3 Ways To Open a Stubborn Jar

Why Jars Are So Stubborn

The tight vacuum seal on an unopened jar forms when warm food is poured inside and topped with a lid. As the contents cool, the small pocket of air beneath the lid contracts, creating suction that pulls the lid inward and makes it tough to open.

1. Use a Tennis Ball

One of the easiest ways to open a stubborn jar is with a firm grip, though our hands can be too slippery and a kitchen towel may not provide enough friction. An unexpectedly useful way to get a good grip is to use the rubber inside a halved tennis ball. Take a tennis ball and carefully cut it in half crosswise using a sharp knife. Grab one of the halves, press the rubber side onto the lid, and twist. The rubber should provide enough grip to remove the lid without straining your hands.

2. Whack the Bottom

Hold the jar with your nondominant hand and angle its lid downward at a 45-degree angle. With your dominant hand, repeatedly — and firmly — slap the center of your palm against the bottom of the jar. You don’t need to hit it too hard; a firm slap should do the job. Repeat this action until you hear a “pop,” which signals that the vacuum seal has broken. From there, simply twist the lid open.

While you can break the vacuum seal by inserting a butter knife between the lid and glass, or by tapping the lid’s rim against a counter at a 45-degree angle, both methods dent the metal. That makes it harder to get an airtight seal when you close the jar. Whacking the bottom, on the other hand, keeps the lid completely intact.

3. Apply Direct Heat

Jar lids are often stubborn because the metal contracted when the vacuum seal was formed. If you apply a bit of heat, the metal lid will expand ever so slightly, making it far easier to remove. There are many safe ways to apply heat, from running the lid under hot water to warming it with a hairdryer. After 30 seconds or so, grab an oven mitt or kitchen towel to protect your hand from the heat, grab the lid, and twist it open.