[Top 5] Best Automatic Jar Opener

If you’ve ever had to remove the lid on a jar of sauce, pickle, or any other food item, then you probably know how handy jar openers are. At times, your hands might be enough to do the job, but it becomes considerably easier when you have a tool to use, like a jar opener.

There are two types of jar openers – the manual and the automatic. Like you can probably guess, the automatic opener is the more convenient and versatile option to use. In this comprehensive article, we will review some of the best automatic jar openers available on the market, so you can find it easy enough to choose one for your home or commercial kitchen.

5 Best Automatic Jar Opener

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1. Hamilton Beach Automatic Jar Opener

The Hamilton Beach Open Ease Jar Opener is one of the most convenient jar openers you can get today. It is a relatively small battery-powered tool that features lower arms designed to grip the jar body and upper arms that hold and twist the lid. Like many other automatic jar openers, its highlight is the easy push-button that activates the jar opening. All you are required to do is fix the device to the top of your jar and push the button. 

As it is a portable and compact device, you can easily store it away in your kitchen cabinet or drawer after use. Interestingly, the Hamilton Beach Open Ease Automatic Jar Opener can open a variety of lid sizes, ranging from 1″ to 4″ diameters. It requires much less effort than manual openers, and it is one of the best jar openers for arthritis or weak hands. The device is powered by 2 AA batteries and can open up to 250 jars with one set of batteries.

What customers say:

A customer said they bought this for a mom who suffers from arthritis and she doesn’t have to struggle with opening jars anymore.

2. Besmon Electric Jar Opener

This Besmon Automatic Opener is quite similar to the other automatic openers on our list. It comes with a simple mechanism that only requires the push of a button to open jars. This makes it a perfect opener for seniors and those with arthritis. It also comes with a clever innovation that consists of a built-in magnet to hold the lid in place as it is removed. It works well on a wide range of lid sizes.  

AA batteries power the Besmon jar opener, and interestingly, it is an energy-efficient device that uses very little energy. Regardless of its small and compact size, it is a durable device that will remain functional for a long time, thanks to its sturdy plastic frame and stainless steel blade. The only downside to this jar opener is that it is not suitable for plastic lids. We should also add that this is a relatively affordable device for those who need budget options.

What customers say:

A customer described it as more effective than the bigger automatic jar openers that had been previously bought.

3. Black & Decker JW200 Jar Opener

Check out the Black & Decker JW200 Lids Off Jar Opener. It is one of the more sophisticated automatic openers on our list. Like all automatic jar openers, it is well-fitting for people with weak hands or grip and arthritis. Unlike the battery-powered models, it needs to be connected to a power outlet for it to function. As it is powered by electricity, it is much stronger than battery-powered openers. Also, it is designed to open lids of different sizes, up to 4.5 inches in diameter. So, you can pretty much use it on any jar in your kitchen.

Furthermore, the Black & Decker JW200 is adaptable to fit jars that are up to 8 inches in height, making it a more versatile opener to work with. It requires very little input from the user, and all you have to do is place the jar inside it, adjust the right size, push a button, and watch your jar open. Not all automatic openers can be used on plastic and vacuum-sealed lids like this one.

What customers say:

An Amazon customer with severe hand problems described this jar opener as a lifesaver. She says it has opened every jar she put it in.

4. Black & Decker Jar Opener Jw275

This is very similar to the Black& Decker JW200 but with subtle differences. The opener has a small turntable-like feature where you place the jar, after which you adjust the height of the opener to match the height of the jar. All you’re required to do now is press the on/off button until the lid is opened. Compared to the smaller jar opener models, it needs more storage space, but it looks great on the countertop with its aesthetically pleasing design.

Like the other models we have reviewed, the Black & Decker JW275 comes with a durable plastic frame and a stainless steel blade for utmost durability. Furthermore, it opens a wide variety of jar sizes. This is the most expensive jar opener on our list, and it may not be the optimal choice for people looking for budget automatic jar openers, but it is arguably the best electric jar opener on this list.

What customers say:

One customer has had this jar opener for five years and has never had any problem opening a jar with it.

5. INSTACAN Electric Jar Opener

For jars with lids that range from 30 mm to  88 mm in diameter, this is a perfect opening tool that requires very little to no effort to use. This means that it is even suitable for individuals who have arthritis or any other medical condition that limits the use of the hands. Simply fix the device to the top of the lid and press the button to start the device. Once it is done opening, press the release button to release the jar body.

Furthermore, the Instacan Electric Jar Opener is an energy-efficient device. It is powered by 2 AA batteries, and the rate of energy consumption is quite low, so you can expect the batteries to power the opener for long periods. Also, it is a compact device that doesn’t take up much counter space, so you can easily store it away in your kitchen drawer or cabinet when it’s not in use. Much more than its impressive functionality, it is a really affordable jar opener.

What customers say:

A customer described it as a great opener for people who have lost the strength in their hands. There’s no need to even hold the jar.

