{{Short description|Kitchen device}} {{More citations needed|date=April 2022}}
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.
==Types== === Screw-off lids === 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 sometimes incorporates a bottle opener. There are many models, including rubber sheet grip models (called "rounds") and rubber timing belt loop models. Rounds are common promotional items, and mechanically the simplest type of jar opener.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Best Jar Opener for Older Adults |url=https://www.techenhancedlife.com/explorers/best-jar-opener-older-adults |access-date=2022-04-07 |website=Tech-enhanced Life |date=2015-10-14 |language=en}}</ref>
=== Lift-off lids === Jar openers 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 far below right is an example of a wooden vintage jar opener for fruit preserve jars, which must be air tight to prevent food spoilage.
=== Motorised jar openers === Black & Decker produced the first automatic jar opener in 2003.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Mann |first=William C. |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=HopxJS7cfjIC&dq=%22Jar+opener%22+-wikipedia&pg=PA135 |title=Smart Technology for Aging, Disability, and Independence: The State of the Science |date=2005-07-22 |publisher=John Wiley & Sons |isbn=978-0-471-74396-5 |pages=135 |language=en}}</ref>
<gallery widths=250 heights=250> File:Jar opener.jpg|An intricate metal jar opener File:Prestige Jar Opener.jpg|Polyurethane timing belt jar opener File:Saint Alphonsus Health Plan Circle Jar Opener.jpg|Medical insurance promotional item File:Preserving jar opener - patended by Havolit - 1950s 2022-05-27 (focus stack).jpg|Jar opener for preserving jar with lift-off lid - patented by Havolit, manufactured in 1950s File:One-Touch Jar Opener Designed by Mark Sanders for Daka International.jpg|Award-winning automatic jar opener </gallery>
== Reasons for use == Some people with smaller hands cannot readily remove the lids of some glass jars, lacking either sufficient strength and/or leverage. Some people with disabilities simply cannot open a jar, while others simply prefer the ease that comes with a jar opener.<ref>{{Cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=qJQImFTSaroC&dq=%22Jar+opener%22+-wikipedia&pg=PA16 |title=Wood's Historical Guide for Bottle, Can and Jar Openers. |publisher=Lulu.com |isbn=978-1-4116-9062-2 |language=en}}</ref>
== See also == * Gilhoolie
==References== {{Reflist}}
Category:Bottles Category:Kitchenware