippers first because usually that does it for me. But sometimes you might need to try another trick if the vacuum is especially strong and stubborn.
And if that fails you, here’s how to open a stuck jar five different ways. I’ve found that in scenarios like this one, having more options is best!
1. How to Open a Jar With a Butter Knife
Using a butter knife, give the end of the jar’s rim a few gently whacks with the knife’s handle. Air bubbles created can help loosen the vacuum seal.
You can also slip the flat tip of a butter knife under the rim of the lid and lift up to try to release the jar’s vacuum seal.
2. How to Open a Jar with a Spoon
Similarly to using the flat tip of a butter knife, wedge the tip of the spoon in the underside of the lid in between the jar and its lid. Wiggle it back and forth to try to break the seal.
Do this all the way around the lid of the jar. Then, try to open the jar with your bare hands again.
3. How to Open a Jar with the Palm of Your Hand
Hold the jar at a 45-degree angle in one hand. With the other hand, smack the bottom of the jar using the center of your palm. Make sure you have a good grip and don’t use too much force that you loose your grip.
In this scenario, the brute force will create air bubbles in the contents of the jar that will help loosen the vacuum seal.
4. How to Open a Jar with Hot Water
Hold the lid under running hot water for a minute or two or let it sit in a bowl of warm water. The hot liquid hack will warm the metal of the lid, causing it to expand which will make it easier to open.
After warming the lid, dry the jar with a dry dish towel. Hold the jar with your non-dominant hand on the bottom of the jar. Then, use your dominant hand to try to open the lid.
5. How to Open the Jar with a Few Bumps
Gently tap the bottom of the jar (hold it at a 45-degree angle) on the kitchen countertop or a cutting board, moving it all around in a circle as you tap.
Just make sure you don’t tap the edge of the jar too hard because you don’t want to break the jar. Be careful if your counters are stone and you’re trying to open a glass jar. It is a good idea to place a kitchen towel on top of your hard surface before trying this method.
6. How to Open a Jar Using Extra Traction
Sometimes bare hands alone just aren’t enough to loosen a stubborn lid on a jar. Extra traction can help as you’re trying to turn that lid. Here are a few options:
- Rubber Gloves – wearing rubber gloves, such as kitchen cleaning gloves, on both hands. Hold one hand on the bottom, the other on the top and twist. The gloves can act as a great way to get extra grip on the top of the lid and the bottom of the jar as you try to open the jar.
- Wider Rubber Bands – placing a rubber band around the rim of a jar lid is another easy way to get a better grip on the lid. Wrap the rubber band around the edge of the lid, then try to open like normal.
- Rubber Gripper – a rubber gripper fits over the top of the lid. It is a very minor investment to have on hand if tight jars are a frequent challenge for you.
Save these tips for How to Open a Jar with a Tight Lid to Pinterest!
Try These Tips to Open Jars with a Stuck Lid!
Next time you’re trying to open a stubborn lid, give these simple ways a try! Did these tips help you open your stuck jar lid? Leave a comment below and give this post a review for others to see what you thought of these jar opening tips.
On Instagram? Share a photo and tag me with @goodlifeeats and #goodlifeeatsrecipes. I’d love to see your kitchen hacks and tips!
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How to Open a Jar with a Tight Lid
Have you ever found yourself trying to open a particularly stubborn jar? Here are 5 proven tips to help you open a tight lid.
Materials
- Jar with a tight lid
Tools
Things that Help Open Jars
- Butter Knife
- Spoon
- Hot Water
- Palm of your Hand
- Rubber Gloves, Rubber Bands, or Rubber Gripper
Instructions
With a Butter Knife
- Using a butter knife, give the end of the jar’s rim a few gently whacks with the knife’s handle.
- Air bubbles created can help loosen the vacuum seal.
With a Spoon
- Wedge the tip of the spoon in the underside of the lid in between the jar and it’s lid.
- Wiggle it back and forth to try to break the seal.
- Do this all the way around the lide.
- Then, try to open the jar with your hands again.
With Hot Water
- Hold the lid under running hot water for a minute or two.
