The situation when you urgently need to open a jar of food, but the stubborn lid refuses to give in, is not at all uncommon. The question is quite logical - is it possible to solve the problem without applying unnecessary physical effort, without damaging the container? The article contains useful tips on how to open a jar as quickly and ergonomically as possible. The choice of the correct method should be based on the type of cap, as the opening method suitable for a modern twist-off will not work with the standard metal variation.

Depending on the type of locking device, there are several ways to open the lid on a jar: using a special can opener, an opener, increasing the coupling, heating or depressurization. More exotic options are also known. In extreme conditions, pliers, cutlery, and even a flat stone are suitable for this purpose.

Twist-off

This type is considered the most convenient. It is a metal cap with special stops for screwing. There are several ways to uncork a container closed with this type of lid:

• Tin twist-offs with threads are convenient to open with a special key. It fits different diameters. The key is put on the jar and turned counterclockwise;
• Before opening a jar with a screw-on iron lid, you need to put rubber gloves on your hands and throw a towel or polyethylene over the container. Next, you will have to increase the coupling with the container by slightly applying physical force;
• If you lightly hit the lid with a hammer or other heavy object, it will deform, which will make opening much easier. You need to place the jar on the table, lightly pressing on the edge. Repeated riding will weaken the tightness of the twist-off;
• By placing the vessel under running hot water, you can heat it up. It is better if it is turned upside down. High temperature will expand the metal;
• Before opening the screw cap, you can lubricate the threads with vegetable oil. It is more convenient to do this if you turn the container upside down. You should wait about 20 minutes for the oil to penetrate under the metal;
• If you place the sharp tip of a knife or fork between the neck and the tin and turn it slightly, the preservation will depressurize with a characteristic pop.

You need to heat a cold jar very carefully, otherwise the glass will burst.

Method using a knife

It is more convenient to open if you wear gloves.

Before opening, wet the lid with warm water.

Special key

Tin

There are several ways to open jars with iron lids without threads. The most convenient way is to use a special opener. To do this, you need to slide the small hook of the device under the lid and pry it up a little in several places.

Don't press too hard on the opener. The glass rim of the jar may crack, releasing shards into the contents.

The next method is to carefully bend the edge of the lid using a knife. When a sufficient gap appears, it must be removed by prying it with the tip of the blade. A longer and more labor-intensive option for opening a jar with a metal lid is to use a spoon or stone. The principle of operation is identical to the previous method, although it is complicated by the lack of a sharp edge on these objects.

Plastic

High-quality plastic products have increased strength and density, but they cannot be used to seal a container without preheating. It is logical that you will be able to open such a lid if you first warm it up slightly. The best option would be to place a pan of hot water on the jar for a few minutes - this time is enough to soften the plastic and make it easy to handle. If you do not plan to use the plastic product further, you can bend the edges with a knife in several places or simply cut a hole on top with an opener.

Vacuum

Vacuum preservation is the most modern and convenient method, since you can open the lids on jars in one motion - to do this, just lift the central valve by the edge. Opening occurs due to the fact that air enters the sealed container. For vacuum types of lids, no additional opening devices are required.

Methods for opening a tin can

The easiest way to open a tin can is with a standard opener. It is necessary to make a puncture with the tip, insert the knife of the tool there and open the container with penetrating translational movements. Instead of a can opener, you can use a regular table opener - the algorithm of actions is the same.

To understand how to open a can of canned food without special equipment, you need to understand its design. It consists of walls, a bottom and a lid, which is bent with a press around the base. This results in a protruding metal side. If you remove it, the can will open. Using pliers for this purpose, you just need to bend the edges of the side around the perimeter. You can even handle a tin can with a spoon or a flat stone:

• first you need to rub the tin with these objects;
• then, turning the jar over, move the edge in a circular motion along the stone or the entire perimeter of the spoon.

Aluminum cutlery is not suitable for opening cans. It is necessary to use a more durable material.

Opener

Why doesn't it open?

