Can’t open tins, bottles etc

I think a lot of tins and bottles are more difficult to open anyway. I bought a jar opener that was recommended on here and it’s really helped. You can, I believe, ask supermarkets to open jars for you but that makes transporting them home a bit dodgy, but it means that there’s a demand for it. I’ve had several jars in my larder that I kept for years as I couldn’t open them but didn’t know what to do with them.

Sometimes you need to break the air lock or run whatever it is under warm water

I bought a jar of jam from Aldi and couldn’t open it.
Took it back to the shop and an assistant bashed the lid part of the jar on the floor to break the airlock, then unscrewed it for me.
I have now bought a ‘gadget’.

I agree that bottles tops have become harder to open. The worst thing is when, dying of thirst, you buy a drink from a petrol station or a vending machine, yet you can't get the darn cap off. I've resorted to using my teeth before now!
Is it our strength or our dexterity that weakens with time?

We have a battery operated tin opener. It's easy to use once you get the knack and get it in the right position.

I can't post a picture of a similar one but they are widely available, online too.

I find bottle tops on bottles of water notoriously tricky, they seem to be welded on these days, and I have hurt my hand before now trying to turn the tops.
Using a tea towel helps sometimes. I think it got harder when it was decided that bottle tops should stay attached to the bottle after you have opened it.

I use nut crackers to open bottles, works brilliantly. Always have them in my handbag if out on a trip. They break the seal on those pesky eye drops bottles too.

I have a pack of differently sized pieces of thin silicone that you put over the jar lid or bottle top. It’s a very cheap, simple idea. I only use one of them. They work like a dream. I used to have very strong hands but have had considerable problems with them over the past year, having developed arthritis, especially in my thumb joints.

All of the above advice is useful and I'll add a tip of mine.
Try wearing a rubber glove. I find that works for me with my arthritic hands.

I use a plastic gadget for jars, but even then they're sometimes very hard to open. I hate those bottle tops that stay attached. I usually use a sharp knife or scissors to get the cap off.

Thanks folks. I will definitely try the rubber glove solution Aldom 👍

I recommend electric corkscrews for wine bottles. Saves a lot of effort.

With jam jars it's simply a matter of breaking the air seal. I use an old fashioned tin opener to do that.

Fallingstar

I find bottle tops on bottles of water notoriously tricky, they seem to be welded on these days, and I have hurt my hand before now trying to turn the tops.
Using a tea towel helps sometimes. I think it got harder when it was decided that bottle tops should stay attached to the bottle after you have opened it.

👍
I think I read somewhere that they have reduced the actual depth of the plastic tap so it's more difficult to get your hand round it properly, in your palm, if you get what I mean.

MartavTaurus

Fallingstar

I find bottle tops on bottles of water notoriously tricky, they seem to be welded on these days, and I have hurt my hand before now trying to turn the tops.
Using a tea towel helps sometimes. I think it got harder when it was decided that bottle tops should stay attached to the bottle after you have opened it.

👍
I think I read somewhere that they have reduced the actual depth of the plastic tap so it's more difficult to get your hand round it properly, in your palm, if you get what I mean.

In the interests of less plastic in the environment.

I use a nutcracker to open bottles nuts and bottle tops are much the same size so the bottle top is just the right size and you sueeze and twist.

Otherwise use an electric or battery operated device.

I couldn’t open a jar of marmalade on holiday. No gadget in the drawer so I stabbed the lid with a knife. Still no joy. Dh couldn’t undo it either. Stabbed the lid multiple times. Finally stood it upside down in a cup of hot water. Success at last but water in the marmalade!

M0nica

I use a nutcracker to open bottles nuts and bottle tops are much the same size so the bottle top is just the right size and you sueeze and twist.

Otherwise use an electric or battery operated device.

100% agree- it’s the most-used kitchen utensil in my drawer!

I’ve hardly used a tin opener in the last year, but the sort of bottle opener with one pointed side and one blunt is also invaluable for lifting a screw on-lid in a few places to release the vacuum and make twisting lids off jars easier.

I pour boiling water on screwtop bottles. It works to loosen the top every time.
Those tops which are attached can just be twisted and they’ll come off.

soups! or sauces in round plastic tubs, with a ribbed ring around, but the access point is tiny
Ive been close to tears of vexation with these accursed pots,
so will not buy them anymore
for those of us with arthritic hands, healed broken wrist or
feeble older ladies its so frustrating
ring pulls are not much easier, I still have to loop a weak
finger in and haul the top off
if the contents are tomato I wear a plastic pinny

the most difficult are jars of jam type jars with a curved lid
so that my multi size opener gadget has no purchase on it,
just slides off

stabbing the top works, I enjoy that

I bought myself an electric can opener from JML. It opens all sorts of cans and can be used to open ring pull cans too.
As for jars, I generally try the husband first. If he can't open them either, I tap round the lid on the counter top, that usually works.

SORES

soups! or sauces in round plastic tubs, with a ribbed ring around, but the access point is tiny
Ive been close to tears of vexation with these accursed pots,
so will not buy them anymore
for those of us with arthritic hands, healed broken wrist or
feeble older ladies its so frustrating
ring pulls are not much easier, I still have to loop a weak
finger in and haul the top off
if the contents are tomato I wear a plastic pinny

the most difficult are jars of jam type jars with a curved lid
so that my multi size opener gadget has no purchase on it,
just slides off

stabbing the top works, I enjoy that

Yes, I wrestled with a plastic tub of a fresh Moroccan Tomato and chickpea soup trying to pull the lid off after removing the tab, eventually it came off rather quickly and the contents went all over the kitchen counter. I now use a knife to pry it off.

The only way I can get lids off is to prise them open using a very sharp knife under the lid and being very careful. When I hear the pop I can then just turn the lid.

I bought a gadget off of Amazon that helps with ring pulls and also a plastic thingy on the lines of a nut cracker for bottle toys and lids. Before that I used a door to remove bottle tops - just close the hinge side of the door on the bottle tops and turn. It works a treat, but not that good for the door. Getting old is such fun - not.

Bottle tops….sorry.