While some kitchen hacks require obscure equipment or long periods of time, learning how to open a jar that’s sealed tight is easy. In most instances, all you need are your hands, elbow grease and maybe one or two items from the nearest kitchen drawer. Here, five methods to help you loosen stuck jars in no time.

1. Tap the Lid

Small amounts of sticky sauces or condiments can build up on the rims of your jars, and that stuck-on residue can make it hard to pry the lids loose. To open a difficult jar, tap all along the edges of a lid with a wooden rolling pin, the back of a chef’s knife or a similarly heavy, blunt object. That force can help dislodge the crusted food and loosen the lid. Additionally, for unopened jars, it pops open the tight seal on the jar (you'll often hear an audible popping noise). If it doesn’t work immediately, try again: You might need to tap the perimeter of the lid several times to jostle it open. If you want a super fast and slightly more agressive solution, hit the rim of the lid on a hard, unbreakable surface.

2. Pry Open the Lid

You can use a butter knife, flat head screwdriver, bottle opener or can opener key (it’s the hook beneath the blade near the handle) to carefully pry the lid open. Be sure to use caution and point the jar and utensil away from your face while you work the tip of the tool around the underside of the rim. Once you hear a pop, you’ll know that the seal has broken.

3. Smack the Bottom or Side of the Jar

Like dislodging stubborn ketchup from a bottle, smacking the bottom or side of a jar with the palm of your hand can help shake a stuck lid. Hold the jar in your non-dominant hand at a 45-degree angle and use your other hand to smack its bottom or side. If the contents of your jar are liquid and you’re worried about spills, position the lid and mouth of your jar over a bowl on the counter.

4. Add Traction to the Lid or Base

When a jar gets stuck, extra traction can help you grip the lid or base and pry them apart. Try wrapping the lid with a dry kitchen towel and rotating the hand holding the glass jar. Or, don a pair of rubber gloves and twist. If neither of these methods work, put a thick rubber band around the circumference of the lid and then twist with your bare or gloved hands.

5. Run The Lid Under Hot Water

Heat causes metal to expand, which can help the lid loosen off the sides of the jar. Hold the lid of a stuck jar underneath hot running water and rotate it to wet all sides. You can also submerge the entire jar in a bowl of hot water, but keep in mind that this method can sometimes permit some water to trickle into your jar. If you’re opening a difficult jar filled with dried goods, you might want to make sure only the lid gets wet.

6. Use a Tool Designed for Stuck Jars

If you often find yourself battling difficult jars, consider buying a gadget designed to loosen stubborn lids. This sort of tool is an especially worthwhile investment if you or someone you cook with has arthritis.

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