To understand how to open screw caps on a jar, you need to understand their operating principle. The popularity of this type is based not only on the presence of carvings. Inside the twist-off lid there is a special polymer layer that expands as the temperature rises - this is how the jar closes more tightly. When it cools, the lid is pulled inward - this creates a vacuum effect. This explains the need to hear a characteristic click before opening glass jars with twist-off lids. Due to the double tightness of the seal, such containers are quite difficult to uncork. To hermetically seal containers with metal lids, only sealing gaskets are used, which is why they are easier to handle. When opening a jar, the lid should be turned counterclockwise and the container clockwise. This phenomenon is known to science as the right-hand screw rule.

It’s not difficult to figure out how to open the lid on a jar with or without a thread, because craftsmen invent new methods every day and offer quite original solutions. The main thing is to take precautions during the process.

Video

18

Previously, lids were almost always used for hermetically sealing, which were sealed with a special seaming machine. They had to be opened with a special can opener. But today, more and more often, preserved food is presented on store shelves in glass containers, the lids of which have an internal thread. At the time of canning, you just need to screw it tightly, sterilizing the contents of the jars. In winter, you just need to unscrew the lid and enjoy delicious delicacies.

But sometimes the stubborn lid that closes the jar cannot be opened, and despite all efforts, the shutter does not move even a millimeter. Why doesn't it open? This happens because during packaging of products in jars, for example, pickled vegetables or pickled cucumbers, a vacuum is formed in it that holds the lid. This in turn will protect the product from pathogenic microbes. If you place hot salad in a hot jar and screw the lid tightly on, then when the jar cools down, a vacuum will form in it. There are very simple tricks with which you can open your jar without much effort.

Method 1: Use rubber gloves or a towel

In most cases, you cannot open a jar with a screw cap because your hands are too slippery. Wearing rubber gloves or placing a towel over the screw cap will ensure greater adhesion. After this, you need to try to unscrew the lid. Of course, you will have to make an effort. If this trick is not enough, you will have to use one of the following.

Method 2: Open with a knife

Insert a dull knife under the lid and bend it slightly. This way, air can get into the opened space. This can be understood by the hissing sound it makes. After this, you can easily unscrew the lid from the jar in the usual way.

Method 3. Hole in the lid

Similar to the last trick, this one works too. Let the air penetrate inside the jar. This can be achieved by punching a small hole in the lid with a sharp object, such as a knife. But you will have to be extremely careful not to cut yourself. This will lead to depressurization of the can. After this, you will either need to seal the resulting hole or transfer the contents of the jar to another container so that it does not spoil.

Method 4. Hit with a glass bottom

Often this is enough to make it easier to unscrew the lid by hand. You just need to lightly hit the bottom or lid of the jar on a hard surface, such as the floor or countertop. You can hit the bottom with a straightened palm. This will create a water hammer, which will be directed at the tightly fitting lid. At such a moment, you can hear a specific click, indicating depressurization.

Method 5. Hot water

You need to hold the jar over hot water for some time, or open a hot water tap and hold the canned food under running water. After this, it should be easy to open.

If you find a small sheet of sandpaper in the kitchen, take it in your hand so that the rough surface is directed away from you. Then firmly grasp the lid with this palm and try to unscrew it. The jar must be held in your hand in such a way that its lid is directed towards the floor. Then take some not very heavy object (for example, a knife) and carefully, without making any effort, tap the lid from different sides. After such manipulations, the lids must give in. There are many more methods that can help deal with tightly screwed lids. Some of them are very complex, while others are quite simple. The main thing is to remember that all manipulations will have to be done very carefully so as not to break the glass container and avoid injury.

Every housewife uses jars with screw-on lids to preserve food for the winter. They are incredibly easy to use and easy to use. And you can save a lot of time compared to conventional lids for rolling up.

True, there is one difficulty: closing such a jar is very easy, but sometimes opening it is not at all easy. No matter how you try to do it, it just won’t budge. Having tried a lot of methods, we often start asking someone who is stronger to open the jar. e. However, in reality everything is much simpler, and there are many ways to open such a complex lid without outside help.

Why do such banks not want to open?

Twist-off is the name for tin lids for twisting. Their popularity is justified by the possibility of reusable use. They can be held in place not only because of the presence of threads. The principle is very simple: during the preparation of canned food, the can is doused with boiling water or steam, and at this time the polymer coating softens. During the cooling process, the top is drawn inward, and the strength of the twist is ensured by the vacuum effect. This makes it possible to close the seal extremely tightly. By creating a sealed environment, the entry of microbes into the food is prevented; moreover, the products become suitable for consumption for a long time.

