How to open a stuck jar lid without hurting your hand

2 minutes. Costs nothing.

Try this first (costs nothing): hold the jar lid under hot tap water for 30 seconds. Metal expands a little with heat, which loosens the seal. Dry your hands, grip with a rubber glove or a tea towel, and twist.

Four ways, in order

1. Hot water. Run the lid under hot water for 30 seconds. Keep the jar steady so you do not burn your fingers.
2. Tap the edge. Turn the jar upside down and tap round the edge of the lid with the back of a spoon. This breaks the seal.
3. Add grip. Wear a rubber glove, or hold a rubber band around the lid, or press a damp cloth over it.
4. Let air in. Slide the tip of a spoon or a blunt knife under the edge of the lid and lever until you hear a small pop. That is the vacuum letting go.

Never use a sharp knife, and always push away from your hand. Glass jars can crack. If a jar chips, throw it out.

If that does not work

• Sticky rim. Jam and honey glue the thread. Soak the lid in warm soapy water for 10 minutes.
• Too weak a grip. An under-cabinet jar opener or a rubber pad helps when your hands are sore.
• Dented lid. If the metal is bent, the seal can be stuck for good. Carefully lift the edge with a bottle opener.

Check the jar before eating. If the contents smell wrong, look mouldy, or the lid is swollen or leaking, throw it away. Food safety guidance generally says not to eat from jars that look or smell off.

Fix it, replace it or live with it

• Fix it: all of the above, free.
• Replace it: your lid, if it is rusted or bent. A jar with a rusted lid can be transferred to another container.
• Live with it: a tough jar once in a while. Buy a rubber gripper if it happens every week.

For a small job of the same size, see how to stop a door squeaking.

A drawer that sticks as stubbornly as a jar is covered in how to fix a sticking drawer.