How To Open A Stuck Jar
Five tricks to remove that stubborn lid with ease.
There are few cooking obstacles more demoralizing than battling with a jar lid that just won’t budge. Of course it’s crucial for jars to be well-sealed (yay, food safety!), but when it’s at the expense of one’s dignity, hand health, and time, a stuck jar can feel insurmountable.
It’s one thing to make multiple attempts at opening a jar only to hand it to a friend who opens it on their first try in a classic “I guess I warmed it up for you” scenario. It’s another, more troubling, thing to encounter an immovable lid when no one’s around to come through with that magical assist.
Whether it’s a jar of pasta sauce for a quick-fix dinner, salsa for a fast and easy appetizer, or store-bought pickles to plop atop a burger, when we need that jar open, well, we need it open. The next time you face an uncooperative jar lid, do not panic. Here are the best ways to loosen that stubborn lid so you can keep cooking (and keep your cool).
Meet The Expert
Frances Burnett, Professor at Johnson & Wales University in Charlotte, North Carolina
How To Open A Stuck Jar Lid
Jars are most often stuck because they have a strong vacuum seal, or because they’ve been previously opened and either closed exceptionally tightly or have been “glued shut” by dried food between the lid and jar. We found the five best ways to open a stuck jar lid, no matter the reason.
Improve Your Grip
If your hands or the jar are wet, or if you simply need a stronger grip, there are several kitchen items you can grab for help. Frances Burnett, professor at Johnson & Wales University in Charlotte, reaches for plastic wrap, something rubber like a hot pad or glove, or even a dish towel, “and it will open right up,” she says. You can also try placing a thick rubber band around the circumference of the lid for additional grip. Sometimes a bit of extra resistance is all you need to strengthen your hold and remove the lid.
Pop The Lid
Breaking the vacuum seal with a lever can also do the trick. You can try using a metal spoon or butter knife, but the best bet is going to be a church key or bottle opener, as it is less likely to be damaged (spoons and knives can bend) or injure you (it is designed to be wedged and stay put between container and lid). Do your best to slide the tool between the jar and lid, holding it securely while you lift up on the bottom of the tool until you hear a pop, which signals the vacuum seal is broken. Now twist off the lid with ease.
Knock On The Lid
When Burnett was a child, her grandmother taught her to hit the lid with a wooden spoon to loosen it. This can also be achieved by holding the jar and gently tapping the side of the lid on a countertop. Burnett says after using the spoon, her grandmother would turn the jar diagonally with the lid pointing down and give the bottom of the jar a pat with her open palm to further assist opening it.
Use Hot Water
Because metal expands when it’s heated, applying hot water to the lid can loosen things right up. Either place your lid under running water, or hold it in a bowl of hot water for a few seconds. This works for unopened, vacuum-sealed jars, and can help loosen dried, adhesive-like food particles on already-open jars.
Try A Specialized Tool
If the above methods aren’t cutting it, or you just want an always-there-for-you way to open pesky jars, our top tool pick is the EZ Off Jar Opener. It attaches to the underside of a cabinet, cupboard, or shelf and has grippy “teeth” that easily loosen lids with minimal effort. You can read the rave review here.
How To Prevent Stuck Jars Once They've Been Opened
If you're closing a jar of particularly sticky food, like jam or jelly, Burnett recommends covering the jar opening with a small sheet of plastic wrap before screwing on the lid in order to remove the lid with ease in the future.
Related: How To Open a Can Without a Can Opener
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