Getting stuck tops off jars - any tips for what works?

I have one of the above. It is brilliant.

Silverbrooks

I give jars a fairly sharp bang on the countertop, lids sideways, to release the seal on shop-bought jars. Sometimes you can hear the seal release. Wear something to protect your eyes and maybe rubber gloves just in case the jar shatters although it's never happened to me. Have you tried that already?

Since reading of such methods here on Gransnet, I always resort to them now when necessary,

Never again have I needed to rush out and accost my neighbour on our shared front path (actually, ex-neighbour, though can't think why!) as he arrived home, crying "thank goodness you are here - I need a man"!

I have opened jars this way for men who have been huffing and puffing trying to unscrew the thing. Bang, open. But I guarantee they will say, I must have loosened it for you. No you didn't!

Cue Irving Berlin.

Anything you unscrew, I unscrew better.
I unscrew anything better that you.
No, you can’t.
Yes I can.
No you can’t.
Yes, I can.
No, you can’t
Yes, I can. Yes, I can.

Not on my new worktop!!

Best way is your can opener has a hook type thing on it, open the can as though you are opening a tin of beer. The round button in the middle of the lid will depress down & it should open easily

Can you see the hook on this can operator? Try that under the lid & lift up. Hack I found on YouTube it does work. Failing that I stab through the lid with my veg knife ( be careful though)

Screw tops I put in the inside of a cupboard door until it grips tight and then turn.
My old fashioned tin opener has a hook on one handle, so I prise the tight lids off with that to break a stubborn seal.
When I had a Rayburn cooker , I inverted the jars on the hotplate for a few seconds. Worked every time but I've looked at the gas hob.......🤣😂

I still use the old fashioned kind of tin-opener or bottle opener that has a triangular bit at the top and put the point of that under the jar lid then move the opener upwards.

If you don' t have one of those, find your DH's least favourite scew-driver or chisel and use it.

Or just leave the jars until he comes home.

Are you in desperate need of the jars??????I would just bin the lot!

Running the jar under a hot tap for a minute usually works for me.

FriedGreenTomatoes2

Get an elastic band and figure-8 it around the lid. This will then give you an excellent grip. Works every time.

That's what I was going to say. I always use a thick elastic band.
Works every time for me.

Tea spoon to lever the lid upwards and release the vacuum works most times.

I use a sharpe knife to put a hole in the lib, then a pair of rubber gloves. Works everytime. Good luck.

When I had a jar which I just couldn't open by any of the usual methods my husband drilled a hole in the top of the lid and it opened right away

If I’m trying to release the seal, I hit the edge of the lid a couple of times with a rolling pin. It always works.

Put the kettle on and just hold the jar in the line of the steam - make sure you hold it well away (not near the spout). The lid will expand and make it easy to open .

Few sharp taps with the rolling pin. Works every time!

I usually get a blunt knife, lift the lid up on two sides, then turn the lid to.open. Works every time.

I bang the edges on the floor (don’t want to dent worktops). If it doesn’t work first time, I do it again. The seal should break and the top comes off easily.

Rolling pin would do! It’s just a case of breaking the vacuum seal…

I have a gadget which I got from Pampered Chef years ago, but I’m sure other brands are available, essentially it’s a Y shaped piece of plastic that has in the open V shape ‘teeth’ to wedge the jar/bottle lid into. It’s simple but effective

www.pamperedchef.com/shop/Kitchen+Tools/Food+Prep/Jar+Opener/2677

silicone jar grips Other than that stab the lid with a knife
It will then undo easily 😃

I always use the curved spikey bit on the handle of a tradional can opener to lift the lid from the bottom and instantly it makes a soft popping sound , then just twist it open.

I use rubber gloves seems to work well for me .

TerriBull

I was forced to buy a gadget from Amazon recently, because Alas! As Ever! neither of us could get the top of our delicious Bonne Maman, jam. My wrists are beyond useless and OH has carpal tunnel syndrome so all in all jars can prove to be a nightmare. I always mean to line up any unopened jars in front of our sons as and when they visit with a "help!" but tend to forget.

I had a terrible time trying to open Bonne Maman jam yesterday. In the end my husband opened it with the help of a gadget. I don't know what I would do if he wasn't here.