Type of jar openers

You can get either of two types of jar openers on the market – manual opener or automatic opener. These broad divisions are further broken down into different subtypes, but jar openers are generally manually operated or electric powered.

1. Manual jar openers

Manual openers are designed to be dependent on grip and leverage. The general idea is that they are designed to grip jar lids tightly to be twisted off easily. Whatever manual effort applied is amplified by the opener. While they are flexible and versatile, manual jar openers are not suited to people with little to no strength in their limbs.

2. Automatic jar openers

These are powered by electricity, and they require very little effort to use. The only manual effort needed is to attach them to the jar and activate the opening action at the touch of a button. Automatic jar openers must be plugged into an electric outlet or fitted with batteries for them to work.

What to know about buying jar openers?

There are many factors that should guide your selection process when it comes to buying a jar opener. With functionality in mind, attention to some other important details is also critical if you hope to choose a device that will serve your personal purpose. Some of the important things to consider when buying a jar opener are discussed below.

Type of jar opener

Regardless of the type of mechanism an opener has, it will fall under the manually operated category or electric category. Your optimal choice of opener type may come down to personal preference or not. Manual jar openers are much more flexible, but they require more effort. 

Material

Jar opener durability is heavily dependent on the quality of these materials. Automatic jar openers are made from metal and plastic materials. Choose a model that has a tough plastic body and stainless steel blade to ensure longevity.

Storage space

You surely don’t want to buy an opener you can store away properly. Typically, jar openers do not need much storage space, but some models require considerable countertop space. Choose a size with available storage space in mind. Some openers have collapsible designs that make them more compact after usage for easy storage.

Size

The size of the jar opener itself is not the most important factor, but the size of jars it can handle. The height of a jar and the width of the lid can limit an opener’s functionality, so you want to make sure you choose an opener that can fit a variety of lid diameters and jar heights.

Difference between manual and automatic jar openers?

All jar openers are designed to make jar opening easier and faster. However, manual and automatic jar openers have distinct mechanisms. A significant difference between these two types of openers lies in how they are powered.  As the name implies, manual jar openers require manual effort throughout the opening process, while automatic openers require very little to no effort to remove the lid on a jar. Automatic openers need electricity, so they are designed to be powered by batteries or plugged into electric sockets.

Benefits of using an automatic jar opener

Automatic jar openers may not be as flexible as manual jar openers, but they certainly have a lot more benefits to offer. Here are some of the advantages of using an automatic jar opener.

• Reduces the effort required to open jars
• Reduces the chance of injuries
• It makes it possible for the elderly and people with arthritis to open jars

How does the automatic jar opener work?

Automatic jar openers work in several different ways, but the general idea is that they grip both the jar and the lid and twist without manual effort from the user. Here’s how to work a typical automatic jar opener.

• Place the jar opener on top of the lid
• Press the “open jar” button. (It’s usually on top of the device)
• The outer arms will grip the body of the jar, while the inner arms will grip the cover and start to rotate.
• Press the “release button” to release the device after the lid is opened.

How do you open a jar that won’t open?

When you have a jar with a lid that won’t open, you can only try out a couple of techniques and hope it opens. 

• The first is to intensify your manual effort in twisting the lid. This is not an option for people with weak hands or arthritis. 
• If the jar is vacuumed sealed, breaking the seal could make it easier to open.
• Another thing you could try is running the lid under hot water if it is a metal lid. The high temperature should make the lid expand and easier to twist open.

Why are jars so hard to open anyway?

It does seem like the lids on food jars are becoming harder to open. While this is great for preserving the jar’s content, it can be frustrating when you have to struggle every time you have to open a jar. Vacuum is the number one reason for this. When the temperature decreases, the air pressure above the content decreases, causing the lid also to contract and the seal to tighten further.

Jar openers: which works best in older hands?

Older hands usually mean little to no hand/wrist strength. Jar opening is considerably hard for seniors who cannot apply sufficient manual effort. However, as the automatic opener does not require manual input to open jars, it is the best jar opener for seniors with weak hands.

Frequently asked questions:

1. What is the easiest way to open a pickle jar?

The easiest way to open a pickle jar is with a manual or automatic jar opener. In the absence of these or when a pickle jar lid won’t come off easily, you can try breaking the seal manually or running it under hot water to make it expand and easier to open. 

2. What is the difference between a jar opener and a bottle opener?

A jar opener is designed to open jar lids by providing a strong grip and rotational force, while a bottle opener is a lever to lift bottle caps off. Bottle openers are not as sophisticated as jar openers.

Conclusion

Automatic jar openers make jar opening so easy. So that they have become a favorite kitchen essential for many. To help you make an informed opener choice, we have reviewed some of the best jar openers you can get on the market today. The common highlight of these openers is that they are powered by electricity and require very little manual effort to operate. Additionally, we have touched on some of the important things you should know about jar openers and factors that can help you make better choices when picking out one for your kitchen.