JAR OPENER BUYING GUIDE:

how to choose jar opener that works for you

In the Jar Opener Buying Guide, I will share with you in condensed form what I learned doing thorough research of jar openers available on the market.  First, we’ll take a look at types of jar openers and discuss their pros and cons. Then, with the help of questions, you will discover your individual jar opening needs. Lastly, we will match your needs to available products.  As a result, you will be able to choose a functional jar opener that works, easy to use,  suits your needs, and, hopefully, will last a lifetime.

Let’s begin.

*This post contains affiliate links. If you choose to purchase any of the products I have recommended, I may receive a commission at no cost to you. You can read my full disclosure at the bottom of the page.

 Jar Opener Types

There are two main jar opener types on the market: manual and electric. Each type, in turn, can be divided into more sub-types.

Let’s go through quick descriptions of jar opener types available on the market, so you can get the “big picture”, followed by tables listing advantages and drawbacks of each sub-type. For in-depth discussion and advice on jar opener types, please read related articles about manual jar openers and electric jar openers.

Manual Jar Openers

Manual jar openers help to open jars by providing you with better grip, leverage, or grip and leverage combined. There is a huge variety of manual jar openers on the market. Just look at some representatives on the photos below:

The simplest manual jar openers are grippers (or jar grips). They can be made of different materials: (rubber, silicon), have different look, thickness, and shape but their primary function is to help you to get a good grip on the lid to make it easy to unscrew it. For larger lids, thin grippers work the best.

Also, you can place a gripper under the jar to prevent it from sliding on the counter. Or you can grasp a jar’s side with the thin gripper to assist your hand holding the jar. A lightweight gripper is a handy thing to have in your kitchen or pack in your suitcase when going on a trip.

The largest group of manual handheld jar openers consists of tools that provide a combination of grip and leverage for the hand that opens the lid.

To this group belong:

1) any jar opener that resembles a strap (loop, grip) wrench;

2) jar openers with two handles and a loop with slots that go around the lid or jaws that squeeze the lid from the sides;

3) spring-loaded arm that grabs the lid at two points;

4) a handle and a pad that grasps the lid at 3 or more points.

You will see at glance the pros and cons of each kind of handheld jar openers that provides grip and leverage in the tables presented later in the article. I just want to add observation from my personal experience:  if you are looking  for a handheld manual jar openers that is functional and easy to use – the only ones  that worthy to consider are those that have a  handle and a pad with the teeth (like Oxo Good Grips with Base Pad, check out video below) or handle and pad with grippers that grab the lid at more than two points (like Kuhn Rikon The Gripper, see photo below). All the other kinds of handheld manual jar openers do not perform that well: they might get broken easily,  slip from the lid, do not provide good grip or leverage, and can cause more frustration than help. Especially, if you are elderly, have arthritis or weak hands – please, don’t spend your money on tools that do not provide assistance to both hands while you are opening  jars. Read related Jar openers for arthritic hands.

OXO Good Grips with Base Pad jar opener has sharp stainless steel teeth that grab the lid strongly. It comes with a pad that goes under the jar to prevent the jar from sliding and assist the hand that holds the jar. This way the strain on both hands is reduced. OXO rightfully states that it requires as much force to hold the jar steady as it does to open the lid.

EZ Off under cabinet jar opener

It gives you the ability to

• use both hands to open jar ( though not required, you can support and turn jar with the help of both hands)
• doesn’t cost a lot
•  does not take up counter or drawer space in the kitchen
• provides superior grip
• never fails to open jar

Electric Jar Openers

Electric jar openers allow you to open jar with the push of the button. They can be can be battery operated or corded – for plugging into a standard electrical outlet. Electric jar openers are great for people with weak hands or arthritis, and also are suitable for one-handed operation.

Battery operated jar openers work on  AA batteries.  They have two sets of arms – one set holds the jar while the other one opens the lid. The most popular representatives of this kind of opener are RoboTwist as seen on TV and Open Ease made by Hamilton Beach.

Automatic jar openers that work on batteries are overall quite functional. Customer reviews are somewhat mixed. The biggest problem that I see with all battery operated jar openers is that manufacturers do not recommend them for opening plastic jars, which limits their application. However, people do use these openers on plastic jars anyway and report that they work successfully.  The other thing is that it takes a significant amount of time to open a jar (20-60 seconds) using a battery operated jar opener while the opening process is accompanied by a loud whiny noise that these gadgets make. 

If you are interested to see a RoboTwist battery operated automatic jar opener in action – watch YouTube video made by Freekin’ reviews below:

Corded electric jar openers work great. They open any kind of jars up to 4 1/2 inches wide and 8 inches tall effortlessly and quickly. There is only one maker producing this kind of device – Black and Decker. Its famous Lids Off – is the Cadillac of jar openers!  If you can afford it – good for you!   Also, it can make a really useful gift for your aging parents. Lids Off JW 400 model called Open-it-all center combines a jar opener, can opener, and bottle opener in one unit.

Please, read more about Lids Off in  One touch jar openers

Watch a video about how Lids Off works in Jar openers for arthritic hands

Now you know about all  jar opener types and sub-types that exist on the market today. To recap their “+” and “-” overview the following tables while keeping in mind which features are important for you.

(Clicking each heading will open a window with an example of the described jar opener type).

Discover Your Individual Needs

Now, ask yourself the following questions and mark everything that applies:

Where am I going to use my jar opener?

•  at home in the kitchen?
• take on vacation or trips?
• use it on a commercial kitchen?
• give it as a gift for somebody?

      If you need a jar opener for home, think about

1) Your hands’ strength:

       a) do you usually open jars with no devices or do you often ask somebody for help?

       b) do you have arthritis, carpal tunnel syndrome or weak hands?

      c) can you raise your hands to under cabinet level?

      d) do you have elderly people or children at home that need to open jars?

      e) does your jar opener need to be operated with just one hand?