At the supermarket checkout, I was caught off guard when the strapping young guy bagging my purchases quietly asked, “Can I loosen that pickle jar for you, sir?” My first reaction was to decline, but I quickly realized the value, swallowed my pride and answered affirmatively. As I watched in awe, he gave the lid a powerful twist (satisfying pop), then gently torqued it back on and placed the jar in my shopping bag.

My machismo took a considerable hit that day, but Eric (that’s his name) has turned out to be pretty sensitive about it -- always very subtle, tries to make sure the other guys in line behind me don’t notice. I just wish he wouldn't wink at me.

(Later addition.) I forgot to mention that Eric applies a highly visible sticker to each jar that he opens stating the date opened and “Refrigerate Immediately.”
-- AO, Nov 13 2003

For [po] http://www.sears.co...OOL&pid=00945560000
[half, Oct 04 2004]

For AO http://www.halfbake.../Lava_20Lawn_20Lamp
[DrCurry, Oct 04 2004]

<wink> another excellent idea (noticed you changed would for wouldn't!)

not only for the guys (making them feel good at home - just lightly opening every jar, bottle...) but hey I have 2 jars of apricot which just refuse to budge.
-- po, Nov 13 2003


They would need, for liability purposes, to have some big ol' red stickers that say "REFRIGERATE IMMEDIATELY" for mayonnaise and such.
-- half, Nov 13 2003


Freudian slip, po, Eric means nothing to me. (Or do I mean non-Freudian slip?)

Good point, half.
-- AO, Nov 13 2003


You are aware that they sell wrench type devices for this type of work, right?
-- KLRico, Nov 13 2003


Alas, this is true. Thats what the half bakery is all about isn't it?
-- KLRico, Nov 13 2003


And Pedantry.

Generally I think I'd prefer to keep jars of stuff unopened in the cupboard. But it could be useful sometimes. And of great value to anyone with a disability that makes opening jars more difficult than usuall.
-- RobertKidney, Nov 13 2003


Cute. But I have this great plastic gadget that can open the stiffest jar, so I'll be taking my jars home unopened.
-- DrCurry, Nov 13 2003


may I share your gadget, DC please?
-- po, Nov 13 2003


Hm. Want to like this, but I can't agree with the suggestion of opening jars when they cannot immediately be refrigerated. Evil things will occur.

I've heard that jar lid gripping sheet thing referred to as a "rubber husband", which I always wanted to call a band.
-- waugsqueke, Nov 13 2003


Just bang the edges of the lid hard with a spoon or tap it on a work surface. Now try to open it again... Pop! Opens every time. And I'm pretty feeble.

[AO] I'm afraid this gets fishboned from me as it opens the jar before I want it opened and probably before I want to use it. I don't usually buy stuff in jars to use *immediately* and some stuff only lasts a few days once opened.
-- squeak, Nov 14 2003


The ideal partner for a rubber husband must be a late ex-wife.
-- English Bob, Nov 14 2003


[squeak] - my preferred method for opening glass containers with metal lids is to pour hot water onto the lid - it then expands more than the glass and becomes looser.
-- dobtabulous, Nov 14 2003


I go with squeak's method and agree with the undesireability of premature lid opening. So fishbone (really I'm boning it because AO has had far too much success of late. Call it croissant-envy).
-- DrBob, Nov 14 2003


I really enjoy the satisfying pop. I know that makes my life seem a little dull, but I do.
-- Fishrat, Nov 14 2003


Clearly the membership here contains too few arthritic little old ladies who only buy one or two days’ of groceries at a time.
-- AO, Nov 14 2003


I defy any of you butch blokes to open my apricots. I tried banging them on the floor, using rubber gloves, the man next door (sorry, another story), holding under the hot tap, the old shove-it-in-the-door-jamb method took a lump out of the door...dammit there's a sell-by date on them.
-- po, Nov 14 2003


po: you can share my gadget any time, you know that. (I'd post a link, but apparently it's too cheap to sell on the Internet.)
-- DrCurry, Nov 14 2003


po,use a nail and hammer to punch a circle of closely-spaced holes in the lid, then pop it out with a screwdriver.
-- AO, Nov 14 2003


it may come to that!
-- po, Nov 14 2003


Strap wrenches, [po]. (link)
-- half, Nov 14 2003


Strap wrenches are great, but sometimes not enough. Two gadgets I have found useful- one plastic, the other metal, both work by getting rid of the vacuum. Plastic one is called JarKey, made in Denmark, and found mostly hanging on hooks at the supermarket. The metal one is from Lee Valley tools, and is made in Canada; found at the Lee Valley website. Use either of these first, then set the jar on the rubber husband and use a strap wrench. Even the most stubborn jar will open.
-- Gentoo, Nov 17 2003


[po] I'll "open your apricots" for you. Just bring them to the next London HalfBoozeUp.
-- hippo, Nov 17 2003


surely this is baked (by eric or his employer) ?
-- pjd, Nov 17 2003


Only if that story is not a literary device.

I just read this as "Supermodel Lid Opener," which would also get my vote.
-- DrCurry, Nov 17 2003


"Only if that story is not a literary device."

but is it ... how does one tell ? (ooh ! get me with my fancy talk !)

Actually, i find these literary descriptions annoying .. is it just me ?
-- pjd, Nov 17 2003


[pjd] I’m afraid that was an annoying literary device. Maybe I’ll put my next idea in sonnet form. (Bwa ha ha!)
-- AO, Nov 17 2003


AO: sartep beat you to it - see link.
-- DrCurry, Nov 18 2003


As a grocery store clerk, I feel if the customer ask to have their lid loosend, It should be done without questions or rules getting in the way to the customers satasfaction. Foods containing viniger or are high in some acids do not spoil easy. My grandparents never kept mao in the fridge and lived long , healthy lives. the product has raw eggs in it for petes sakes.
-- jefferyb304, Jun 17 2005


A very small pin prick hole in the lid will remove the vacuum.

When I am putting full force on a jar, I am always worried about breaking the glass. It's never happened, yet, but does anyone know of a case?
-- Ling, Jun 17 2005


ANother way to loosen those lids that won't budge.

Using the end of the handle of a teaspoon, lever the lid edge away from the screwthread on the jar. You need to try a couple of places around the rim until you manage to either loosen the fit of the lid enough, or break the vacuum.
-- prufrax, Jun 17 2005



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