Run hot water over top of glass jar (will expand top and loosen it slightly). You can also use the lower part of the palm of your hand to solidly hit (like serving a volleyball) the bottom of the jar, while holding the jar upside down over the sink. The second one has never failed me.
By Kim from Willoughby, Ohio
Read more ideas below.
That's the same method my mom always used when I was growing up. Another simple way to open jars is to use your dishwashing glove. The rubber glove keeps your hand from slipping and works like a charm. (09/14/2004)
By NHdoubleK
These ideas usually work well. Another old trick is to run hot water over the jar lid for a few seconds. As the lid heats it expands and that makes it much easier to remove. One trick I've used with extreme cases is taking them off with an oil filter wrench. These come in various sizes and one size generally doesn't fit all so you'll need one that's a close fit. Also on smaller jar or screw-on bottle lids a large pair of Channl-lock pliers are great. (09/14/2004)
By Alphtoo
Another easy method to opening hard jar lids is to use a bottle opener. Simply place the flat side of the opener on top of jar and the lever under the lip of the jar. Now all you have to do is gently lift up on opener and pop the seal on the jar. The jar will now open with ease. (09/14/2004)
By Jayma
Here's another way to open a stubborn lid, this only works for jars that have never been opened. Put the tip of a spoon under the rim of the lid and gently but firmly pull up on the spoon. As if you were trying to pry the lid off with the tip of the spoon. You'll break the vacuum that keeps the cap stuck tight and it's a breeze to open from there. (09/14/2004)
I grew up using the banging around the rim method but haven't liked the ruined lid that results. An alternative to the rubber glove method is to use a wide rubber band, circle it around the rim and it allows you to get a great grip and get the jar open. (09/15/2004)
By
Also try a rubberband on the cap. It helps you get a better grip on the lid (09/15/2004)
By owenmohrbucks
My mom taught me that trick with the back of a butter knife and I have also tried running hot water over the lid. Another that works for me is to turn the jar over with one hand and then smack the bottom of the jar hard with the palm of your other hand. Careful not to hurt yourself. LOL. It works though. (09/15/2004)
By Delaine
To help open those hard to open jars, I give a smack on the bottom of the jar and it releases the pressure inside. If that does not work, I smack the edges of the lid with a spoon. I do this after I have watched my husband turn red with effort. Giggle factor. My husband has "Popeye" arms and it makes him feel he is helping out in the kitchen.
By Susan (09/26/2004)
By ThriftyFun
Instead of purchasing one of those round rubber jar openers, simply put on a rubber dishwashing glove to get a good grip on the lid of a hard-to-open jar.
By joesgirl (11/01/2004)
By ThriftyFun
Here's a jar opener solution that's easier and safer than the "butter knife method". It's called JarPop, it costs just a few dollars at Linens n Things or Bed Bath and Beyond. It pops the vacuum so lids spin free. You just put it on the lid and lift it gently. You will hear the pop and then voila, the lid is loose. And the great thing is that the lid is not deformed so it stays re-sealable. (11/27/2004)
By Jay
Just wanted to say thanks for all the listings to help with jars I have spent minutes trying to open my salsa jar and the spoon method worked thanks again(11/28/2004)
Bonnie
The suggestion by mrskris007 of using the spoon (or butter knife) to pry the lid and reduce the pressure before twisting works perfectly. (12/28/2004)
By mpl
I had guests and wanted to serve drinks. My new bottle of Jack Daniels would NOT open. I used hot water, rubber gloves and the butter knife routine. The top felt like it was glued shut. Frustrated, I came here and read "Delaine"'s post. I turned the bottle upside down, smacked Jack's bottom a couple of times and IT OPENED! Thanks a lot. (01/17/2005)
By Oliver
Thank all of you guys for your input! I live in the dorms and was just struggling to open a jar of pickles and with a combination of some of the tricks it worked! Thanks for being so helpful! (02/20/2005)
By Katie
WOW!! That works great! Thanks a lot! (02/21/2005)
By K.J.M.
How about them soda bottles?! Or stuck pull up syrup bottle tops?! Try a nut cracker! Works every time, without deforming the tops! I keep mine in my silverware drawer so it's always handy! This works on those stuck shut bottles of nail polish too!! (03/09/2005)
Therefore, she had a hard time opening lids from glass jars. She would take the thickest rubber band she had, wrap it around the lip of the lid, and it popped open every time without much effort.
(07/08/2005)
By bekkicat
To get those hard to open jars of pickles, sauce, etc. use a rug with a rubber backing. Just place the Rubber part of the rug on the jar and twist open.
