How to Open a Stuck Jar, Part 2

Published on Thursday, July 3, 2008, by CHOW Video Team / Edit Post

How to Open a Stuck Jar, Part 2

CHOW Kitchen Editorial Assistant Amy Wisniewski provides another take on getting a sticky lid off a jar. Thanks for the suggestions, everyone!

CHOW Tips are the shared wisdom of our community. If you’ve figured out some piece of food, drink, or cooking wisdom that you’d like to share on video (and you can be in San Francisco), email Meredith Arthur and tell us what you’ve got in mind.

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POST A COMMENT |5 Comments

COMMENT

  • I recently bought a jar of artichokes from Costco that just would NOT open. This was no ordinary sticky jar...we kept trying for 2 weeks!!! We finally got it open by boiling the entire jar for 10 whole minutes! Usually, a 5-second dip in boiling water will loosen a sticky lid.

  • I agree that if you have a *sticky* jar the easiest thing to do is run hot water around the seal for a few seconds before you use the twisting method of choice.

  • I actually have a way that works all the time for anything. But it's real silly. When I have a jar that will not open for anything, I go downstairs, put the head of the jar in a vice grip and twist. Works like a charm! Of course, you don't want the vice grip to be too tight or you'll end up with a mess!

  • Many remedies work some of the time, rubber bands or glove, hot water, tapping on side of counter, etc. The one that works all the time is the one I like best. That is the OXO opener available for $13 all the time and for $8-9 on sale:
    http://www.surlatable.com/product/id/125173.do

  • I just grab the jar and whack it with my palm on its bottom until I hear a *pop*, then open it easily.