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How to Open a Jar with a Tight Lid

Have you ever found yourself trying to open a particularly stubborn jar? Maybe you arrived here by searching how to open a pickle jar. Well, in my case it was a jar of sun dried tomatoes. Here’s how to open a jar with a tight lid – 6 proven ways to open tight lids!

photo of a woman trying to open a jar with a tight lid

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Trying to Open a Jar with a Tight Lid

A couple weeks ago, I found myself in a bit of a conundrum. I was making this Chicken Parmesan with Sundried Tomato Sauce for dinner and needed sun-dried tomatoes (the sun-dried tomatoes that I had in the fridge were almost gone).

I had to open a new jar — but the lid would NOT come off. 

First I tried one of those rubber grippers. That didn’t work. The lid didn’t even budge.

I was starting to get a little irritated, and my hand had a huge cramp in it. I put the jar down and walked away for a while. It was the tightest lid I had ever encountered.

All the trying had left deep marks from the lid in my hand. Then I remembered a few tricks for opening jars with too tight lids that I learned years ago. I had completely forgotten since I can almost always open the jar.

Tools to Help Open a Jar

You might not have realized that you probably own several random household items that are effective ways to help open a stubborn lid on a jar. Here are a few of my favorite handy kitchen utensils:

  • Pair of Rubber Gloves
  • Butter Knife
  • Metal Spoon
  • Bottle Opener
  • Thick Rubber Band

Read on to learn how these common household items can help you open a jar with a tight lid.

photo of an open jar of lemon curd to go along with a tutorial on how to open a jar

Save these tips for How to Open a Jar with a Tight Lid to Pinterest!

How to Open a Jar 6 Ways

There are plenty of tricks to open a stubborn jar lid, but here are a few of my favorite!

I always try the jar grippers first because usually that does it for me. But sometimes you might need to try another trick if the vacuum is especially strong and stubborn.

And if that fails you, here’s how to open a stuck jar five different ways. I’ve found that in scenarios like this one, having more options is best!

1. How to Open a Jar With a Butter Knife

Using a butter knife, give the end of the jar’s rim a few gently whacks with the knife’s handle. Air bubbles created can help loosen the vacuum seal.

You can also slip the flat tip of a butter knife under the rim of the lid and lift up to try to release the jar’s vacuum seal.

a photo of jam jars with a spoon to explain how to open a jar with a spoon

2. How to Open a Jar with a Spoon

Similarly to using the flat tip of a butter knife, wedge the tip of the spoon in the underside of the lid in between the jar and its lid. Wiggle it back and forth to try to break the seal.

Do this all the way around the lid of the jar. Then, try to open the jar with your bare hands again.

3. How to Open a Jar with the Palm of Your Hand

Hold the jar at a 45-degree angle in one hand. With the other hand, smack the bottom of the jar using the center of your palm. Make sure you have a good grip and don’t use too much force that you loose your grip.

In this scenario, the brute force will create air bubbles in the contents of the jar that will help loosen the vacuum seal.

a photo of a kitchen sink and faucet to explain how to open a jar with hot water

4. How to Open a Jar with Hot Water

Hold the lid under running hot water for a minute or two or let it sit in a bowl of warm water. The hot liquid hack will warm the metal of the lid, causing it to expand which will make it easier to open.

After warming the lid, dry the jar with a dry dish towel. Hold the jar with your non-dominant hand on the bottom of the jar. Then, use your dominant hand to try to open the lid.

5. How to Open the Jar with a Few Bumps

Gently tap the bottom of the jar (hold it at a 45-degree angle) on the kitchen countertop or a cutting board, moving it all around in a circle as you tap.

Just make sure you don’t tap the edge of the jar too hard because you don’t want to break the jar. Be careful if your counters are stone and you’re trying to open a glass jar. It is a good idea to place a kitchen towel on top of your hard surface before trying this method.

a photo of a woman wearing rubber gloves to explain how to open a jar using extra traction by wearing rubber gloves

6. How to Open a Jar Using Extra Traction

Sometimes bare hands alone just aren’t enough to loosen a stubborn lid on a jar. Extra traction can help as you’re trying to turn that lid. Here are a few options:

  • Rubber Gloves – wearing rubber gloves, such as kitchen cleaning gloves, on both hands. Hold one hand on the bottom, the other on the top and twist. The gloves can act as a great way to get extra grip on the top of the lid and the bottom of the jar as you try to open the jar.
  • Wider Rubber Bands – placing a rubber band around the rim of a jar lid is another easy way to get a better grip on the lid. Wrap the rubber band around the edge of the lid, then try to open like normal.
  • Rubber Gripper – a rubber gripper fits over the top of the lid. It is a very minor investment to have on hand if tight jars are a frequent challenge for you.
photo of a jar of blueberry sauce to go along with a tutorial on how to open a jar

Save these tips for How to Open a Jar with a Tight Lid to Pinterest!

