Super Quick Video Tips: How to Open a Stubborn Jar Lid

It takes more than just muscle. In this video, America's Test Kitchen's Christie Morrison shows you how to emerge victorious in the battle of the jar lids.

ABOUT US: Located in Boston’s Seaport District in the historic Innovation and Design Building, America's Test Kitchen features 15,000 square feet of kitchen space including multiple photography and video studios. It is the home of Cook’s Illustrated magazine and Cook’s Country magazine and is the workday destination for more than 60 test cooks, editors, and cookware specialists. Our mission is to test recipes over and over again until we understand how and why they work and until we arrive at the best version.

Each week, the cast of America's Test Kitchen brings the recipes, testings, and tastings from Cook's Illustrated magazine to life on our public television series. With more than 2 million viewers per episode, we are the most-watched cooking show on public television.

More than 1.3 million home cooks rely on Cook's Illustrated and Cook's Country magazines to provide trusted recipes that work, honest ratings of equipment and supermarket ingredients, and kitchen tips.

If you like us, follow us:

[emilymartin]

Thank god! Now I can make my nachos. Stupid salsa jar.

[Balto]

How many of us are watching this with a jar we can't open right beside us?

[alraizuli]

I'm surprised that no one else has mentioned this. If the jar contains liquid turn it upside down and stirke the jar sharply on the bottom. You can't compress a liquid, so it creates an even and powerful force on the inside of the lid. Works every time for me.

[bctinkerbell]

Your hitting the lid with a spoon trick worked instantly!

[yggdrasil]

The hot water trick didn't work, but the wooden spoon certainly did. As soon as I heard the sound change, I was surprised at how easy it was to remove the lid.

Awesome. Thanks a lot.

[ChristinaDeMelo]

The hitting the lid tip was a life saver for me today! I could not get into the new salsa jar!! Thank you :)

[RonnieMwesigwa]

**SCREAMING** The spoon trick did it for me too! I AM SHOOK! Thank you!

[TheTardisDreamer]

Mum and I were struggling with a jar. We tried a bottle opener, gloves, running it under hot water. After Mum whacked the jar with the spoon it finally opened haha so thank you :D Saved my Mum being a grumpy pants because she couldn't have marmalade on her pancake XD

[jeffthemeff]

Thank you so much I've bought some pickles in a really fancy jar it was never gunna open up without your help I was starving thanks to you I shall now feast upon pickles

[cooperhuxley]

Had this giant jar of pickles I couldn’t open despite trying a good dozen of times. I’m typically very good at opening troublesome jars but this one wouldn’t budge. Tried the rubber band method and the lid popped right off. Really shows how it’s all in the grip! Definitely recommend and liked for the tip 👍

[prettystar]

Life saver! Salsa jar was so hard to open. The wooden spoon did the trick!!! Thank you!!!

[LivinMoment]

why does a video like thus have dislikes? Who looks up how to open a jar, just to dislike the video? Miserable people these days.

[mabel]

The hot water did it for me, even though some comments mentioned it won't. I think it's mostly about what's in the jar
Edit: Mine was a gigantic jar of salsa

[_justint]

I was trying to open my jar but I couldn't so I watched this video. In the middle of he video, my jar magically opened!

[josephloveskimchi]

thank u !! the spoon thign worked with a normal metal spoon too !!! after about an hour of battling my RAGU spaghetti sauce jar . 4 little taps in the rim of the lid helped .. strenght is not always key ! 

[MeepMeep]

My favorite is the wooden spoon and hitting the edges, works perfectly. Except I use a silverware like a butterknife, works wonders.

[StarrySkyyyy]

Using plastic wrap to improve my grip worked like a charm! thank you so much!

[JVStraight]

My husband and I struggled with a jar of artichokes for a while. Then we put a rubber band over the top and BAM! Jar opened! Thank you!!!

[j.m.butler]

i was just brought to tears in my kitchen after spending a good 5 mins trying to open trader joe’s chili onion crunch jar. the rubber glove worked right away. thank you queen

[antbanks]

Warm water in a dish for a stubborn mason jar for the win! Superman couldn't unscrew the lid on this jar. Tapping didnt work. Black magic didnt work. I didnt have a pie dish, so I used a bowl with hot water. Opened right up! Thank you!