To reuse such caps, they must be opened carefully. You can use a special key or unscrew it manually, applying considerable effort. Reasons that prevent opening:

• wet and slippery hands;
• retraction greater than the desired value due to low pressure;
• a jar of honey, preserves or jam may be high in sugar and the lid is simply glued to the neck.

The lid must be unscrewed strictly counterclockwise, as it is screwed in the opposite direction.

Before the unscrewing process itself, it is necessary to inspect the cover. If it is swollen, it cannot be opened. This indicates that the food inside has gone bad. When opened, the cover may fly off and cause injury. You have to be very careful with such a defect.

There is also the possibility of glass getting into the products. If you see chips or cracks, the jar should not be touched. Air is guaranteed to get inside and the contents will deteriorate.

Methods for opening a jar

In most cases, jars open easily, but sometimes you may encounter a number of difficulties. Someone can simply knock, and the lid can be unscrewed without difficulty, but not always. You can suffer for hours and not get the desired result. Fortunately, there are plenty of proven ways to deal with an unruly lid. Let's list them.

• Hit. This is the easiest way. It is necessary to turn the jar over and hold it suspended. Then you should tap on the bottom. Or, on the contrary, place the jar on your palm and tap on the lid. In most cases, it will open only if your workpieces are not candied and the lid is not stuck.
• Special key. A canned one will do; every housewife is guaranteed to have it in the kitchen. It acts in two directions: twisting and unscrewing. Its main advantage is that the key does not damage the lid and glass. If you don’t already have one, you can purchase it at any hardware store.
• Ordinary laws of physics. Use a regular belt, just thread it through the buckle. Insert the jar into the resulting loop and tighten it tightly, while pointing it clockwise and the lid in the opposite direction. The jar will open easily.
• Improve grip. Hands and the jar itself should be dry and grease-free, as this is often the cause of difficulties in opening. A rubber or silicone glove will do, or you can take a regular kitchen towel. Plastic film or sandpaper also perfectly increases adhesion. You can put them on the lid and start unscrewing. Significant physical effort is required, so if your hands hurt, this method will not work.
• Roll. A very effective way: put the can on its side and roll it along the edge of the table in different directions. The most important thing is to do this with the edge of the lid. The tightly fitting lid will relax and unscrew easily (you will hear a characteristic quiet pop).
• Heat. It is enough to take warm water into a bowl and lower the jar into it with the neck down. After 15 minutes you can remove it and open it. No effort required. Running hot water will also work. When exposed to heat, the lid expands and is easily unscrewed. You can also use a heated towel or direct boiling water.

However, in the latter case you should be extremely careful: if the jar is cold and the water is very hot, the glass may crack.

• Depressurize. The lid is under a strong vacuum and has been pulled in so tightly that it cannot be opened by simply twisting it. The most important thing is to ensure air flow into the jar. You can take a bottle cap remover, knife, or other sharp object and lightly pry the cap off. When you hear a characteristic pop, you can unwind it. A gap of 0.6 mm is enough to allow air to enter the jar. Be careful not to damage the neck or break the glass, otherwise it will get into the product.
• Thread lubrication. This method is relevant for containers with honey or jam. Turn the jar over and add a couple of drops of sunflower oil in several places. Then you need to wait 25 minutes (this is enough for the oil to penetrate everywhere and lubricate the surfaces) and unscrew the lid. In the future, it will not stick to the neck for a long time.
• Knock. You can simply tap the jar with something wooden or plastic. The main thing is not to damage it. If the lid is not glued or stuck, these actions will quickly help you open the jar.

A jar with a twist-off lid is difficult to open due to the difference in pressure.
The force of atmospheric pressure prevents the jar from being opened.
To open a screw top jar, you need to equalize the pressure outside and inside the jar by letting air in. You can do this by carefully inserting a knife into the gap between the lid and the jar and twisting it slightly to let air in.
After a characteristic hiss, the can will easily open.

