A cautionary tale re: trying TOO HARD to open a jar.

[Grasswire2]

In October, I sprained my hand and wrist on a 40 ounce new jar of JIF peanut butter. Plastic.
I was DETERMINED to open it, and tried really really hard.
I sprained my wrist and hand in the effort.
Six months later, this is the status:
Can't make a fist.
Thumb is now frozen.
Painful to rotate hand.
Painful to pick things up.
My dominant hand.
Tomorrow I will see a "hand specialist" in orthopedic dept.
There's nothing wrong with the bones; the problem is with the ligaments or tendons or whatever.
I should have had an MRI early on, but I was told (wrongly) that I could not have an MI because I have a pacemaker.

So BE CAREFUL trying to open a difficult jar.

[brush]

1. Hope you regain full function of your hand and wrist.

I try two things if I run into that problem. Run the top of the jar under hot water for a while, or bang the jar top on the floor, preferably on a carpeted floor.

They usually work. Even banging the top with the handle of a kitchen knife works to loosen it also.

[Grasswire2]

18. that works on a metal lid on a glass jar, as in pickles.

Doesn't work on a plastic lid on a plastic jar.

[brush]

25. Has for me. What it does is break the hold of stuck cap.

And I've been around for a while. If one method doesn't work, try the others.

[Grasswire2]

32. I use that method all the time for jars that are vacuum packed.

This was a plastic jar with a plastic lid. Too tight to turn. Not vacuum sealed, just too tightly applied in manufacture.

[Alephy]

2. That is awful...

But thank you for posting. I will definitely keep this is mind.

I have had some issues trying to open some bottles lately. The usual suggestions listed above (hot water, banging the top) have not worked. And I am not weak. Luckily, although I tried several times, I have decided to give up before doing the kind of damage you describe. I really feel sorry that you are going through it. What has worked in my case: putting those bottles in the microwave for a minute or so.

[tblue37]

4. I slip a butter knife under the lid and lever it up to break the vacuum first.

[mopinko]

10. i use a spoon.

[Grasswire2]

19. not a vacuum issue when the jar and lid are both plastic.

But you are right, regarding glass jars with metal lids.

[littlemissmartypants]

30. Did you actually try it or just immediately disregard it because of a presupposition?

[nuxvomica]

3. Good luck with the specialist

I keep a strap wrench, the kind used on PVC pipe, in the kitchen for opening jars. It will open any jar.

[Zackzzzz]

5. My tool drawer in the kitchen

has a Philips screwdriver and a hammer.
Center the Philips screwdriver in the center of the lid,
hold the metal part with thumb and index finger,
using the little finger to wrap around the lid, [it can slid across the top]
and hit the top of the top of the handle until it pierces the lid.
I put tape over the hole in the lid.
My friend uses a paint can opener, slips it under the lid and twists,
and you can hear it pop. I can't seem to line it up right.

[Skittles]

6. I have injured myself trying to open jars

they can be a real beast

[raccoon]

7. Another suggestion: after running hot water over the lid for a while, as has been suggested, then put on rubber gloves

and try to open the jar. They help.

Hope that you fully recover. And thanks for sharing, that will help some of us out there.

[synni]

8. I feel your pain

I injured both arms doing a similar twisting motion. Both arms were black and blue from wrist to elbow.

30 years later, I still have problems.

I'm so sorry to hear that something like this has happened to you.

[druidity33]

9. there is a tool you can buy on amazon...

and elsewhere i'm sure. For future uses of course as it's not going to solve your current problem.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07LFJ6RV4/

[IcyPeas]

22. I second this....

I have a similar one but it's hand held. Works on small to large sized lids.

https://a.co/d/6HGooSv

[mopinko]

11. i cant remember who used to give them away, but

we had a red rubber disk they called a ‘rubber husband’. they were a common advertising freebie.
but a spoon works well as a lever to break the seal.

but it sure does suck to get old. i have found ways to hurt myself that i wd never have dreamed of when i was young.

[Marthe48]

14. I've got one that I hang onto

I looked online a couple years ago, looking for tools for my friend. You could get 1 tool or a bundle that included the gripper mat. Some of the tools are multiuse, even a flat key for popping tabs Comes in handy for cat food cans.

[GopherGal]

27. I got something I like from Amazon

but can't seem to figure out how to share a link without potentially sharing too much about my past transactions. So here goes:

https://www.amazon.com/stores/page/7F6C1B64-D570-4EDD-BFD9-472643060B23?is_byline_deeplink=true&redirect_store_id=FAE23322-21A7-4FDE-8488-328881430B01&ref_=ast_bln&lp_asin=B0BKP8Y8S5&brandname=Otstar]

I only got a jar opener tool for less than 10 bucks, but there are multi-piece sets, too, that can be seen through the "Otstar store".