- The hot water will warm the metal of the lid, causing it to expand which will make it easier to open.
With the Palm of your Hand
- Hold the jar at a 45 degree angle in one hand.
- With the other hand, smack the bottom of the jar.
- Don’t use too much force that you loose your grip, just enough to create air bubbles that will help loosen the vacuum.
With a Few Bumps
- Gently tap the bottom of the jar (hold it at a 45 degree angle) on the counter or a cutting board, moving it all around in a circle as you tap.
- Just make sure you don’t tap too hard because you don’t want to break the jar.
How to Open a Jar Using Extra Traction
- Rubber Gloves - wearing rubber gloves, such as kitchen cleaning gloves, on both hands. Hold one hand on the bottom, the other on the top and twist. The gloves can act as a great way to get extra grip on the top of the lid and the bottom of the jar as you try to open the jar.
- Wider Rubber Bands - placing a rubber band around the rim of a jar lid is another easy way to get a better grip on the lid. Wrap the rubber band around the edge of the lid, then try to open like normal.
- Rubber Gripper - a rubber gripper fits over the top of the lid. It is a very minor investment to have on hand if tight jars are a frequent challenge for you.
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Susan Love says
I turn the jar over on its top and give it a good whack on the counter-usually works for me
Jan says
I do what Susan does.
Turn the jar over and hold it with the lid parallel to the counter top. Then, with force, I whack it straight down on the counter top. Works every time.
Christina says
I use a rubber band. I read the tip in an issue of Martha Stewart and it NEVER fails me. Just wrap a rubber band around the lid of the jar and it will pop right off. I’m sure it’s similar to a rubber grippie thingie, but I think the rubber band works better.
karen d says
My sister gave me a great gadget to open tight lids. It looks like an oversized plastic (heavy plastic) church key type opener and works like one. Just place on lid like you were opening a bottle of beer (or beverage of choice) and lift gently. Presto, open jar. I have no idea where she got it, but maybe Bed, Bath & Beyond. Great product.
Sylvie @ Gourmande in the Kitchen says
My mom always did the spoon and hot water trick, works like a charm!
Jamie | My Baking Addiction says
Great tips, Katie! I am always wrestling the pickle jar!
BarefeetInTheKitchen says
The warm water trick used to work for me most of the time. Now though, I use one of those rubber gripper things (how’s that for a technical term?) and it works every time. Although, I will admit that if my husband or any of my brothers are around, I will happily let them prove their strength. ha ha.
Amy says
I know this is weird, but I had a swimming cap that never got used so I now keep it in the kitchen for just this purpose. Seriously the easiest way EVER to open a jar. 🙂
Angie -- Bigbearswife says
I’m always fighting with lids! Thanks for the tips. I usally have hubby open them but sometimes he’s not always there when Im cooking
cathie says
great tips… what i was wondering is do you have a good recipie or instructions for making your own sundried tomatoes.. and would it work for small yellow tomatoes too?
Karly says
Oh, you’re butter knife trick makes me giggle. I use to smack the edge of the lid against my counter tops, but I was always worried I’d miss and break the whole jar or end up hitting to hard and hurting my counter tops. Never even occurred to me to use something else to hit the lid. Haha! Great idea!
Jennifer says
Great post..another thing that works is looking for the symbol on the side of the top and if you use a knife in that spot it releases the air and opens right away. old granny tip
Rachel @ Baked by Rachel says
I use to always do the knife trick first but now my go to is my pot holders with grippy side – works like a charm!
brendajos says
I use a bottle opener on the edge of the lid to break the seal. Works every time. 🙂
Abbey says
Tried this one on a pesky sauerkraut jar that’d been there for months, I was always trying to open it. Worked like an absolute charm!
Emily says
If the jar gripper doesn’t work, I go straight to the “church key” type can opener, using the side that you use for prying the cap off a beer bottle. I lift the lid just enough to hear the seal break – it breaks the seal easily and the lid comes right off.
Maris (In Good Taste) says
Thank you for sharing these great tips!
Amber | Bluebonnets & Brownies says
I usually start with the hot water trick. It almost always works for me. Great list of things to try, Katie!