By Maudrey Stevens (07/13/2005)
By ThriftyFun
Having a hard time opening tightly closed jars? Well my husband is gone so that option is gone. I don't have some plastic gadget that will do it for me, and I don't have one of those things you lay on top of it that helps you twist. So what do I do? I take a butter knife and use the handle and bang it against the edge of the seal on the lid. I turn it all the way around making about eight dings in it. Now I use my hand again to turn and VOILA! it comes loose. This works especially well with jellies and jams. No need to call the husband ladies, don't tell him what you did. Tell him you've been working out. Let him stew on that for a while ;)
(07/21/2005)
By Suzanne S.
Put bottle or jar caps under warm water when experiencing difficulties opening any difficult container.
(07/21/2005)
By Sarah Woods
For a really stubborn jar, I turn it upside down and give the top a sharp, quick thud on something stable. Always worked for my mother and now for me. (07/21/2005)
By Joan in CT
I keep a 2-4 inch nail handy and hammer a hole into the center of the lid. The suction is broken and it will open easily. Place a piece of tape over the hole when you're done. Works every time (07/21/2005)
By Annie
The best way I have found to get bottles and jars open came from someone, don't remember who now, that I saw on the Food Network. Turn the jar upside down and firmly, but carefully, hit it flat on the counter. Sometimes I have to do it more than once but not very often. Works like a charm. Just be careful not to smack it too hard. I wouldn't want to have to post to a first aid post. :) (07/25/2005)
By Tonya
I've always just banged the rim of the lid against the counter. A couple good whacks all the way around usually loosens it right up! (10/02/2005)
By Eureeka98
I use a "rubber husband" I got it at a food convention. I have been using it for years. Maybe tupperware has one they sell. It is made of rubber and is like the mats cake decorators use in cars so the cakes do not slide. (06/20/2006)
By laurie
Thanks to tonyag! That turn it upside down and hit it tip opened this caramel sauce jar I've been trying to open for forever! Thanks! (11/19/2006)
By sharon
To open jars of jam or other things that may be sticky around the rim, burn jar upside down in a sink of hot water to cover the rim and cover and let set for a little while. Opens easily. (11/25/2006)
By Linda White
Community Agencies for Senior Citizens often have the rubberized hand held grip products that they give away during open-house events, etc. But a large round drain stopper made of the same material works just as well.
About 20 years ago my husband's grandma gave us a device that attaches underneath a cupboard. It's round with a "V" cut out, and in the V are saw-like blades. To me, it's indispensable.
Before these gadgets came along, I remember my parents using a butter knife to tap lids on home canning jars under hot running water as they rotated the jar to open them.
Thanks for bringing back some good memories of my folks from many bygone years ago! :) (05/02/2007)
By Laura
The reason tapping the jar with a table knife to help open it is, you're stretching the metal with the tapping action. My husband was a tinner. Most people don't know the real reason for tapping. Stretching makes it easier to open. I also wear my rubber gloves. Works like a charm. My husband is dead now so widows have to find ways to do things themselves. Juanita (05/02/2007)
By Juanita
Hey all, I was struggling with a wide jar of pickles and I followed the steps from here in these order: run under hot water, invert jar and with a knife slide under the rim of the lid for air to release and then put it upright and tap on the lid. Leave it for a minute and then try opening.
First thing : DONT GET FRUSTRATED! :-)
Happy bottle opening! Cathy (11/14/2007)
By Cathy
One way I've seen before is to close a door (hinge side) on the cap of a jar or bottle and when the door's holding it tightly, turn the jar. (01/29/2008)
By CV
The small nail and hammer worked fabulously! I wish I'd tried it sooner, because then I could have avoided the cramped hand. (02/05/2008)
By Wish1471
Thanks for the tips. I used a can opener to break the seal on a jar of spaghetti sauce. Thanks for the inspiration, it worked. My hand is a little cramped from trying other things but in the end the jar is open! (03/19/2008)
By barquesky
All you need to do is stick a knife in and break the seal - easy! (01/21/2009)
By
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The easiest way is to use a butter knife. Insert the tip right in any groove between the lid and jar. It doesn't have to be inserted deep; just enough so that you can twist knife gently to allow a lit air into the jar.
When I say little air, i mean as little as an air molecule. You don't even need to keep twisting. Just a one little twist to separate the lid and jar for a split second; is all it takes for the vacuum seal to break.
You will hear an immediate hiss as the pressure from the jar is released, then you can twist off the lid with no effort at all.
Remember, you don't need to force the lid off the bottle with the knife, just a little twist to let a little air in is all it takes
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