4 Simple Ways to Open a Jar Lid That’s Stuck
Few things are as annoying as being in the
midst of cooking and having to deal with a jar that's glued shut. But
stuck jar lids aren’t just tricky or annoying, they can be dangerous,
too, as getting them to open with sharp objects or banging them against
the table can lead to injuries. But before you just throw that
stubbornly stuck jar in the trash, defeated and sad, try these 4 handy
and safe methods of opening a lid that's stuck.
1. Break the seal 
Not being able to open a jar isn't a
testament of weakness, in most cases. In fact, applying brute force to
open a jar may not be useful sometimes, at least not before you break
the vacuum seal, especially if the jar is brand new. The easiest way to
do so is by simply turning the jar on its side, and then patting the
bottom of the jar a few times. If you happen to hear a popping sound, it
indicates that the vacuum seal has been broken, and opening the jar now
should be much easier.
Sometimes, this method doesn't work, however. Another good way for
breaking the seal of a new jar is taking a rolling pin or any other
heavy object and gently tapping the sides of the lid while
simultaneously rotating the jar to cover the whole perimeter of the lid.
2. Use hot water
Most jar lids are made of metal, which expands when exposed to heat - a
physical property that can help you get those pickles out in no time.
You can either heat up the jar by submerging it lid-down into the sink
(or bowl) with hot water, or by holding the jar horizontally and running
hot water over just the lid, rotating the jar to warm up the entire
lid.
Apply heat for a few minutes, then dry completely, and try opening it up
once again. Avoid submerging the entire jar into hot water, as the
glass could crack or break, and also, the contents of the jar could
become warm. Handle the hot jar carefully, preferably using a towel to
avoid direct contact and prevent burns.
3. Use a towel for extra traction
It can sometimes be difficult to open a jar
because you don't have enough grip to crack it open. To make sure your
grip is the best it can possibly be, make sure that the jar is
completely dry and has no oily or sticky residue. Also, make sure that
your hands are dry and clean.
To enhance the traction even further, you
can also use a towel, rubber dish gloves, or even a rubber band. Wrap
the rubber band or dry dish towel around the jar, and try to open it
that way, or wear gloves to get a better grip of the lid and jar.
Combining this with the other methods we've suggested is best,
especially if you're dealing with an extremely resistant lid.
4. A handy hack to open a jar
If you've tried all of the above methods, but nothing seems to work, you
can also try this lifehack that requires duct tape. Take a long piece
of duct tape, wrap it around the lid, leaving a few inch piece of the
tape loose - you'll later use it as a handle.
Now, fold the hanging piece of duct tape in half, and then give it a
good tug until you see it twisting open. The video below gives you a
step by step visual demonstration of this method.