How to easily open a jar of jam

Several ways to open a jar

1. Heating the can
   Pour hot water into a bowl and place the jar in there with the lid down.
   Let it sit for 10 minutes. Take it out and try to open it.
   You can simply hold the ill-fated glass container under running hot water.
   When exposed to heat, the lid will expand and open without problems.
   Be careful! If boiling water gets on the glass, the jar will burst and everything will fall on you;
2. Hit the can
   Turn the glass container upside down and hold it suspended above the table with one hand.
   With your other hand, slam the bottom of the jar sharply.
   Do not hit it too hard, otherwise the jar will break and the preserved food will fly out onto the table.
   The edges of the lid will come loose and you can easily unscrew it.
   It always helps, the exception is a very stuck lid;
3. Tap the lid
   Take a knife or spatula with a wooden or plastic handle.
   Okay, but gently tap the top and sides of the lid and start unscrewing;
4. Roll the can
   Place the jar sideways on the table and roll the edge back and forth several times.
   Lightly press down on top of the container with your hand. The lid will relax, a pop will appear, and it will become easy to unscrew;
5. Use vegetable oil
   Place the jar on the table with the lid down. Pour a little vegetable oil between the neck of the container and the lid.
   Wait 15 minutes, the oil will spread and penetrate into the smallest cracks. Then everything will open up without difficulty;
6. Take a can opener
   Use it to hook the lid, but you will ruin it and won’t be able to use it anymore;
7. The laws of physics will help
   Thread any leather belt through the buckle.
   Throw the resulting loop over the lid and tighten it tightly, directing it counterclockwise.
   Now start twisting the jar so that it goes clockwise and the lid goes in the opposite direction.

Open a jar with a screw cap using a special key

If you are already tired of struggling with screw caps, purchase a special key in the store that is intended for such glass containers.
It is inexpensive and suitable for lids of different diameters.
With the key, you will forget about the unpleasant problem of how to open a jar with a screw cap.

How to sterilize jars

Screw-neck jars closed with twist-off lids are the most common containers.
Jars should be thoroughly washed and checked for chips, cracks and other defects.
Jars with screw caps must be sterilized in the same way as regular jars.
You can prepare jars in the microwave. Pour water (about 1 cm) into the bottom of the jar and place in the microwave at 700-800 W for 3-5 minutes.

The water boils and the jars are sterilized with steam.
A hot lid, heated over steam or in hot water at a temperature of no more than 60 C, is screwed onto the jar.
The temperature for lids should not be more than 60 degrees. Otherwise, this will lead to destruction of the polymer coating.

How to quickly open a jar with a screw cap. Video

How to seal jars with screw caps

During the cold season, you want to feel the warmth of summer days, taste ripe berries and fruits, and plunge into that very atmosphere of serenity.
Thanks to homemade preparations, this becomes possible.
In order for the products to maintain their quality and beneficial properties, it is necessary to take a responsible approach to the canning process.

To do this, you need to choose the right recipe, how to roll up jars with screw caps, and products.
Twist-off lids are becoming increasingly popular these days.
This type is widespread in European countries due to its fairly simple principle of operation.
Pros and cons of twist-off lids.

The main advantages are:

1. Ease of use, since there is no need for seaming machines and keys;
2. Unlike tin, they are denser, which minimizes the risk of bloating cans of preserved food;
3. The shelf life of preservation is six months or more;
4. Suitable for any type of preservation;
5. Possibility of repeated use (in the absence of damage);

Main disadvantages:

• Cost (usually higher than tin);
• It may be difficult to open cans.
  But nowadays it is not difficult to purchase the appropriate opener.

Is sterilization required?

Undoubtedly, sterilization is constantly necessary.
Before starting this process, you need to check the screw caps for any damage:
scratches, cracks, chips, after which they should be washed with detergents.

Remember that new products also need to be washed.
since they may contain traces of industrial pollution!

The simplest method of sterilization is boiling.
You need to pour a sufficient amount of water into a saucepan (or other suitable container) and put it on fire.

When the water begins to boil, place the lids and boil for 10-15 minutes.
The second method of sterilization is heating in an oven.
But this option is only suitable for tin lids without rubber bands inside.
Often jars are prepared with a similar product.
Sterilization time is at least 10 minutes.

They are laid out on a clean grate, the temperature in the oven at this stage is about 50 degrees.
After 10 minutes, the temperature is raised to 100-110 degrees.
This is done to avoid sudden temperature changes, otherwise the glass in the jars may crack.
Along with the methods listed above, sterilization in steamers and multicookers is also widely used.

