Let the first stone be thrown who never suffered before a jar of olives. You take the glass and try to open it confidently, but the lid will not give way. On the second try, you already hurt your hand. In the third, you resort to the dish towel. On Wednesday, you ask the pot to please open it. By Thursday, you are already cursing until the 14th generation of olives and hence there is no patience and fist that can handle further attempts.

This is when you need to put your knowledge into practice. So, to give you that strength in the kitchen and no longer feel like eating pickles, hearts of palm, sauces, jellies and other potted foods, check out some tricks that will help you open them in a practical and painless way.

1. Upside down

Do you know that classic scene where the doctor turns the newborn baby upside down and pats it for easy breathing ?! For know that the same technique can be used with your pot. Then, to open it easily, try turning it upside down and, holding the piece of glass, hit it hard with the other hand at the bottom of the pot. Return to the normal position and verify that the pressure caused by the liquid was sufficient to eliminate the vacuum and allow the lid to open.

2. Knife, spoon or spatula

Another option is to try to eliminate the vacuum from the pot with the help of a butter knife, a spoon or a spatula. To do this, fit the cutlery tip between the glass and the lid and force it all around to get air into the pot. Just be careful not to press too hard as this can break the glass or instrument you are using.

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3. Beats

If you prefer, you can try opening your pot with a few beats. The key is to hit the edge of the lid on a hard surface at an angle of 45 °. You can hit the pot against the sink or hit it with a wooden spoon, for example. This trick usually causes the lid to move far enough to break the vacuum without damaging it. However, you need to know that if you hit it too hard, there is a possibility of spoiling the lid or breaking the pot.

4. A little heat

Another alternative is to use a little heat to open the pot. You can pour some hot water over the lid or soak the lid in the water for a moment. When trying to open, it is important to use a cloth to increase friction with the lid and also to prevent heat from burning your hands. This trick is used to cause the metal lid to sag as the temperature rises and thus eliminate the vacuum. You can do the same experiment using a hair dryer or lighter to heat the lid, but be careful when handling these objects.

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5. Cloths and gloves

One of the most basic tricks that usually works with pots almost impossible to open is to use objects to increase friction and traction. In addition to the dishcloth, you can vary the utensil to see what works best with your pot. Try using damp sponges, rubber gloves, silicone handles, etc. Once you've chosen your utensil, the key is to rotate firmly and keep pressure on the lid to open the pot more easily.

6. Holes

If you do not intend to reuse the pot and can make the lid unusable, you can open the glass with holes. Using a nail, knife or can opener, drill small holes through the lid to eliminate the vacuum. You don't have to drill a lot of holes and you'll soon realize that the lid can be turned effortlessly.

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7. Silver Tape

Do you know those wide, traditionally silver tapes that are used to make patches ?! So they can be a great resource for opening glass jars. Cut a piece about 12 inches long and glue around the lid, lowering the leftovers over the lid to create a larger contact area. Fold the remaining portion over the tape itself to reinforce it and prevent the glue from contacting your hand. Use this leftover piece to tug at it. The contact between the tape and the cover should be sufficient to open it if you are pulling in the correct direction.

8. A helping hand

Why suffer when you have someone around to help ?! So instead of looking like a stranger who sticks lids and beats in pots, ask for a hand around. You can use the good old method of forcing the lid with confidence or sharing with your kitchen mate one of the tricks you just learned from this article. Remember that it is always possible to use that excuse that "I did most of the force, you just finished opening" and get the merit of the feat. Just be sure to offer some olives as a thank you.

* Originally posted 11/29/2013.