Table of Contents
Key Takeaways
- Mason jars are hard to open due to a tight vacuum seal that preserves food freshness.
- Running hot water over the lid can expand the metal and break the seal.
- Using a towel or rubber glove improves grip and friction for easier opening.
- Tapping the lid gently with a utensil can help break the vacuum seal.
- Puncturing the lid with a small hole releases the vacuum for easy opening.
You’ve probably been there-struggling and straining to open a tightly sealed Mason jar. You grip the lid with all your might, your fingers turning red and sore. You tap, you pry, and you bang it against the counter. But no matter what you try, that stubborn lid just won’t budge.
At this point, you’re frustrated, thinking, “Why are these things so hard to open? It’s just a jar!” Well, they are designed that way, and for good reasons. Fortunately, there are some simple tricks to make opening Mason jars a breeze, so keep reading to find out what they are.
Why Mason Jars Can Be Hard to Open
Mason jars can sometimes be tricky to open because they are designed to keep food fresh by creating a tight seal. When the lids are put on the jars at the factory, the sealing compound in the lid adheres tightly to the rim of the glass jar, forming an airtight closure.
This vacuum seal is great for preserving food, but it also makes the lids difficult to remove. The slick metal lids can be hard to grip, and the strong vacuum suction keeps the lids firmly in place.
Twisting the metal lid alone often won’t break the airtight seal. But there are a few simple tricks you can try to open a stubborn Mason jar lid easily and safely.
How to Open a Sealed Mason Jar
Here are a couple of tricks that may help you open a sealed Mason jar.
Run Hot Water Over Lid
One of the easiest tricks for opening a stubborn Mason jar is to run hot water over the lid. Here’s how it works:
Metal expands when heated. By running hot water from your sink over the lid for 30-60 seconds, the metal lid will absorb the heat and expand ever so slightly. This expansion is often enough to break the air-tight seal between the lid and the Mason jar of any size.
Be sure the water is hot, but not boiling – you don’t want to crack the glass. Try letting the water run over the lid while rotating the jar to evenly distribute the heat. Wiggle the lid gently as you go to see if the seal releases.
Once the lid is warm, turn off the water and try twisting the lid open using a towel or jar gripper. The heat should have loosened the seal just enough for you to open it. If it’s still stuck, repeat the process until the vacuum seal is broken.
Tap the Lid
For this method, use the handle end of a spoon, butter knife, or another utensil to gently tap around the lid. Apply light pressure, tapping the lid in several places around the rim. This can help break the vacuum seal, but be careful not to hit too hard, or you may dent the lid.
Tap methodically around the lid, rotating the jar as you go. The goal is to interrupt the airtight seal, not bang the lid around. Listen for the “pop” sound of the seal releasing.
Use a Jar Opener
There are a few different types of jar openers you can use:
Use a Towel or Rubber Glove
Wrapping a towel or rubber glove around the lid of the Mason jar can help create more friction and improve your grip, making it easier to twist open.
The fabric or rubber material will give you more traction and torque versus trying to open it directly with your bare hands.
You may need to experiment with different materials – a textured dish towel may work better than a smooth one, for example. The key is that the towel or glove acts as a friction pad between your hand and the lid. The added friction helps your hand to grip and turn the lid successfully.
Puncture the Lid
Sometimes lids get stuck because of the vacuum seal. Poking a small hole in the lid with a thumbtack or tip of a knife will release the vacuum and allow you to open the jar easily.
Be very careful when doing this – you only want to make a tiny hole, just enough to break the seal. Don’t puncture too far, or you may end up with shards of glass in your food.
Start by sterilizing a thumbtack or sharp knife by wiping it with rubbing alcohol. Position the tip at the center of the lid and apply gentle, even pressure. You’ll feel the metal lid give way when the seal is broken. Try opening the jar again by twisting the lid. If it still won’t budge, poke another tiny hole on the opposite side of the lid.
With the vacuum released, you should now be able to open the Mason jar without a struggle. Just be sure to consume or transfer the contents soon, and replace the lid if storing again. A punctured lid won’t re-seal properly.
- Rubber Grip Opener: This type of jar opener has rubberized jaws that grip the lid when you squeeze the handle. The rubber provides a good grip on the smooth metal lid. Squeeze hard and twist to break the seal.
- Clamp Style Opener: A clamp style jar opener has two clamp arms on a hinge. You place the jar between the clamps, close them to grip the lid, then twist off the lid. The clamping pressure helps provide traction to open the jar.
- Wall Mounted Opener: Wall mounted openers screw onto the wall or counter. To use it, press the jar into the rubber pads, twist slightly to get a grip, then turn the jar to open it. The leverage from pressing against the wall helps pop the lid off.
- Under Shelf Opener: This style of jar opener is mounted under a shelf or cabinet. To open a jar, place it upside down in the opener, twist slightly to create friction on the lid, then turn the jar to break the seal.
Having a good quality jar opening tool makes opening stubborn jars quick and easy. Investing in one can save you time and frustration in the kitchen. So look for ones with good gripping power on the lids to make using and reusing Mason jars easier.
Final Thoughts
Opening a Mason jar can seem daunting, but with a few simple tricks, you can get that lid off every time. However, avoid over-tightening lids when you put food in the Mason jars, and check that the rim and sealing surface are free of nicks and defects.
Remember, Mason jars are designed to keep food fresh and last for ages, so don’t be afraid to put some muscle into opening them up.
Sources
- wikiHow. (2024, April 3). How to Open a Stuck Plastic or Glass Jar Lid. Retrieved from https://www.wikihow.com/Open-a-Tight-Jar/
- Seasoned Advice. (n.d.). What is the best way to open a tightly fitted lid of a jar?. Retrieved from https://cooking.stackexchange.com/questions/12309/what-is-the-best-way-to-open-a-tightly-fitted-lid-of-a-jar/
- LifeHacks. (n.d.). Tricks for opening very tight jars. Retrieved from https://lifehacks.stackexchange.com/questions/141/tricks-for-opening-very-tight-jars