Try These Tips to Open Jars with a Stuck Lid!

Next time you’re trying to open a stubborn lid, give these simple ways a try! Did these tips help you open your stuck jar lid? Leave a comment below and give this post a review for others to see what you thought of these jar opening tips.

On Instagram? Share a photo and tag me with @goodlifeeats and #goodlifeeatsrecipes. I’d love to see your kitchen hacks and tips!

More Useful Tutorials:

Nothing is worse than trying to make dinner with dull knives. Here’s How to Sharpen Knives safely and easily. You can also try Using an Electric Knife Sharpener.

Learn all about How to Care for Cast Iron: best oil for seasoning cast iron, how to season cast iron, how to clean cast iron, how to re-season a rusted pan, and what my favorite recipes to cook in cast iron are.

No, you don’t need a cherry pitter to pit cherries quickly and easily! This post explains How to Pit Cherries by hand using all sorts of methods — a straw, a toothpick, a paring knife, the list goes on!

Crystallized honey looks gross, but it’s actually safe to eat. But you can also learn How to Decrystallize Honey in no time!

Who doesn’t love a good kitchen tip? Looking for more kitchen tutorials? Check out the entire Kitchen Tips and Tricks archive for lots of great ideas!

What’s one kitchen hack you’ve found useful recently?

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photo of a woman opening a jar with a tight lid

How to Open a Jar with a Tight Lid

Yield: 1 jar
Active Time: 2 minutes
Total Time: 2 minutes
Difficulty: Easy
Estimated Cost: FREE

Have you ever found yourself trying to open a particularly stubborn jar? Here are 5 proven tips to help you open a tight lid.

Materials

  • Jar with a tight lid

Tools

Things that Help Open Jars

  • Butter Knife
  • Spoon
  • Hot Water
  • Palm of your Hand
  • Rubber Gloves, Rubber Bands, or Rubber Gripper

Instructions

With a Butter Knife

  1. Using a butter knife, give the end of the jar’s rim a few gently whacks with the knife’s handle.
  2. Air bubbles created can help loosen the vacuum seal.

With a Spoon

  1. Wedge the tip of the spoon in the underside of the lid in between the jar and it’s lid.
  2. Wiggle it back and forth to try to break the seal.
  3. Do this all the way around the lide.
  4. Then, try to open the jar with your hands again.

With Hot Water

  1. Hold the lid under running hot water for a minute or two.
  2. The hot water will warm the metal of the lid, causing it to expand which will make it easier to open.

With the Palm of your Hand

  1. Hold the jar at a 45 degree angle in one hand.
  2. With the other hand, smack the bottom of the jar.
  3. Don’t use too much force that you loose your grip, just enough to create air bubbles that will help loosen the vacuum.

With a Few Bumps

  1. Gently tap the bottom of the jar (hold it at a 45 degree angle) on the counter or a cutting board, moving it all around in a circle as you tap.
  2. Just make sure you don’t tap too hard because you don’t want to break the jar.

How to Open a Jar Using Extra Traction

  • Rubber Gloves - wearing rubber gloves, such as kitchen cleaning gloves, on both hands. Hold one hand on the bottom, the other on the top and twist. The gloves can act as a great way to get extra grip on the top of the lid and the bottom of the jar as you try to open the jar.
  • Wider Rubber Bands - placing a rubber band around the rim of a jar lid is another easy way to get a better grip on the lid. Wrap the rubber band around the edge of the lid, then try to open like normal.
  • Rubber Gripper - a rubber gripper fits over the top of the lid. It is a very minor investment to have on hand if tight jars are a frequent challenge for you.

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Did you make this project?

I’d love it if you let me know what you think! Snap a photo and tag me on Instagram at @goodlifeeats with the hashtag #goodlifeeatsrecipes so I can see what you're making!

Mary Bishop

Sunday 10th of June 2018

Is there anything I can coat the inside groves of the jar lid with so it turns off easier

Katie

Thursday 21st of June 2018

I haven't ever tried that type of method.

Courtney

Sunday 14th of August 2016

Thank you so much! The spoon trick worked so easily! 

JEFF

Sunday 3rd of July 2016

Thanks for saving me embarrassment at work. Darn cans just wouldn't open. I busted a knuckle trying! Hot water worked right away.

Lauren

Wednesday 19th of March 2014

The first solution (with the butter knife) worked well for me, thanks!! Saves me the embarrassment of having to ask a stranger.

Jake

Thursday 30th of January 2014

YOU ARE A GENIUS! THANK YOU!

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