[Nittersing]

12. A cautionary tale: DON'T GET OLD!!!!!

Little, everyday things we never had to think about... little, minor injuries that used to heal in a day or two.

I pulled a muscle in my upper arm.... about 4 months ago. Still feels like I pulled it yesterday.

[Marthe48]

13. Hope your hand improves

What a shame and too many people are injured that way. When I have that much of a problem opening a container, I wonder why on earth they have to be so hard. I hate it when it's a plastic lid on a plastic bottle and the bottle deforms while I try to get the lid off.

I have vice grips for the worst. I have a gripper mat that helps sometimes. I keep a church key bottle opener for lids on glass jars. I put the pointed end under the lip of the jar, reversing the position from if I were using it to punch a hole in a can top, and gently push downward. It breaks the seal. For future reference.

Let us know how you do.

[Niagara]

15. I suspect some seals/lids/caps are being put on with automated machinery

There's a brand of kosher pickles that I like. The lid is impossible to get open even though I run the lid under hot water in the kitchen sink and I attempt to use a rubber jar gripper.

The last time I ran the hot water and used the rubber jar gripper I still couldn't get the lid off. I took a very large kitchen knife and flipped the knife upside down and gently tapped on the lid a few times and went back to use the rubber jar gripper and the lid came right off.


I recently purchased the capped Bic Cristal ink pens. I couldn't get the caps off on any of the 10 count of pens. I literally had to use one blade of the pair of scissors right underneath the cap to push the cap off. I had to do this on all 10 of the ink pens because I couldn't remove the caps. The caps literally went flying across the room but I was able to remove all the caps.


I don't believe that this has anything to do with the fact that we're getting older or weaker.


I'm sending you healing vibes, Grasswire2.

[beemerphill]

16. Go to Harbor Freight

What you are looking for is "Rubber Strap Wrench Set, 2 Piece" They only cost about $5. They do not work well on small lids but will help a lot on the big ones. We use them and they save a lot of wear and tear on older hands. Hope this helps someone.

[LogDog75]

21. Rubber strap wrench

It works and won't, doesn't cost much, and you won't strain or injure yourself.

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[justaprogressive]

17. This simple design always works.

Both my wife and I like this one

[Grasswire2]

20. plastic lid on plastic jar is not the same issue as metal lid on glass jar.

Just for clarification.

All the good hints for glass jar w metal lid don't work for plastic jar plastic lid.

Useful hints, they are, for pickle jars and the like.

[Figarosmom]

23. Yeah jars are getting to be a pain

I've now got 4 jar openers all different and not one of them works on all sizes. So I'm constantly having to try two before I get the right one. And when they are not where they are supposed to be and I have to start looking around I get irritated. I've ended up cutting the top off plastic jars when I couldn't find the opener fast enough.

Even bottles of water are getting difficult because they are too small.

Hope your hand improves. When they hurt its hard to ignore. And not being able to use is frustrating.

I used to have corpal tunnel pain from crocheting and from filing when I worked snd the Dr. Gave me a Procare Mason Allen Brace that helped a lot.

https://images.app.goo.gl/fpENHYWXcNhu8XR39

[Emile]

24. My wife taught me how to open a jar with a spoon.

It's simple and it works. Check out this short video.

https://youtube.com/shorts/4HgIKZxmgqE?si=0gCLT0oUANQk4w0D

A kitchen butter knife works too.

?si=Fw2EJifGMlEHGfY1

[Clouds Passing]

26. I am so sorry you're experiencing hand pain. It sucks!

I put a towel on the edge of the counter and tap the lid until it finally loosens up. Sometimes it takes a few tries to loosen the bond. Be easy if it’s a glass jar.

The manufacturers have made it difficult to open jars, boxes, packaging, anything. It’s almost like they’ve created an exercise in intentionally causing frustration, stress, and physical harm in your case.

[nitpicked]

29. Be careful if it's glass

Don't be like Scottie Scheffler (the golfer) who got cut up with a glass.

[Clouds Passing]

33. Definitely careful. Light tapping with glass or get a gizmo others have posted.

[nitpicked]

28. Isn't that what visitors are for?

Just joking.

Hope the specialist can help resolve the situation.

[Grasswire2]

31. and neighbors who are young strong men.

I thought about putting it on the floor and hitting it with a hammer.

[LogDog75]

34. Another way to open a jar with just your hands

I read this on Google News in an article about life hacks. Opening a jar requires you to use your hand and turn the lid counter-clockwise. Instead of using your right hand, use your left hand to turn the lid. Apparently, you have more strength turning your left hand to left than your right hand turning to the left.