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!
More Useful Tutorials:
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Learn all about How to Care for Cast Iron: best oil for seasoning cast iron, how to season cast iron, how to clean cast iron, how to re-season a rusted pan, and what my favorite recipes to cook in cast iron are.
No, you don’t need a cherry pitter to pit cherries quickly and easily! This post explains How to Pit Cherries by hand using all sorts of methods — a straw, a toothpick, a paring knife, the list goes on!
Crystallized honey looks gross, but it’s actually safe to eat. But you can also learn How to Decrystallize Honey in no time!
Who doesn’t love a good kitchen tip? Looking for more kitchen tutorials? Check out the entire Kitchen Tips and Tricks archive for lots of great ideas!
What’s one kitchen hack you’ve found useful recently?
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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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JEFF says
Thanks for saving me embarrassment at work. Darn cans just wouldn’t open. I busted a knuckle trying! Hot water worked right away.
Lauren says
The first solution (with the butter knife) worked well for me, thanks!! Saves me the embarrassment of having to ask a stranger.
Jake says
YOU ARE A GENIUS! THANK YOU!
Sandy says
Your tips saved my dinner today. Thank you very much. I tried tapping, twisting, hot water and nothing was working for a jar of sauerkraut and then I read about the spoon trick and that did it.
Kelly says
Thank you sooo much, I’m a pickle junkie and I was getting angry I couldn’t get this lid off and the spoon worked like a charm. I’m so happy I don’t even feel the pain in my hand anymore lol
KJ says
You just saved my life! I thought I was going to give myself a hernia I was trying so hard to get the lid off…the spoon trick worked for me! Thank you!!!!!!
paytonforlife says
THANK YOU SO MUCH! I live alone and didn’t want to run to one of my neighbors in the middle of the night while in my pajamas and ask them to please help me open my jar of pasta sauce… but I was debating it!! It totally worked to put the jar under hot water, so I didn’t have to risk a restraining order or unflavored dinner! Thank you for the knowledge! 🙂
Catherine says
A bottle opener works like a charm!!!
jill says
You just gave me a piece of my sanity back. My toddler is screaming for a pickle and my husband is at work. I Iwas about to pop a vein on this stubborn jar. The knife tapping took care of it instantly. Thank you!
Margaret says
Thank you so much Katie! The butter knife worked well for me.
Mike says
Went stright to number 4. Work like a magic! Hey guys need some help too..
Jesse says
Thank you so much! The spoon thing worked so well and now we are opening jars like madmen.
San says
Thanks for the tips…The hot water tip worked for me
Robin says
Nothing worked on the stubborn jar we had (not tapping the jar lid, hot water, tapping the jar bottom, or rubber grips) until we tried the spoon suggestion. Instead of a spoon, I used the triangle pointed end on a bottle cap opener (sometimes also found on the tip of can openers). The instant we stuck the pointed metal tip under the jar lid and barely pried it up…the seal broke and the jar opened with no effort. THANKS FOR THE TIPS! Now I’m never fighting with a jar again…I’m headed straight for my bottle cap opener every time!!
Teresa says
I keep a pair of rubber cleaning / dish gloves on hand – just for opening jars. Simply, put both gloves on, hold the jar with one hand, and open the lid with the other. I can almost always get every jar open now.
Elizabeth T says
I moved into my apartment late last year and didn’t bring anything specifically to open cans. However, I did have a roll of leftover shelf liner, so I simply cut out a square of that and it worked!