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Elderly parents
Original poster

Do people open tricky jars by stabbing them with a knife?

131 replies

YesILikeItToo · 04/09/2022 15:15

I’ve just stopped my mother from stabbing a sharp knife into a metal jar lid directly from above. I was pretty shocked, it seems to me obviously dangerous. She said that’s what her mate does. Do people do this? Or is she covering up the fact that she made a poor decision? I’ve seen a couple of other examples of patently unsafe ‘work arounds’ and I’m starting to wonder what to do about it.

OP posts:
DGay · 04/09/2022 18:44

Mmmmdanone · 04/09/2022 15:17

No. I knock the side of the lid on the kitchen counter to break the seal.

I do that or use the grip things.

Original poster
YesILikeItToo · 04/09/2022 18:41

Are you my mother usernamenotavailable?

OP posts:
Gingernaut · 04/09/2022 18:40

Strap wrench

grey12 · 04/09/2022 18:35

It's terrible.... then you can't properly close it 🤦🏻‍♀️

I use a knife to break the seal from under the lid

Usernamenotavailabletryanother · 04/09/2022 18:29

I do it. I secretly love the risk.

Beetlewings · 04/09/2022 18:22

Give the lid a sharp bang against a hard surface, works every time

orbitalcrisis · 04/09/2022 17:53

No because it can't be reused. I will pop a blunt knife under the cap to break the seal.

GoldPig · 04/09/2022 17:36

A beer bottle opener works perfectly well to pop the air lock

TheYearOfSmallThings · 04/09/2022 17:33

Shock I never heard of this!

I always put rubber gloves on to grip it better, but those bloody Bonne Maman jars are going to get a stabbing now.

MrsGamgee · 04/09/2022 17:30

I do this. Not lost a finger yet, thank god!

lljkk · 04/09/2022 17:23

Stabbing sounds insane, and hard to do if you have weak hands.
I have weak hands. I knock jar lid with (dinner) knife handle to loosen it. I was taught to do this as a child.

RunningFromInsanity · 04/09/2022 17:21

Never, seems ridiculously dangerous.
Just tap the lid on a hard surface.

huuskymam · 04/09/2022 17:16

I pop a knife under the edge of the lid and tap it end of the knife off the jar, the security seal pops and it opens easily. My 18 year old showed me this 😂😂

LorW · 04/09/2022 17:05

I just get a blunt knife and break the seal by turning the jar upside down and levering the underside of the jar lid open 😁

annoyedneighbour1 · 04/09/2022 16:45

Yea, it works. Why wouldn't you do it

AvocadoPlant · 04/09/2022 16:21

Just put it upside down in a small bowl of very hot water for a couple of minutes. Expands the lid and opens easily.

Duchess379 · 04/09/2022 16:20

iwishiwasafish · 04/09/2022 15:17

No, people do not do this.

get her one of these

Jar Opener Bottle Opener and Ring Pull Can Opener for Weak Hands Arthritis Hands, Elderly and Children amzn.eu/d/9TJKY3d

Yes we do

Crumpleton · 04/09/2022 16:20

I use a butter type knife to release the air by inserting it between the lid and edge of the jar. Never stabbed the actual lid though.

gogohmm · 04/09/2022 16:19

@NeverDropYourMooncup

Yes gherkins are usually the culprit, or roasted peppers

SpaghettiSquash · 04/09/2022 16:19

No I've never done that. Just tap the side of the lid on the worktop and it breaks the vacuum so the jar opens easily.

watcherintherye · 04/09/2022 16:19

I wouldn’t try and puncture the lid. As pp have said, the contents would spoil. I do bash the top of the jar in the middle where the seal is, as denting it breaks the seal, but I do it with e.g. the handle end of a butter knife or with a spoon. I certainly wouldn’t do it with the sharp end of a pointed knife in case it slipped!

DevaleraSpawnOfSatan · 04/09/2022 16:18

Let the hot water run from the tap until it's piping hot and then turn the jar on its side and carefully dip the lid under water. Rotate the jar so that all sides of the lid get wet. The hot water helps the metal expand, therefore loosening the lid and making it easier to unscrew.

mathanxiety · 04/09/2022 16:17

Would you not end up with a lid with a hole in it, and completely useless?

gogohmm · 04/09/2022 16:17

Er yes. I use a corkscrew though

AuntieMarys · 04/09/2022 16:16

I do it!