How to Open a Canning Jar of Your Home Canned Foods
Were you gifted some home canned goods but are unsure how to open them? Here is your complete guide on how to open a canning jar.
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How to Open a Canning Jar
Try one of these different methods to take the flat lid off of some mason jars from your home food preservation days. Luckily, you don’t need to go out and buy any special tool as most of these things are common kitchen utensils that are probably in your house already.
Use a Canning Ring
The cheapest way and an easy way to open a canning jar since you have a ring from canning anyway, is to turn that metal band upside down and use that to pop the lid off the canning jar and ruin the airtight seal.
Tablespoon
Since everyone has a normal tablespoon in their silverware drawer, just use this to pop the lid off. Tuck it under the lid, right on the rim of the jar lid, and lift the lid.
Butter Knife
To take a lid off, just use the tip of a butter knife. If the flat metal lid is being stubborn, try turning the butter knife around, using the handle of the knife and gently whacking along the edge of the lid.
Water
If you have a stuck jar lid, try running warm water on the middle of the lid for about 30-60 seconds to loosen up the lid. The heat spreads to the edges making it easier to pop the lid off. Dry off your jar with a kitchen towel and try popping it off using one of the above tools. Alternatively, you can try setting the jar in a bowl of hot water for ten minutes or blow a hair dryer for a minute. Just make sure the jar is already room temperature or warmer so you don’t crack the glass.
Nail
Grab a nail and hammer and make a small hole in the center of the lid of the jar. This handy trick will ruin the vacuum seal and you can open jars from there.
Church Key
Using a church key or bottle opener (like you would use for a beer bottle) allows you to pry the stubborn lid off the mason jar.
Special Tool
You can buy a canning jar opener, although they have gone up significantly in price since 2020 and I cannot find where to get a cheaper one.
Some Great Canning Recipes
Now that you have ruined the sealing compound on the canning lids, it’s time to enjoy the contents of the jar! If you are looking for more recipes, try some of these home canning recipes:
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