Faced yet again with a jar of pickled gherkins whose lid would not come off, and the friend who opened them last time for me not due to visit for weeks, I bunged the lot into the bottom oven of the Aga, and left them for an hour. Had to use cloths to stop burning myself by the lid popped off with almost no effort.
Your mummy never told you, bash the edge of the lid with a mallet, failing that a small lump of wood of that sort of size.
Devices for gripping over-tight jar lids are available, every home should have one.
Run the lid of the jar under hot-ish water, differential expansion will ease the lid’s removal, and it only takes a minute. And you don’t burn your hands…
My late partner had one of those. She still needed me to use it for her as it required a larger hand than she had to grip it well.
Or usually more convenient, tap round the edge of the lid on a hard floor or worktop. No need to find an implement to do it with then! :-)
Jarkey
I had one but it didn't fit, have ordered a strap wrench for next time.
It wasn't the tightness of the lid, it was the suction against the rubber seal. I could have made a hole in the lid...
Never seen one of those before. Probably would work well in my situation
Is there not a raised bit in the centre of the lid to press? Otherwise a strong fork under one side can let in enough air to allow it to be unscrewed. Brian
Yes. My mother taught me that one. Or stand the jar upside down in a pan of hot water.
The hot water expands the stuff inside, lessening the suction.
They work a treat. We have one of that type and a similar plastic device for opening ring-pull cans (most are these days). They're probably the most useful devices in the kitchen, and inexpensive too.
Pair of marigolds does it for me and my arthritic thumbs.
I do. Automatic centre punch is prefect for doing it.
Which is what time in the aga did.
My problem is that this particular brand is super tight and nerve damage means my left arm and hand are operating about 50%.
Yes, but the hot water trick is faster, and you are less likely to burn your hands.
I doubt its faster. I left it in a long time because it was VERY tight
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