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

[YesILikeItToo]

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.

I always do this.

I do this.

Never heard of this! I always put a knife or teaspoon under the edge and it releases the vacuum so the lid comes off easily.

Yes stab the lid or run it under hot water.

I use a corkscrew to stab the lid - never failed, never injured.

I bang the lid on my worktop.

Yes, it’s normal in my family!

Only problem I’ve had inserting a knife between jar and cap to break the seal is bending (and once snapping off) the tip of the knife blade.

Does anyone have any solutions for “push down and twist” or “press and twist” bottle tops? I’m OK once in as I can saw off lugs or otherwise adapt the top, it’s getting in in the first place that nearly defeats me

They are likely going to end stabbing that sharp knife into there thighs if they keep doing this

Bottle opener is far and away the least bother and least potential for injury

Don't people have kitchen countertops where you are? I certainly do - and when you don't have the grip strength to open a sodding jar of gherkins, you don't have enough strength to hold the slippery little bastards between your thighs.

Doesn't the lid-banging end up damaging the work top?

Get a jar key

Jarkey Food & Jam Jar Vacuum Releaser & Opener amzn.eu/d/cyUAJEt

Put jar on counter (after your hands hurt and it won't shift with gloves, tapping, spoons, whispering magical incantations and giving up on the patented jar openers because they need even more grip strength and the ability to twist without pain than the jars themselves), mutter 'for fuck's sake', get big pointy knife, hold jar with sore left hand lower down, tee up the pointy knife, lift and with gravity and annoyance, stab the fucker in the middle of the lid.

The jar makes a hissing noise as it gives up, you put the knife down safely, open the jar and enjoy your pickles before putting the now suitably chastised jar into the fridge.

I tend to hit the side of jar lid with the back of a butter knife a few times. Does stabbing it with a sharp knife not damage the knife.

Put the end of small spoon under the lid to release the pressure, no need for the tip of the knife (not to me rion thw stabbing 🫣).

At £2.99 for a pointy chef's knife (never my Japanese set!), I can live with the expense.

It's certainly cheaper than the money wasted on every sort of Easy Jar Opener, all of which require grip strength, squeezing or pressure and various twisting positions in assorted planes of motion that just ain't gonna happen when the joints and tendons of your fingers, palms, thumbs, wrists, elbows and shoulders are busy being chewed up by inflammatory arthritis.

A serial killer hold is, however, relatively painless to sustain.

Also, if you stab the lid... doesn't the lid shed micro particles of metal into the jar contents? Doesn't sound good.

Better than macro particles of glass from dropping the cunting thing.

I have an easy jar/bottle opener and arthritis... put the gap in the opener over the lid, wrap a teatowel round the squeezy ends and pull that. You find the adaptations you need over the years.

I did this with a jar of jam yesterday to break the seal. Completely normal.

My mum once, famously, ran down the street after the postman just after her divorce when she had two expectant small children waiting for our marmalade

Piercing the lid is a known trick but it surely carries a risk of slipping, the knife missing, the whole jar slipping off the counter etc.

I've had 45 years so far (since I was 5). You find that some adaptations are not workable over the years - like not being able to pull a teatowel tight enough...

Those that stab due to not having grip strength are you holding the jar at all while you stabbing?

I do this