A jar opener is a kitchen device which is used to open glass or plastic jars. A jar is sealed by either (a) a screw-off rubberised lid or (b) a lid placed on the opening of the jar with a rubber sealing-ring between. Screw-off lids are usually made of metal with a thin rubber sealing layer, whereas lift-off lids mostly consist of glass.

A jar opener for screw-off lids
Prestige Jar Opener for screw-off lids using rubber timing belt
Jar opener for preserving jar with lift-off lid - patented by Havolit, manufactured in 1950s
Automatic jar opener one-touch / Robotwist


Types

edit

Screw-off lids

edit

A traditional jar opener for a screw-off lid will have two handles, leading up to two concentric grooved rings which can be used to fit different lids. It also sometimes has a device to open a bottle on it. There are many models including rubber sheet grip models and rubber timing belt loop models.[1]

Lift-off lids

edit

Jar openers that are designed to wedge open a lid sealed by a rubber ring were patented and produced in Germany in the mid 1930s, but all production has halted following the turn of the century. On the right is an example of a wooden vintage jar opener for preserve jars.

Reasons for use

edit

Many people can remove the lids of glass jars by hand. Some people with and without disabilities cannot open a jar, while others prefer the ease that comes with a jar opener.[2]

Motorised jar openers

edit

Black & Decker produced the first automatic jar opener in 2003.[3]

See also

edit

References

edit
  1. ^ tel-editors (2015-10-14). "Best Jar Opener for Older Adults". Tech-enhanced Life. Retrieved 2022-04-07. {{cite web}}: |last= has generic name (help)
  2. ^ Wood's Historical Guide for Bottle, Can and Jar Openers. Lulu.com. ISBN 978-1-4116-9062-2.
  3. ^ Mann, William C. (2005-07-22). Smart Technology for Aging, Disability, and Independence: The State of the Science. John Wiley & Sons. p. 135. ISBN 978-0-471-74396-5.