Can’t open that jar? Experts lift the lid on the best tricks – including wearing a pair of rubber gloves for a sturdy grip
- How to open a stubborn jar is one of the most common household problems
- The consumer champions at Which? have put their best experts on the case
- Forget boiling water, cling film, and elastic bands, all you need are rubber gloves
It’s one of the most common and frustrating household problems – and one to which almost everyone will have their own solution: how to open a stubborn jar.
Now the consumer champions at Which? have put their best experts on the case to come up with the definitive answer.
And you can forget boiling water, cling film, tea towels and elastic bands – when brute strength fails, all you need is a pair of rubber gloves.
The organisation studied all the ‘hacks’ on offer online and elsewhere, and determined that the easiest and simplest solution was just to don the gloves.
Opening stubborn jars can be the bane of some people’s lives as they struggle to undo lids
Although there are other varieties of jars designed for better ease of access, some remain difficult to open
They provide a sturdy grip, have an element of safety and comfort as they cushion against the metal of the lid and are convenient as most homes have them lying around.
The experts’ only tip is to make sure they are clean and dry to prevent them slipping. Gloves even work for those with arthritis and similar ailments who may find it harder to get the lid off jars.
The consumer watchdogs tested a variety of homespun suggestions, including tapping the jar on a worktop or using the handles of scissors, with a panel of volunteers, including at least one with osteoarthritis.
Which? said: ‘A jar that won’t open is incredibly frustrating.
‘There are a number of methods, hacks and products accompanied by claims that they make it easy to open a stubborn jar. We’ve found out which ones actually work.’
As well as the techniques in the box, left, the panel also tried two kitchen gadgets. But silicone jar openers, which you can buy for as little as £2, are no better than the gloves, while Which? found the Brabantia Universal Opener, which costs about £8, can damage the lids slightly, which is not ideal for jars that have to be resealed.
The organisation added: ‘The successful hacks we tried for shifting a stubborn jar lid worked just as well for our testers as the most popular products you can buy, so there’s no need to splash out on a gadget to do the job for you.’
Consumer business Which? has released a number of hacks to help people open jars without breaking a sweat
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