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See why.Jar Openers
We tested seven jar openers and tested them on jars of all shapes, sizes, and materials to find the best all around pick.
Top Picks
See Everything We Tested
What You Need To Know
A well-designed jar opener can eliminate the pain and frustration of trying to pry open stubborn lids. We rounded up seven models priced from about $6 to just under $20 and tested them on jars of all shapes, sizes, and materials—from 2-ounce vanilla bottles with tiny plastic lids to 26-ounce jars of tomato sauce with large metal lids.
Basic versions resemble silicone potholders—small pieces of textured plastic that you wrap around the lid for a slip-free grip. Unfortunately, these weren’t much better at opening jars than our bare hands. More complex openers have metal teeth or plates that latch on to the jar and a handle to provide leverage, but these designs also had problems. One model with smooth plates had trouble gripping the lids tightly, while openers with jagged metal teeth tore into the lids (and, in one case, a tester’s hand).
It was clear that traction alone wasn’t enough—the most effective openers also break the jar’s vacuum. One model works like a bottle opener, lifting the lip of the lid slightly to break the jar’s seal with a pop. Once the seal was broken, the lids unscrewed effortlessly by hand. Testers loved its easy-to-use, simple design, but it only works on metal lids less than 1/2 inch tall. (While most metal lids we tried could be opened with the Original JarKey, the company also makes a model that works on larger metal lids that are ½ inch to ¾ inch tall.)
Our old favorite is still our top pick. It sports a handle attached to a perforated bar that slides to grip any size jar, and its two metal prongs can release the vacuum on metal lids or loosen tight plastic lids. Though it takes a few tries to get the hang of it, our winner is a versatile and reliable tool.
Everything We Tested
Recommended - – For All Jars
- Comfort: 2.5 stars out of 3.
- Ease of Opening: 2.5 stars out of 3.
Once we got the hang of maneuvering its adjustable clamp, this model easily opened jar lids of all shapes, sizes, and materials. It uses a combination of traction and pressure to release the vacuum on metal jars and loosen tight threads on plastic lids. It also works well on previously opened jars.
Recommended - – For Metal Jars Only
- Comfort: 3 stars out of 3.
- Ease of Opening: 3 stars out of 3.
This jar opener works similarly to a bottle opener, wedging under the lid to release the vacuum instantly. Once the seal was broken, jars were a cinch to unscrew by hand. Testers loved this effortless and reliable opener, but it works only on unopened metal lids up to 1/2 inch tall and doesn’t work on plastic lids. (The company also makes a Maxi JarKey, which opens 1/2- to 3/4-inch-tall metal lids.)
Recommended with reservations
- Comfort: 2 stars out of 3.
- Ease of Opening: 2 stars out of 3.
This model fit lids of all sizes and opened most jars with ease, but it often took repeated tries to lock this opener against each jar. Some testers also felt uncomfortable with this model’s looser grip on the jar, though most appreciated that its smooth plates were gentle on lids.
- Comfort: 2 stars out of 3.
- Ease of Opening: 2 stars out of 3.
While this tool effectively opened most jars, its sharp metal teeth tore at lids. The largest model in our lineup, this bulky opener was cumbersome for testers with small hands and requires significant drawer space.
Not Recommended
- Comfort: 1.5 stars out of 3.
- Ease of Opening: 1 stars out of 3.
This set of silicone jar grips comes with three shapes, but testers struggled to find use for two: One was oddly cone-shaped, while another circular shape was too small for larger jars. Most testers thought these grips were only slightly better than opening jars barehanded.
- Comfort: 1 stars out of 3.
- Ease of Opening: 1 stars out of 3.
Testers jokingly called this intimidating-looking opener, which had sharp pointed teeth, a “torture device,” and they weren’t far off. One tester cut his hand against the opener’s teeth while straining against a stubborn jar. Another accidently crushed a plastic lid in its vise while struggling to find a secure grip.
- Comfort: 1 stars out of 3.
- Ease of Opening: 1 stars out of 3.
This silicone jar grip is meant to loop around lids to add traction, but its thick, slippery exterior actually made opening jars harder. Testers struggled to wrap their hands around this bulky grip, which frustratingly slid around the jar as they twisted.
Reviews you can trust
The mission of America’s Test Kitchen Reviews is to find the best equipment and ingredients for the home cook through rigorous, hands-on testing.
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