This is also convenient, but such equipment is not always available in every home.

How to twist correctly

Closing the jar with a screw cap is quite simple; no machines or keys are required for this,
It will be enough to screw it clockwise, pre-heating, so the hot lid will fit more tightly to the glass.
However, you should not tighten it tighter than the thread allows, otherwise there is a risk of damaging it.
The cover should be installed so that it fits onto the thread, then screw it on.
It is recommended to tighten the canned food immediately after filling the jar, without overfilling it - the contents should not exceed 1 cm to the edge.

Is it necessary to turn such a preservation over?

Many people remember how parents, after screwing up the canned food, turn the jars over.
It's amazing why you need to turn them upside down after seaming?
Many housewives still cannot name the exact reasons for such manipulations.
Some do it out of habit, others out of family tradition.

According to some housewives, the process of turning over jars with blanks is not mandatory; this is done to check the tightness of the sealed container.
If liquid begins to flow out of an inverted jar or bubbles appear near the lid, this means
that the jar is not closed tightly, due to which air will begin to pass through and the workpieces will deteriorate.

If a leak is detected, it is necessary to sterilize the jars again and repeat the rolling process,
thereby eliminating the possibility of food spoilage.
However, you should be careful and pay attention to the manufacturers' recommendations.
The packages often contain useful tips for proper use.

How to open a jar

Before opening a screw top jar, you should carefully inspect it for any damage.
As a rule, such a jar opens quite easily and quickly, but sometimes difficulties still arise.
There are a number of proven methods:

• Apply a special key. It does not damage the glass of the jar or the lid;
• Tap the bottom of the jar with your hand, after turning it over;
• Tap with an object (for example, a knife handle) on the sides and top of the lid;
• Heat the jar. Place it upside down in a bowl of hot water for 10 minutes. Be careful!
  If hot water hits a cold jar, the glass may crack.
• Roll the jar, that is: put it on its side and roll the edge of the lid several times on the table.

Can I use a screw cap instead of a regular one?

For the classic method of canning, metal lids are often used, despite the fact that they need to be screwed on with a special machine.
They are made of food-grade metal and coated with a special varnish on each side.
As we said earlier, screw caps are convenient to use, but only if there is a thread on the neck of the jar.
Like metal ones, they are coated on the inside in different ways.
Tin ones are suitable for rolling compotes and jams, and those with a varnished coating are suitable for preserving pickles.

Reusing the lid

As previously noted, one of the advantages of screw caps is the possibility of their repeated use.
When using them repeatedly, due attention must be paid to integrity.
If they have damage such as scratches, cracks, traces of rust/corrosion, then their reuse is strictly prohibited.
In addition, you need to pay attention to how this cover was opened.

When opening jars sealed with screw caps for the first time,
often resort to various devices such as a knife or other sharp object, thus damaging it.
Consequently, their further use is pointless, because they will not be able to seal the jar hermetically, which will cause the blanks to deteriorate.

What is a lid magnet?

In the 21st century, the century of technology, there is a great need for various devices that make our daily lives easier.
Speaking earlier about the process of sterilizing lids, we indicated that it is necessary to take a pan of water,
put it on the fire, bring it to a boil, then put the lids on it.
After a while, take them out of the pan and start closing the jars with them.
Okay, stop! The question arises: “How did we get the lids out of the boiling water? What did you use? A spoon? A fork? Maybe a slotted spoon? All this is in the past.
Now, in any hardware store you can find a special kitchen appliance that is clear and easy to use.

This is a small stick with a small magnet at the end.
The principle of operation is as follows: lower the magnet into boiling water, magnetize the lid, lift it up,
We try not to touch it with our hands, carefully place the lid on the jar, tilt the magnet to the side, after which it will easily detach.
In the end, all that remains is a small matter - tightening the banks.

I open these jars with screw caps myself. In our house, all the winter stuffing mainly consists of these jars with just these kind of lids - screw or screw-on. And when it comes to opening another jar, it is very rare that you come across a jar with a simple ordinary lid.

