Glad you can see the humor in this mess!!

Annie, I learned it on this forum .... take a church key and barely pry the lid two or three times. You will hear the vacuum release and you can easily open the jar. Even this 65 yr old lady with carpel can do it. The jar will open easily. Even works better than the knife--I used to do that. Never heard of slamming the jar on the counter. It's a recipe for disaster.

Hope you are feeling better!!

Oh dear, I'm sorry about your thumb.

I do think that the jars today are thinner than ever before, but I've never slammed a jar on the counter top like that. I've smacked the bottom of the jar to break the seal, or ran the jar under hot water and tapped the edge with a knife. I also have one of those rubber squares to get a good grip on the jar. Mostly, however, I hand it to Elery, LOL.

Truthfully, I'm amazed you never got a broken jar before. A deli, though, isn't really all that bad a smell, especially if you have farms around!

Annie

Not at all dumb on your part. This happened because glass is a substance that behaves according to the statistical "Weak Sister" theory.

Glass is a strange material. It is never a solid, always a liquid. "Super cooled" liquid. A good electrical insulator, but becomes a good conduction in fluid state.

Depending on micro surface conditions, the heating and cooling proccess during manufacturing, and the end user's use habits, unknown internal stresses can develop.

The identical item subjected to identical impacts can have different end results each time.

dcarch

We always used the 'slamming on the counter top method' to break the vacuum seal on all jars -- until the same thing happened. You (hopefully) only break one jar when you change your ways :) Now we use the Jar key opener. It was a gift years ago tossing around in the junk drawer. Now it lives in a place of honor with the important tools of the trade - the sharp vegetable peeler and the bottle opener.

Here is a link that might be useful: Jar Key

You know, I'd never heard of people really doing the slam method till I came to GW. I thought it was something that only existed as a comedic device for TV.

Thanks, but I'll stick to the hot water/knife handle tap method. Broken jars are exactly what I would expect (and probably get) every time with the slam method.

Thanks for the church key method...how eminently sensible! And so much safer!

DH said it reminded him of the time he couldn't get the salad dressing out of the bottle so I cleverly used centrifugal force by grabbing the bottle by the bottom and swinging it around in a great big circle with my arm fully extended. Works great with ketchup too. Only I didn't realize the lid wasn't screwed on tight, lid popped off, and I got a huge long stripe of dressing all across the ceiling and the floor. So much fun!!!

dcarch, you're right about internal stresses in glass...I have had glasses just touched gently on the counter and shatter. Coffee pots can do this with the frequent heating and cooling cycles they go through. But the scary one was, where I worked, the office doors were very large, thick clear glass, and every once in awhile, one of those puppies would break with a loud boom. Really scary!

Oh, I've done it too...but never broken a jar. I usually use the can opener thingy made for prying the lids off.

I used to use one of the can openers that had the sharp pointy part that would cut a hole in a can for pouring juice, then it got lost. I haven't seen them anymore, as nothing needs to be cut in a V opening for pouring. It worked great for prying under the lid just until you heard a pop.

Oh, your poor thumb! That must hurt like the dickens. Speedy recovery!

I do tap resistant jars against the counter (I do try to muscle it first). How "slammed" did you slam it? I also have an Italian jar wrench from the '80's, which works great, but my hands aren't big enough to use it on a pickle jar. I will heed your warning and try the church key method...

Jasdip, they do still make them, everything from the stamped sheet metal with magnet "church key" (so called from when guys would stick one to their cars so never be caught unable to open a can of beer (the "church"), which is appalling to a modern outlook about drinking and driving), to beautifully finished bar elegance models. If they don't have one at the grocery (though ask, because they might) or the housewares department, try the hardware store, camping store, or someplace that sells bar supplies. Or just go on Amazon, and take your pick. :)

Well, a warning to me! The "big slam" is my preferred way to open up a bottle if it resists, but I'm telling myself to not do that anymore. I know I'm living on borrowed time and my day is coming that I break the bottle big time! My church key is handy and I will try to get in the habit of using that to loosen up the lid.

Thanks for the reminder!
Teresa

I never tried the slamming method, always used a church key.
I really hate breaking glass stuff, it seems like a couple slivers always end up further away from the scene of the accident than you would ever think.

Please note--I don't use the pointed end of the church key. I use the broad end. Sorta wedge the blunt end on the top of the lid and hook on the lower edge of the lid. Lift very gently 2 or 3 times. Works like a charm and the lid is totally reusable.

I always use the "lid key" that I bought somewhere eons ago. I was going to mention it but couldn't remember its name. Thanks, Mago!

Annie: too bad for your thumb. Heal fast.

I use the Lid Flipper by Ecko. Been extinct for a long time. If you can find it on ebay, get it. Works great. Why dont they make that anymore?

I slam it on the heel of my other hand. Usually works pretty well.

Jim

I have been using a jar popper for years, or least since they were first mentioned here. At the time, they were .99 cents and a nice addition when I was trying to add something cheap to my amazon cart to hit $25.
Well worth it.

I've been using a plastic "Jar Burp-it" for years - ever since Jessy gave them out during one of our L.A. get-togethers. I do not know if they are still available, but a bottle opener might work.

Lars

I just tap the side of the lid twice, holding the jar on an angle, it does the trick every time.

After reading your post I've been paying special attention to not slam it hard like you did, lol...

Annie, thanks for posting this. I too have been a jar slammer for decades. Time to change to a safer method.

Sounds like something I would do. Glad you weren't hurt badly.

What rock have I been under? I've never heard of using a church key to break the seal on jars. Will try it next time. TY