Jam Jar Lids

[DickieD]

How do old ladies (and gentlemen) open supermarket jamjars? 'Er indoors' and me have a dickens of a job opening the things, and that's even using the rubber strapwrenches. Has anyone ever measured the breakout torque (turning force) required?

[zgma]

I don't know, but my husband's mother regularly puts jars aside for us to open when we are there, which she can't manage because of arthritis.  My trick when the rubber thing won't work is to stick a knife under the lid and use it as a lever to let air in and pop the seal.

[SteveD]

Good point!  I call these things (and other types of packaging where it's almost impossible to extract the product without destroying it) "little-old-lady-proof".

 

For jam jars, we use a trianglar metal thing which works well.

 

[smudge]

Jam Jars - Bleach Bottles - Squash Bottles - uuurrrggg!

[nicola_red]

When I lived alone I used to regularly have a panic when i couldn't open a jar. I hadn't discovered those implements at the time. I used to contemplate knocking on the door of a male neighbour for help and then decide against it because it would sound like the most cliched chat-up line. Now I have loads of those handy tools from Lakeland, the mecca of kitchen products. My bf always laughs at me when I get them out and says they're like something an elderly person would use.

[DickieD]

nicola -- I don't think you should be laughed at for that. Until I retired recently, I mended helicopters for a living, and I was known as 'Spannerfingers' because I could undo most things others couldn't. But these pesky jars are something else - and I don't class myself (at 61) elderly...yet!

[banjo]

My ex girlfriend told me of a genius way to open jars.  All you need to do is hit all the around the rim (the bit actually holding it in place next to the glass) with a regular knife, and hey presto. It works every time. Absolute genius.

[Kay]

Thats what I've always done Banjo and yes it does work!

[smudge]

My sister puts on rubber gloves to open awkward jars & bottles - or wraps elastic band around the lids first.

[Robinia]

For glass jars/bottles with metal tops - run the hot tap over the top for a minute.  The metal expands more than the glass & it should be easier to remove.

Banjo's method is very good too