You’ve Been Opening Jars Wrong Your Whole Life, According to TikTok

Conquering stuck jar lids ranks right up there with cleaning out the dishwasher filter as one of our most despised kitchen tasks. There’s something about a fragile glass jar and a lodged-on lid that immediately adds an extra layer of stress. This is not to mention the fact that the time we spend fighting with an overly stubborn lid could be much better spent making dinner or dessert.

Whether you’re one of the 54 million adults in the U.S. with arthritis or simply ended up with a jar with a locked-on lid, it’s a frustrating predicament. For this reason, there are countless products ranging from under-cabinet openers and pricey electronic models to knife-knocking strategies and the viral hack of squeezing the lid between your hands. (By the way, we tried the latter method and weren’t able to get this to work.)

We’re convinced that there has to be a better way than shelling out $60 for a new appliance or struggling to make that squeezing strategy work. Turns out, there is. And you most likely already have what you need in a kitchen drawer right now.

How To Open a Jar With a Bottle Opener

This jar-opening trick costs you nothing if you already have a bottle opener. Yes, we’re talking about the same low-tech tool you use to pop open a bottle of beer or soda.

According to the now viral TikTok video from @domesticblisters, which has earned more than 300,000 likes since it was posted in 2023, if a jar lid refuses to budge and twist open, simply take a bottle opener and lightly lift one edge to allow a bit of air to enter. This dislodges the lid and leaves it ready to swiftly and easily slide open.

We gave this a shot with a stuck-on salsa lid, and it worked flawlessly, allowing us to open and share the dip with our friends at a summer potluck. And other people who have watched the video agree that this method works marvelously.

“I usually whack the jar with a heavy object, risking breaking the glass. This is a PERFECT alternative,” one person commented.

“I just went and opened every single jar in my kitchen to prove this,” claimed another. “Now, I have to use it.”

One person exclaimed, “You’re telling me I bought a specific device for this? Which looks a lot like a bottle opener now [that] I think about it…”

So, the next time you find yourself with a seriously stubborn jar lid, skip the fancy appliances and do not use a knife. Just grab a humble bottle opener to get the job done.