When a f@$#ing jar wont open!

[Shadowdoor21]

Been fighting with a jar of pasta sauce for half a friggin hour and it still wont budge. I've tried running it under hot water, wearing a rubber glove and using a wet cloth, still no luck.

Have the same problem with a massive jar of Kimchi that has been in the cupboard for years.

Anyone got any suggestions?
Besides binning the fucker n having tattoos instead that is xD

I'll second the advice to pierce the lid. It immediately breaks the vacuum and no jar remains unopened. Just don't stab yourself or break a good kitchen knife while doing it.

Upside down, wiggle a butter knife between the lid and glass and gently pop the vacuum open. Goes a bit easier if you run the glass under hot water first.

Puncture the lids.works everytime

Gave up on the pasta sauce for now but have managed to open the Kimchi. Used boiling water and then the end of a teaspoon :) thanks guys.

Just noticed though, it says 'fish sauce'. I mean I know its kimchi but still youd think fish sauce would have a sell by. But it says best before aug 2018. What do we think?

Terrified at some of these suggestions with A&E being effectively out as an option right now. Please don't hit or stab anything or plunge it in boiling water. Either butter knife or teaspoon handle down the gap between lid and jar, twist it slowly and it will let the air in.

Put the knives down!
Run lid under cold water tap for a couple of minutes. Causes the metal to expand and will help loosen it enough to unscrew it.

Hana yeah no way would I be attempting to stab a lid with a knife xD I mean, surely youd need to be really strong to be able to do that in the first place anyway?!

Cold water will make the lid shrink. Run it under the hot tap.

Are you sure this isn't your version of the David Sedaris sketch where he discovers that, when someone on the phone to him says they're grunting because they're trying to get the lid off a jar of pickle, they're actually talking to him from the toilet mid-shit?!

Stab through the lid with a sharp knife. Works every time and really easy to do

Agreed with safety concerns. If you want to poke a hole in the lid, a hammer and nail will be safer.

For the future get a jar key (there are other similar)

www.lakeland.co.uk/7706/Jarkey-Screw-Top-Jar-Opener

A sharp knife makes a hole pretty easily in the top of a lid.

Put on dishwashing gloves - I find the extra grip helps with tricky jars.

Bagadverts
That's the English word, thank you.
I wanted to suggest this thing but I didn't know the English word.
(Didn't know the German either - it's the 'yellow thing' in this household.

Put a hole in it using a corkscrew to release pressure and also run under hot tap,

Using corkscrew obvs much safer than knife.

stab a hole with a corkscrew in the lid works every time !

Eh? would you need to be strong to stab a lid?
I’m speechless at the suggestions here🙄
You can easily safely pierce a lid with no danger 🙄

Hold jar in hand and hit side of lid firmly on kitchen wall. Works every time.

If you don't mind the jar not sealing properly afterwards then you can tap firmly around the edge of the lid with the handle of a table knife in several places. It dents the lid slightly and releases the seal. I've found it especially helpful on large jars.

I was going to suggest something completely different involving no implements. My mum used to say take 2 really deep breaths and exhale. On the 3rd deep breath, inhale and try the lid. I try that and it prob works 80% of the time!

Turn it upside down and bash it hard (the lid end) on the floor.

Put an elastic band round the lid and twist - this is much safer and always works.

tenlittlecygnets Yes that works for me every time. A short sharp bash on the upside down jar.