12 Tricks to Open a Jar That Won’t Open

Pop the lid off a stuck jar with these helpful hacks

Co-authored by Aly Rusciano Reviewed by Chef Jeff Woodward

Last Updated: September 12, 2025 Fact Checked

It’s super frustrating when you can’t open a jar and get to what’s inside, and we’ve all been there. Whether the lid is stuck on your pickles or you can’t get into the peanut butter, we’re here to help. With help from private chef Jeff Woodward, we’ve compiled a list of the best hacks and tips to help you open tight and stubborn jars. All you need is a little leverage and simple supplies you can find in your kitchen.

How do you open a stuck jar?

Private chef Jeff Woodward says there are several easy ways to open a tight or stuck jar by yourself. He suggests trying the following methods:

Tap on the lid with a wooden spoon.
Pry the lid open with a butter knife.
Smack the bottom of the jar with your palm.
Run the lid under hot water for 30 seconds.

1

Tap the lid with a wooden spoon.

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Grab a wooden kitchen spoon; the heavier the better. Tap the lid of the jar on top a couple of times around the edge to break and pop the seal, then try to twist off the lid.^{[1]
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- You might need to repeat this a few times to loosen the lid.
- Try using other kitchen utensils if you don't have a kitchen spoon. Wood utensils work best, but anything heavy could work.
- As an alternative, Woodward suggests gently tapping the lid on your counter. Just be extra careful, especially if the jar is glass.^{[2]
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Meet the wikiHow Expert

Jeff Woodward is a private chef and owner of The Rogue Chef with over 20 years of experience in the restaurant industry.

2

Slap the base of the jar with your palm.

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Hold the jar at a 45-degree downward angle with your non-dominant hand. Then, firmly slap the bottom of the jar with the center of the palm of your dominant hand and listen for a pop to tell you you have broken the seal.^{[3]
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- This method is called the “water hammer.” It functions by raising the pressure against the lid to pop the seal.

3

Submerge the lid in hot water for 30 seconds.

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Fill a dish with hot (but not boiling) water and flip the jar upside down in it. Leave the jar for 30 to 60 seconds, says Woodward, then dry it off and try to open it.^{[4]
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Chef Jeff Woodward
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Expert Interview} Repeat this process if the lid doesn’t twist off the first time.^{[5]
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- Don’t want to dirty a dish? Woodward suggests running hot water over the rim of the lid for 30 to 60 seconds, instead.^{[6]
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4

Twist off the lid with a dish towel.

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Sometimes, a towel is all you need to give you the extra grip to twist off a stubborn lid. Woodward says to simply hold the jar in your non-dominant hand, place the towel over the lid, and then twist it counterclockwise.^{[7]
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Chef Jeff Woodward
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- Try opening the jar over the sink, just in case the lid comes off suddenly and contents spill out.

5

Use rubber gloves to twist off the lid.

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A pair of rubber kitchen gloves might give you enough traction to pop the lid. Put on a dry pair of kitchen gloves that you would normally use to wash dishes or clean. Try to twist off the lid of the jar as normal.^{[8]
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- Use a single glove if you feel like you have a better grip on the body of the jar with your naked hand.

6

Heat up the lid with a hair dryer.

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Turn the hair dryer on high and aim it at the lid for 30 seconds to expand the lid and loosen the seal. Use a towel or other heat barrier to try to twist off the lid once the 30 seconds are up.
- This method also helps to melt jam or other sticky foods that may have glued the lid shut in the first place.
- Be careful with this method. The metal lid can get very hot!
- Don’t use this method on lids that have plastic components, as it could melt the plastic.

7

Place plastic wrap over the lid for a better grip.

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Grab enough plastic wrap to cover the lid of the jar. Then, place it over the top of the jar and press it down around the rim until it clings to the lid. Grip onto the plastic wrap and lid and twist.^{[9]
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- The more clingy the plastic wrap, the more likely this method will work.

8

Use a rubber band to grip the lid.

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Get a rubber band that can fit tightly around the lid of the jar and stretch it around the rim. Use your dominant hand to grip the rubber band and try to twist the lid off. The texture of the band may help you get a better grip on the lid, making it easier to open.^{[10]
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- Wider rubber bands work best for this method, so that there is more surface area to grip onto.

9

Grip onto the lid with a dryer sheet.

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Create traction for your hands using a dryer sheet. Simply place the dryer sheet over the lid and try to twist the lid off.^{[11]
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- Try combining this method with the rubber band method by placing a rubber band over the dryer sheet to hold it more securely in place.

10

Use a lighter to heat the rim.

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Light a lighter, and move the flame slowly around the rim of the jar's lid to heat it up. Use a towel or gloves to carefully twist off the lid. This helps expand the lid and pop the seal.
- The hotter the lid gets, the more it will expand, but be careful, as both the lighter and the lid of the jar will get very hot.

11

Pop the lid open with a butter knife.

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Insert the flat tip of a butter knife or the tip of another flat metal utensil that fits under the edge of the lid’s rim. Carefully pry the lid away from the jar, working your way around the rim, to break the seal.^{[12]
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- Listen for a popping sound as you work your way around the lid with the utensil. This sound means you have broken the seal, and the lid will be easier to twist off.
- Be careful when using butter knives to open a jar. They may not seem sharp, but if one slips while you are applying force to it, you could still get a cut.

12

Invest in a jar gripper.

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If you have trouble opening jars often, it may be time to invest in a jar opener or gripper. There are plenty of products on the market designed to help you open jars. From jar gripper pads to non-slip gloves to jar-opening handles, there’s something for everyone!
- These tools and products are ideal for all ages, especially those with weaker hands or arthritis.

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Question

How do you open a mason jar lid?

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wikiHow Staff Editor

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First you’ll need to remove the screw band, the ring around the lid of the jar. You may be able to do this with a rubber jar grip, or tap the seal loose as you would with a regular vacuum sealed metal jar lid. Once the screw band is off, use the flat edge of a butter knife to pry up the flat cap on top of the jar.

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What’s the best way to open a tight plastic jar?

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Plastic jars usually have plastic screw-on caps. You can sometimes loosen these caps by running warm water over them, which can cause them to expand slightly. You can also try holding the jar upside down and pouring warm vinegar over it so it gets into the space between the lid and the top of the jar. This may help expand and lubricate the lid so it’s easier to get off.

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What if the item I am trying to get the lid off of is refrigerated? Can I still use heat to get the lid off?

Michele

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If it's glass, you should be very, very careful not to let the hot water touch the cold glass. This could cause it to shatter. Avoid using direct heat on it for the same reason. Try a damp towel to grip the lid and turn. Most refrigerated jars have been opened already, and may be stuck because of dried food or condiments between the lid and the jar. Try using warm water, instead of hot to try to rehydrate the dried bits and make it easier to twist the lid.

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Tips

Try different methods in tandem with each other for particularly difficult jars to try and loosen the lid multiple ways.

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Use the rounded side of a bottle cap opener. It works immediately!

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Warnings

Check the rim after removing the lid for chips of glass that may have broken off during your efforts to loosen it (they could be in the food).

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