The Quick And Foolproof Hack For Opening Super-Stubborn Jars

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We've all been there: standing over the sink, trying desperately to open a new jar, thinking about how we need to spend more time working on our grip strength at the gym. Maybe you're about to load up a peanut butter and jelly sandwich with your favorite jam (consider going savory, by the way), or you're about to top a homemade pizza with pickles (don't forget to take a few sips of pickle juice while you're at it — it actually offers a ton of health benefits). Thankfully, there's a super-easy way to crack open a brand-new jar of preserves (or olives, or sun-dried tomatoes, or whatever other jar you're struggling to open).

Grab a heavy kitchen knife (something heavy-duty works best, but even a simple butter knife gets the job done), turn the knife so the blunt side is facing the jar, get a good grip on the handle, and give the lid a few good whacks, rotating as you go. You should notice the lid (usually) opens easily, helping you dig into the deliciousness faster.

The reason this trick works so well (and so often) is twofold. First, when you whack the edges of the lid, you break the seal between the jar and the lid, lowering the amount of tension required to give the lid a twist. Secondly, you're creating little grip marks in the lid, which can make it easier for you to get a tight grasp on it before you give it a turn.

Still struggling to get a seriously stubborn jar open, even after giving it a few good taps with the back of a knife? No worries; there are quite a few other methods you can try to get the job done. First, run the lid of the jar under hot water for 30 seconds or so. This can loosen any stickiness that's under the lid, and the metal expands a bit as it begins to heat up, which makes it easier to twist. Using this trick in combination with the knife-whack can give you the one-two punch you need to finally get the jar open. You can also try boosting your grip by wrapping a rubber band around the lid, or by putting on a pair of rubber gloves to help you stop slipping.

While all of these tricks can be put to good use, we recommend trying the old "whack it with a knife" method first. It's easy and doesn't require you to go digging through any junk drawers. If you find you frequently struggle to get jars open in your kitchen, it might be worth your time to invest in a device that can take the stress off your wrists, such as the Otstar jar and bottle opener.