I have a giant jar of olives and the lid will not come off. My strong roommate can't open it with his hands. We tried banging the lid with a metal spoon and running warm water over the top. Any other things we can try?
2007-02-06 11:10:29 · 43 answers · asked by Jimmy 1 in Food & Drink ➔ Other - Food & Drink
Have you tried banging the side of the lid on the countertop? That is usually what I do. Or they sell these rubbery flat circle things which are actually made for the purpose of opening jars.
2007-02-06 11:13:50 · answer #1 · answered by Aimee P 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Ahhhh. The tight lid problem. Always making guys look like wimps. There's a couple of methods. I'll put them in order that I try them.
Get a better grip by finding something rubber to use to twist the jar. They sell those rubber jar openers or you can buy one that looks like a wrench of sorts.
Turn the jar completly upside down and bang it flat on the counter a few times. This will help losen the lid a bit.
Run hot water over the lid. This will help clean out any "gunk" that may cause the jar to stick.
Tap the edges of the lid with a knife to help losen up the lid.
Last resort: If it's a new jar and has a vacuum seal, you can release that vacuum by stabbing the lid of the jar with a sharp knife to pierce through the lid releasing the air lock. This makes it VERY easy to open new sealed lids.
Good luck.
2007-02-06 11:16:53 · answer #2 · answered by bosstone75 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
1) Warm water isn't gonna cut it. USE HOT HOT WATER JUST ON THE LID. The point is you can actually get the lid, which is metal, to expand and thus it will loosen it's grip on the glass.
2) Once you've done that and before you try to unfasten it, hold the jar in one hand and hit the bottom of the jar rather hard. This should release any type of vacuum that occurred when it was sealed.
3) Finally, take a tea towel or a slightly damp j-cloth and try to unscrew it. You need a good grip
4) Next time you're out, find a dollar store with a cap unscrewing device and buy it.
2007-02-06 11:18:53 · answer #3 · answered by $Sun King$ 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Knock the side of the jar lid off the side of a wooden or other table top (anything hard) so that it is slightly disturbed, the lid may become a little free, tends to work about 8 times out of 10.
Another thing you could do is to use a rubber glove, wrap the rubber tightly around the lid, making sure not to contact the jar itself, this is a stronger grip and hence will allow you to slip less easily off the lid, this method almost always works, you can use the rubber glove in any configuration you like just as long as it completely embraces the lid......HOPE THAT HELPS!!!
2007-02-06 11:15:22 · answer #4 · answered by RobLough 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Run it under really hot water for at least a minute. The heat should make the metal expand. I know you tried warm water - maybe it wasn't hot enough or you didn't leave it under the water long enough? If you have an old bottle/can opener you can put the tip of the can opener under the lip of the lid and pry it away from the side of the jar. Once the seal is broken it should open easily. Good luck.
2007-02-06 11:14:14 · answer #5 · answered by They call me ... Trixie. 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Use one of those bottle opener thingys. I'm sorry, I have no idea what it's called, but it's about the length of your hand with a pointed end and it pokes triangular shaped holes into the tops of cans, etc. Anyway, you can use one of those in 4 or 5 different places around the lid (without poking a hole in the top, just enough to loosen the side a little) and it'll break the suction.
Do you have a hand-held can opener? If so, most of them have a little metal hook underneath that serves the same purpose. Use it to pull up on the lid in 4-5 different places until the suction is broken.
2007-02-06 11:16:42 · answer #6 · answered by A W 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
observing the scale of the jar lid. regardless of if this is purely too vast to your hand to snatch around, there are jar opener techniques on the marketplace. Assuming you may very actual grab the jar lid yet you may no longer twist open the jar. i could strengthen the friction between your palms and the jar and lid. Wrap a rubber band some cases around the lid. Wrap yet another rubber band some cases around the jar. Now place a hand each around between the rubber bands and twist. you may desire to experience a tighter grab by using further friction. might desire to have the potential to open maximum jars this way. No banging and no tapping.
2016-12-17 04:05:53 · answer #7 · answered by kull 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
If none of these things work...take the jar into a room with a hard (not carpeted) floor. Now...BE CAREFUL...and turn it so the lid is facing down. Just kind of give the flat top a firm tap on the floor. Don't hit it on the edge...but flat down. It should come off pretty easily.
2007-02-06 11:14:53 · answer #8 · answered by Lisa E 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
hehe i had this problem, but with techniques drawn from my ancient ancestors, i was able to "get the mayo". BANG THE HECK OUT OF IT. forget the spoon. Smack it with the flat side of a knife, and see if it gives in. if not, switch it to blade around and when you are done, there should be some cuts around the top[. This forces it to open whether it feels like it or not. I mean c'mon. Olives are way worth it. Who cares about such a think that would keep us away from it. (Of course, if this doesn't work, I can guarantee an ax would, but i really don't suggest doing that.
2007-02-06 11:27:47 · answer #9 · answered by Tangerine 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Bang the side of the jar lid on a sturdy table or concrete floor. Should twist off very easily.
A hammer would work too.
2007-02-06 11:13:35 · answer #10 · answered by rastabudd 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