Opening jars can be a difficult task for anyone, but for people with arthritis it can be almost impossible. So what are the best jar openers for arthritis sufferers? There are so many out there. Which one do you choose?
Many people who suffer from arthritis just don’t have the strength necessary to open jars. Therefore, we not only need something to helps us grip, but also we need more leverage.
An under counter jar opener is great for many reasons. First being, having it screwed under the cabinet helps in two ways. It gives us the leverage we need to open jars and we never have to go looking in drawers for it.
I have found three different categories of jar openers.
Each has it’s advantages and disadvantages. But just like how these openers are different, so are we. We all have different needs. So what works well for me, may not work as well for you. You might need to buy more than one in order to figure out what works best for you, but in my opinion, it is going to be worth it. In fact, I find that I need different openers for different kinds of jars.
Under Counter Jar Openers
Many people who suffer from arthritis just don’t have the strength necessary to open jars. Therefore, we not only need something to helps us grip, but also we need more leverage.
An under counter jar opener is great for many reasons. First being, having it screwed under the cabinet helps in two ways. It gives us the leverage we need to open jars and we never have to go looking in drawers for it.
Pampered Chef Jar Opener
The Pampered Chef Jar OpenerBuy on Amazon
The Pampered Chef Jar Opener is a must-have kitchen gadget that makes opening jars a breeze! With just a simple twist, the Jar Opener does all the work for you- quickly and effortlessly opening any standard size jar. This is the one I own so of course it is my favorite. I have had this Pampered Chef Jar Opener for several years now and I have never had anything it wouldn’t open.
It has a rubberized handle which helps the grip. The wide opening accommodates lids up to 3 1/2″ and as small as a water bottle.
The sleek design is also compact, so it takes up minimal counter space and can be stored away easily in a drawer. You can also use it to remove lids from cans and bottles. And of course it is dishwasher safe.
The Pampered Chef jar opener has a row of very fine metal teeth on one side and a band of rubber on the other side. This makes it gentle on the lid so it doesn’t ruin it for future use.
One downside to this Pampered Chef jar opener is that it is one of the more expensive models available on Amazon. But, in my opinion, sometimes you have to spend a little more money in order to get the best! Personally I highly recommend it.
EZ Off Jar Opener
The EZ Off Jar Opener will open jars and bottles as small as a fingernail polish bottle all the way up to large mouth jars.
This opener will need to be screwed into the bottom of your cabinet. They make it easy to do by including a peel and stick adhesive that you can use to stick the unit to the cabinet. Then after you have it where you want it, you just use the screws to attach. The adhesive keeps the unit in place while you put the screws in. Very handy.
One downside is that it does have sharp metal teeth. This can cause some marking on a lid when you open it.
Grip Type Jar Openers For Arthritis
Grip type jar openers are products like the silicone sheets or the openers that are shaped like a cone. This type of opener will help to keep your hands from sliding around on the jar or lid but it is not going to help you if you need leverage. If you don’t have a lot of strength, this type of jar opener may not be the best choice for you.
Regent Round Multi-Purpose Jar Grippers
Round Multi-Purpose Jar Gripper, 4 Piece Set, Colors May VaryBuy on Amazon
If you are looking for something that will just give you a little extra grip, then these jar gripper pads may be just what you are looking for.
They are very reasonably priced and will ship free if you have a Prime account. They come in a set of four. From the reviews I read, most likely you are going to get four of one color. You might get red, green, blue or orange.
They measure 5 1/2″ so my guess would they could open a jar up to around 4 1/2″.
There is also an option to order a double pack that will save you a few cents. Then you could leave one in your desk at work, have one in the car, one in your purse and be able to scatter them about the house so there would always be one handy.
Mommy’s Helper Jar Opener
Mommy’s Helper Jar OpenerBuy on Amazon
I remember how difficult it was to open baby food jars. I was young then and my arthritis didn’t hardly bother me at all. But I still had trouble opening those pesky little jars! The Mommy’s Helper Jar Openers look like they would be great for small jars like that.
The package includes three shapes. A square grip, a round grip and one dumbbell grip.
Best Automatic Jar Opener Reviews
The reviews for automatic jar openers are really a mixed bag. While there were many people who loved them, there were also quite a few that didn’t feel they worked.
The biggest challenge I saw with the automatic jar openers was that they are designed to only open plastic jars. The opener needs to get a good grip on the jar in order to produce the leverage needed to open the jar. A plastic jar can “cave”. When it does that, the opener won’t be able to get the leverage it needs to get the lid to come off. Some people said they were able to open plastic jars without a problem, but be aware that they are not designed to. Large pickle jars also seemed to be a problem. These challenges seem to be “across the board” with all the automatic jar openers that I researched.
With that being said, there were still a lot of people who loved them. You might be one of those people! So I chose to review the two units that I felt got the best reviews.
Robotwist Deluxe Automatic Jar Opener
Robotwist Automatic Jar OpenerBuy on Amazon
The Robotwist is the latest and greatest in automatic jar openers. Simply place it on top of a sealed jar and let the Robotwist do the work for you.
This is a newer version of the Robo Twist Jar Opener that has an improved torque power. No more struggling to open jars. The Robotwist is strong enough to open any size or type of jar, even if it’s been sealed shut for years.
Fits any jar! It is constructed with two large twisting vice grips that can hold 1.2 – 3.5 inches diameter of lids,
The Robotwist is perfect for those with arthritis or other hand conditions that make opening jars difficult. Or anyone who does not want to fiddle around with a traditional opener. The Robotwist is also great for busy moms and dads who don’t have time to fiddle with a traditional jar opener.
The Robotwist stores easily. For compact storage just press the “open” button on the unit. This will reset the arms to the smallest position making the small unit even smaller for storage.
Black & Decker Lids Off Automatic Jar Opener
Black & Decker Lids Off Jar OpenerBuy on Amazon
One of the advantages of the Black & Decker Lids Off automatic jar opener is that you can use it with only one hand. The Lids Off cradles the jar on it’s lower turntable. Then it grips the lid when you lower the upper housing. Push the large power button and just like that the lid is twisted free. It is designed to work on both metal and plastic lids.
The unit works on a wide range of jars. Ones as small as baby food jars and anything up to 4 1/2″ in diameter and 8″ high. What doesn’t work with the Lids Off are very narrow necks such as beer bottles or tall jars of juice.
It measures 8 1/2″ x 7 3/4″ x 10″. The Black and Decker Lids Off is collapsible to make it space efficient. It also comes with a built in power cord storage.
It works on electricity. If you don’t have a lot of strength this might be the unit for you.
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