6 Hacks For Opening That Jar When You're About Ready To Give Up

Let’s be honest—we all know and love at least one treat that comes in a jar. Pickles, queso, olives. Some of the world’s best foods are packaged in jars! It’s just a fact.

Sometimes, those lids twist right off and other times you nearly pop a vein in your forehead with all the energy you’re exerting. It’s like the jar just knows when I’m at my weakest or when I’m most desperate for queso, making me really work for it.

I’ve had my fair share of jar-opening journeys, which is why I did all the research to find the most effective ways to win this eternal battle. Spoiler: If you have a rubber band lying around, you’re one step closer to opening that jar. If you really can’t get it open, DON’T PANIC. Jars can literally sense fear. So the calmer you are, the easier it’ll be to twist that lid right off.

The Spoon Method

Hold the metal spoon in one hand and the jar in the other. Put the spoon in the crack between the lid and the glass and consistently push up and back in an attempt to break the seal (heh). If the seal doesn’t pop while just working in one spot, rotate the jar and repeat the motion with the spoon in multiple spots. When you hear the pop, you have successfully broken the seal and can easily twist off the lid.

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The *Wooden* Spoon Method

Similar to the above, you’re going to want to find a spoon. But this time—make it wooden! Take the wooden spoon (the heavier the better) and whack the top of the jar until you hear the pop of the seal being broken. This is a great method if you’re looking for a way to take out some aggression.

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Slap Tactic

This method is one that you’re probably familiar with, but you may need a few more pointers to actually get it to work. Tilt the jar downward at a 45-degree angle with your non-dominant hand. Aggressively slap the bottom of the jar with the center of your palm and listen for a pop. And when we say “aggressive,” we mean it.

Hot Liquid Hack

Fill a large bowl with hot, but not boiling, water. Flip the jar upside down, leave it submerged in the hot water up to 10 minutes and let science do its thing. The contents of the jar will expand, which lessens the difference of pressure inside the jar vs. outside the jar. If you also don’t understand the magic of science that well (only moi?) just know that this shit works.

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Heat It Up

If the hot liquid hack doesn’t work, there are other ways to apply heat to the lid that will cause it to expand and change pressure. One option is using a hair dryer to heat up the outside of the lid. Turn the hair dryer on high and move it around the outside of the lid for about 30 seconds. You can also take a lighter and heat it up by applying the flame to the outside of the lid. If you try these, please be careful and note that it will be VERY hot right after you’ve applied heat. Let the jar sit for 30 seconds and use a towel when attempting to open the lid.

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Get a Grip

Sometimes, our hands don’t provide us with the best natural grips (clammy-hand girl here!), which makes it even harder for us to open lids. But lucky for us, we can fake that good grip with random household items. If you have a rubber glove that you’d normally use for washing dishes, try slipping it on and twisting the lid off. It will provide you a lot more traction than just your bare hand. Another item you can use is a rubber band. Stretch a rubber band around the outside of the lid, preferably a wide one that will fit snugly against the lid. Use your hand to secure the grip and twist the lid open. And if you’re willing to make a very minor investment, these easy jar openers give you the automatic grip and an easy lid removal every time.