Monday 20 July 2009

The Last Resort


How to get a stuck jar open:
a) use a cloth, grip mat or similar. I used to wrap a rubber band around, but the tupperware mat is more convenient. This simply allows you to use more force on the jar, by increasing the friction so you don't slip.
b) run metal lid under hot water for a minute. It should expand, making it easier to remove.
c) both a. and b.
d) ask handy bloke to open it, enhancing his chances with a, b, and c as required, or any other set of grips from his shed.
e) whack jar lid edge firmly against benchtop (potentially breaking an airlock).
f) poke a hole in the jar lid (definitely breaking any airlock).
g) buy a special jar opening tool with a handle - this adds leverage.
h) see picture.

I got up to f, then skipped on to h. The ingredients are
* 1 recalcitrant jar
* 1 sharp pointed knife
* 1 meat mallet
* 1 spare, clean jar
* 1 clean spoon
* 1 knife sharpener

Method: hold knife point down on jar lid. Whack with meat mallet. Keeping knife in the hole so created, use it to cut a line. Repeat a couple of times, creating a rough N shape. Use the knife to lever back sections of the lid - caution, edges will be sharp. Use the spoon to extract the contents of the jar to the spare jar.

This is not good for your knife. Resharpen afterwards. And do look out for any metal shavings from the edge: they are not good to eat.

6 comments:

Market Girl said...

Mmm thanks for the list. I have used most of these at some stage except maybe the whack it on the bench, I can see that one ending badly!
Cheers

Kat said...

You need one of these - http://www.petersofkensington.com.au/Product/ProductInfo.aspx?id=1276915

SO handy.

Mummy/Crit said...

Oooh. My mum just gave me one of those things that Katherine talked about. I haven't had to use it yet, but she swears by it too.

Trevar said...

Yep, I've used all them techniques apart from the one that worked for you... but that seems awfully cruel to the knife and the mallet: didn't Handy Bloke have a chisel and hammer in his shed?

BJ said...

I love the determination - I WILL OPEN THIS F@@###G JAR!

I thew one on the floor - good potential for lots of mopping but apart from giving Miss Wendy a fright, no luck.

I do believe I shoved the guilty jar to the back of the pantry, for another day. BTW re T's comment: a hammer didn't help. Good therapy tho!

Cath said...

Until this jar, I'd found the tupperware grip mat worked on everything. Trevar, I do agree it's cruel to the knife, but I confess I have no sympathetic feelings for the mallet at all.