Rachel Ray was Right: Opening Selaed Jars

L

LittleJoe

New member
This is the third times I've bought the CostCo sized Cara-Mia jars of
marinated artichokes (Under the Kirkland Brand) that I couldn't get
the lid off by throwing everything I had at it - even pulling the same
muscle in my neck every time.

I was told about her method a bunch of years ago. But just assumed
for whatever sexist reason that it just wouldn't work. And I heard of
nobody else mention it since then, so I tried to forget it.

The last two jars I simply took an awl and punched a small hole in the
lid. A total macho, mechanical-scientific solution. Works great, but
you can't reuse those nice big jars for much of anything once there's
a hole in the lid (Hmm, unless you use duck tape!).

The method: Turn the jar upside down and thwack the whole jar trying
to hit the lid as flat as possible on the counter. But it's a big jar
and thought I better thwack it again even harder this time so nobody
can speculate that I didn't do it hard enough. And as a bonus, if it
breaks I can take demented pleasure in blaming Rachel and curse her
out for a couple years every time I hear her name.

Well, fair is fair. It actually worked. And probably on the first
thwack. But I was in denial and didn't check between thwacks.

Thanks Rachel. Now get the hell off my TV!

And for those of you who already knew this, I've never seen anybody
post about it even when discussing jar opener mechanisms. So speak
louder next time! :-)

-sw
 
Sqwertz wrote:

That's the way I was taught to open them by my mom. My dad uses a butter
knife and whacks on the edge. My friend told me to loosen the seal with a
teaspoon. That only works on some things.
 
On Apr 7, 9:06?pm, "Julie Bove" wrote:



My mother used to pound the lid against the sink divider. I use a
butter knife. My wife uses the bottle opening end of the "church key"
to pry up the rim of the lid.
 
On Apr 7, 11:59?pm, spamtrap1888 wrote:

I just smash the whole thing, and then use a strainer to strain out
the bits of glass and plastic.

Of course I have no ailementary canal left!! ;-)

John Kuthe...
 
On Thu, 07 Apr 2011 20:20:19 -0700, Christine Dabney wrote:


I know certain colors of cameras and ipods cost more or have limited
availability in different markets. But jar openers, too? Do they
double as ear rings? Is orange really worth twice as much as blue?

Thank you for the suggestion. I'd even pay the $1 extra for the blue
one instead of the hideous "Crystal Orange". I don't trust that I
won't small glass shards in my food using "Rachel's" method.

-sw
 
On Thu, 7 Apr 2011 20:52:48 -0700, Paul M. Cook wrote:



Because the last two jars don't have lids without holes in
them? And I don't save lidless jars for years like a hoarder?

I know it was a slightly verbose post. But it was in near-perfect
English and without my usual typos.

-sw
 
On Thu, 7 Apr 2011 21:06:58 -0700, Julie Bove wrote:


I was to thump it against the side of counter all around the lid but
this always made cringe since I don't think glass can withstand much
tensile force. Then again this newly discovered compression method
may be even more dangerous. And the former rarely worked for me.

-sw
 
"Sqwertz" wrote in message
news:[email protected]...

Another thing that often works is to put the jar under hot water. The heat
makes the metal expand.

The jars I had severe trouble with were the ones I got from Italy. The lids
had an odd curve to them so none of the openers I have would work on them.
Nothing could pry the lid slightly either. I did get them open. It was
just really hard to do.
 
"Giusi" wrote in message
news:[email protected]...

I have two different silicone ones. But not that one. They work on some
jars. The ones I have the most problem with are the large ones. The worst
one is the peanut butter stuffed pretzel jug. The jug is plastic and so is
the lid.

Years ago I had a great opener. It was metal and had a strip of cork down
one side for gripping. In the middle was a smaller opening that worked well
for really small jars like those tall ones that hold green olives. My mom
had one too. Eventually all the cork wore off and I've been unable to find
one since.

The best one I have now is an OXO Goodgrips. It is getting decrepit now and
the teeth on it don't always catch the jar lid. Sometimes it just spins
around and around taking off some paint.

I did have that one that Christine provided a link for. It worked sometimes
but quite a few times it just flew off the jar and I wound up ramming my
thumb into the glass. I don't think I have it any more.
 
On Fri, 8 Apr 2011 00:58:10 -0500, Sqwertz
wrote:


We had one of those-- I'll bet it is still in mom's kitchen.


If I can't get it by hand, or with a rubber gripper-- I walk out to
the garage and use the strap wrench.
http://www.amazon.com/Alltrade-2601...L9PO/ref=sr_1_6?ie=UTF8&qid=1302260330&sr=8-6

I've got 3 sizes- and I've used them for jars, 5gallon chlorine jugs,
4" PVC threaded fittings, oil filters-- and just holding oddly shaped
stuff where I want it.

And I laughed when my wife bought them late one night while watching
TV. It is all overpriced-- but some of that crap is actually
useful.

Jim
 
On Fri, 8 Apr 2011 00:23:15 -0500, Sqwertz
wrote:


Mine is plain white, and I got it at a kitchen store. I really,
really use it a lot, especially since my hands aren't as strong as
they used to be. Getting older is a pain.

But seriously, they work and they work quite well.

Christine
 
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