The secret to opening up new jars

[Bagelfather]

Here is a helpful hint I thought I'd share. Many people know about banging them gently on the edge of the counter or running the lid under hot water. Both have the same effect which is to create an air pocket under the lid.

The trick is that most jars are vacuum sealed so the air pressure difference makes it hard to open the jars. The key is to get a small amount of air under the lid and then it will come off easily.

My method I use is to take a metal spoon (preferebly an older one or with a sturdy handle, soup spoons work best) and slip an edge under the jar lid with the base of the spoon against the jar. Use the handle as a lever and press down firmly until you see the top of the lid pop up slightly. This indicates the vacuum seal has been broken and you will be able to open the jar with ease.

You can use a knife but a spoon has more leverage and is less likely to hurt you if you slip 🙂. Please note that this method doesn't work for jars you have opened before and now have food gluing them shut.

 

[venray]

I use a bottle opener to gently lift the edge until the seal breaks..


Ray

 

[tickledorange]

We bought my grandma a jar opener for her birthday last year. You put the jar on a platform and then push down this like piece over the jar and turn it on, and it pops the lid for you. All you have to do is unscrew it.

 

[AffectionateDan]

I find that holding the jar in one hand and twisting the lid with the other hand gets it opened just fine, ya buncha pansies! 😛

 

[tickledorange]

I'm no pansy, I'm a weak ass 😀

 

[the_Baron]

those old western movies showed the proper method......hold bottle neck; slam base against bar.

battle to the death!

 

[Haltickling]

I've got a different method to open difficult jars: Turn the jar over in your hand and hit the bottom repeatedly while turning the jar several times.

A former girlfriend of mine showed this to me, just to prove me that cleverness beats muscles... 😛

 

[tickledorange]

Yeah, just make sure that once you get the lid loose, all the pickles don't fall into your hand.

 

[Neutron]

Haltickling Is Correct..

The reason you do it his way is turning the jar over creates a pressure pocket at the bottom of the lid. This equalizes pressure between the outside and inside of the lid and allows it to open.
There's still a vacuum in the can or jar, HOWEVER the vacuum now moves to the side of the jar that's away from the lid. It's similar to a loop seal like you have in your toilet.

Tron