So, if you have strong, strong hands, you can open the jar by simply placing it on one edge of a damp towel (the dry towel slides), and cover the lid with the other edge and twist it counterclockwise. Better yet (as I did myself), place the jar on a damp towel, not on the table, but on your left hand, covering the lid with the other edge of the towel and unscrewing it with a counter-movement of your hands - your right hand presses on the lid counterclockwise, and your left hand simultaneously presses the bottom jars clockwise (instead of a towel, you can also use thin rubber gloves, this is so that your hands and the jar do not slip like clockwork when opening the lid).

This way the jar opens, but with force, and most importantly, this is not the best option for opening the lid if it is saved and used for sealing in the future. Why and what can damage the lid?

When the sealing process occurs, no matter with which lid, screw or regular, a vacuum is formed in the jar, which does not allow air to pass inside, and which holds the lid tightly. And when you start to unscrew the screw cap by force, what essentially happens is not unscrewing, but tearing off the lid, which is quite a bit, but gives the effect of deformation, and which is enough for the can to begin to let air through during subsequent seaming.

On small jars of half a liter or less, such “damage” of the lid was not noticed, but the larger the jar, let’s say, from one liter or more, then the lid, unscrewed by force, was easily unscrewed during the next sealing, and the contents soured or had the effect of light fermentation. The larger the jar, the stronger the vacuum, and using force when unscrewing the lid only deforms it more.

Therefore, dear housewives, think about this moment when you let your husbands with strong hands open the jar, who do not unscrew the lid, but rip it off.

If, of course, the lid is not important to you, and you use new ones the next time you seal, then this method will work well when opening, as well as other simple methods using the tip of a bottle opener or a knife - you just need to slightly pry the edge of the lid with the tip, turning the jar over and placing it on the lid, or simply tilting the jar on its side when opening - this will weaken the vacuum, let air into the jar (you will see bubbles), and then turning the jar back to its normal position, you can easily open it.

You can also purchase these special key openers for screw caps, for opening cans, they are freely sold, they can be bought both in regular stores and in online stores (for example, on Aliexpress), but the meaning of opening a can by force remains the same for the lid - 50/50 that the lid will remain suitable for subsequent use, especially lids removed from large jars with a volume of 1 liter or more.

What needs to be done to ensure that the screw cap can be unscrewed easily and remains suitable for subsequent use?

The best option is to heat the lid, and then easily open the jar without effort. How can I do that.

Place the jar (who has such an opportunity) under a stream of hot water right in the sink (or bathroom), or even better, hold the jar under the stream, tilting it to one side, placing only the lid under the stream, hold, warm the lid for 2 - 3 minutes, and immediately Try to open it by throwing a towel over the lid or wearing a rubber glove in advance (but I open it right away with just my hands without towels) easily without effort. If the lid suddenly does not give in, it means it has not heated up well enough; you need to hold it under running hot water for even more time). This method is suitable for anyone who opens the jar, be it a young girl or woman, or vice versa an elderly person. The lid remains completely intact and suitable for re-sealing.

The lid can also be heated not under running hot water, but by heating water in a kettle or other container. The water should be hot, but not boiling water, it’s just not necessary (do not bring the water to a boil) to remove the degree of risk when the jar can get microcracks or burst), you need to be especially careful at the moment when a cold jar is taken out of the cellar or refrigerator. By placing such a cold jar into boiling water, microcracks are guaranteed, that is, if it does not burst at all). You must first let the jar warm up to room temperature. So, after heating the water, pour a little water into a wide container, turn the jar over, placing it on the lid and let it warm up for at least 2 - 3 minutes in this position, and then open the jar as usual, throwing a towel (rag), the lid is easy will turn away.

You can see how this process occurs, and the principle of operation with heating the lid, in this video. Just take your time, heat the lid for more than one minute, and if necessary, repeat the heating additionally.

Video tip: How to open a screw top jar using heat

What other options with heated lids are suitable?

In principle, any, all those options that heat the lid, and do not heat it red or cook it. At the moment of seaming, when the hot jar cools down, a vacuum occurs, and when you start to heat the lid again, this vacuum either weakens or disappears altogether, without tightening the lid, making it completely free.

There is an idea to try heating the screw cap of the jar with a hairdryer, hot air, and opening the jar, but I don’t know how effective this will be, since I haven’t tried this in practice yet. But housewives are more familiar with a hair dryer, and if you have time at your leisure, you can experiment with a hair dryer.

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