The Best Jar Opener for Stuck-On Lids

When I got divorced one of my main practical struggles was opening jars. When I couldn’t open a jar, I’d ask my husband to have a go.

So, I bought a heavy-duty bottle and jar opener and it quite literally changed my life. Gone were the days of struggling, using towels, and running hot water over the jar lid to loosen the lid. My new handy jar opener did the trick for me every time—without asking for help. I’ve now been using it for years.

How Do You Open a Stuck Jar with a Jar Opener?

If you haven’t encountered one of these life-changing tools before, you’re in for a treat. Jar openers are helpful for anyone who gets challenged by a sticky jar now and then (so, all of us). As well as effortlessly cracking open lids like some kind of magician, this tool also has a bottle opener at the top.

My jar opener is special because it’s made from stainless steel, and it’s much better than plastic jar openers. Plastic versions tend to be tapered in shape, beginning with the largest mouth at the top, and the smallest at the bottom. I’ve found that style much harder to grip, especially with larger jars. When a plastic jar opener is at its widest, the handle also opens, and I struggle to get my hands around it. My metal jar opener is so much better because the handle remains stable. It’s easy to hold and twist, no matter what size jar you’re opening.

The only downside I’ve found is that sometimes I have a jar that doesn’t quite fit one of the three available sizes. When this happens, the jar opener’s mouth slides around the edges of the lid and scores it, rather than gripping and opening it. In that case, the opener helps me loosen the lid enough to open it with my hands. Once or twice I’ve needed to run the jar under hot water and wrestle with a kitchen towel around the lid to open it. I’d say that 99% of the time the jar opener does open the jar—pretty impressive stats. I can open chunky jars of gherkins, slender jars of olives, thin things of hot sauce, and anything else with a stubborn lid.

FAQs 

How do you use a jar opener?

To use a jar opener, choose the right size of opener for the jar (there are usually three sizes) and fit it around the jar lid firmly. Then, twist as you would with your hands, pulling the jar lid away from the jar. The jar lid should pop right off.

What’s the difference between a jar opener and a can opener?

A jar opener is for opening jars of jam, pickles, cooking sauces, etc., and it can also be used to open bottles of soda or condiments. A can opener is a mechanical opener, used to open canned foods, that cuts into the can lid and opens it safely. We reviewed can openers here.

Why We’re the Experts

• Samantha Priestley is a freelance writer who has been writing for Serious Eats since 2022.
• She writes features, including A Tale of Two Cream Teas, as well as reviews.
• Her work has also appeared in The Good Food Guide, Reader’s Digest, Food52, Speciality Food Magazine, and more.