Nothing is worse than being starving and unable to open a food container. Don’t worry if your pickles’ lid is stuck or if you can’t open the peanut butter. There are several methods for opening a challenging jar using everyday household items, so you don’t need an expensive jar opener!

Add More Traction
Since glass jars can be slippery, having more traction could be beneficial. To twist the lid open, try encircling it with a little cloth. Wet the towel with water and wrap it around the lid if it moves while you’re trying to open it. Rubber bands and dish gloves are effective tools for generating traction as well. Before you do it, consider gripping the lid with your gloves on or encircling it with a thick rubber band.

Breaking the Seal on the Lid
It often requires less force to open a new jar since the vacuum seal is not as tight. Many vouch for the “baby bum” pat. After turning the jar over down, give its bottom a couple firm pats with the palm of one hand. A pop could be audible, signifying that the vacuum seal has been compromised. Aiming at the lid is an additional technique for breaching the vacuum seal. Apply pressure to the sides of the lids using a weighted instrument, such as the back of a hefty kitchen knife or a wooden rolling pin, turning the jar as you work. This could aid in breaking the seal and make things much simpler to twist open the jar.

Submerge the Lid in Hot Water
The lid is still stuck even after you attempted to release the vacuum seal and offer some traction. Try running the lid under hot water at this point. You might want to take care not to submerge the entire jar in hot water, depending on what’s inside (nobody likes pickles that are warm). After running the hot water under the faucet until it’s boiling hot, flip the jar over and carefully submerge the cover. Turn the jar so that the lid is saturated on all sides. The hot water facilitates the expansion of the metal, which loosens the lid and makes it simpler to unscrew.

Slap the Base of the Jar with the Palm of your Hand
Hold the jar with your non-dominant hand at a 45-degree angle downward. When you hear a pop, it means the seal has been broken. Firmly slap the bottom of the jar with the middle of your dominant hand. We refer to this technique as the “water hammer.” To pop the seal, it works by applying more pressure to the lid.

Spin the Jar Over a Flame for 30 Seconds
The jar’s metal lid expands somewhat when heated, causing the seal to become less tight. Using pot holders, hold the jar and place the lid slightly over an open flame, such as one from a stove or lighter. For thirty seconds, slowly turn the cover over the flame. After that, twist off the lid while wearing the pot holders to safeguard your hands. Given the potential risks associated with using an open flame, we advise using this technique only in extreme cases.

After knowing these methods, you will not be anxious if you encounter a situation where you cannot open a glass jar in the future.