Adjustable Jar Opener Cooks Illustrated Top Pick for Arthritis

As my grip has gotten older/weaker I discovered my old methods of opening jars was becoming less effective. This little gadget has worked effortlessly on a variety of jar lids. Doesn't require a lot of strength. And takes up very little space in the drawer.

When I broke my shoulder, I suddenly became that person who could not open a jar or bottle. So I searched for a device to help—and this item was not my first choice. Why? Because shouldn't something meant to open round things be round too? I admit to design-shaming. Instead, I ordered another Amazon product that had tons of 'likes' and gave you two items—one for bottles and one for jars. Wow, a twofer! Only one problem: I couldn't get it to grip a jar... it kept sliding off. So thinking the painkillers were zoning me out, I asked a friend who's a weight-lifter, and he couldn't get it to work either. Sent it back for a refund.But this nifty device? It grips everything, from water bottle caps to jar lids of all sizes. It's solid stainless steel and doesn't feel flimsy. Just lay it over the cap or lid you want to open, adjust the size, then lock it in place in the appropriate slot, just like you do on a gym machine. After that, it's an easy twist, as this design gives you plenty of leverage. Brilliant. It's just that simple, and it's been all I've needed to open everything.

I have had one of these for many years. While living in a rental place without my adjustable jar opener I realized how much I missed it.So, I ordered another one from Amazon. It's so nice not to have to ask my husband to open some really stuck on jar lids.This opener is not hard to use. You adjust the arms for the proper size while they are on the lid and then you twist. Once in awhile I find a lid that it doesn't fit and then I just whack the lid with the opener on the top edge and hope that neither the opener or the jar break. There's more than one way to loosen a lid!When my parents got older they bought every kind of jar opener they could find except for this style. I tried them all and none of them came close to being as useful as this kind.Yes, there might be a short learning curve, but once you get it, you get it--unless you don't have it.

Piece of crap. My wife has arthritis in her hands and it was purchased for her. She could not open the smallest of jar lids. Slipped around and wouldn't grip the lid. I tried to use it and I have a strong grip. Had the same results. A 10 year old piece of rubber used to open jars that I got from somewhere did a better job. . Just threw the opener away. You get what you pay for.And here I thought Cooks Illustrated was a good source for reviewing products. Did Cooks Illustrated get it from a supplier or did they purchase it from a store? If they purchased it from a retail outfit couldn't they see that it was a piece of junk when they opened the package and held it?

It takes a little practice to line it up on the lid so you can grip it tightly enough to open lid, but it is certainly very versatile and works from the smallest to the largest of any lids I've found. It's more expensive than some of the others, but it works so well that it is worth the extra cost.There is another one, a little less expensive, also very good, but I like this one better because it's easier for me to grip. (I have severe arthritis and a weak grip, so I ordered both, and I'm giving the other one to a friend who does not have arthritis. I would not give her one that doesn't work well. I did return a plastic one that wasn't adjustable.)

It is a little flimsy for large size jars to hold. I suggest the manufacture should prolong the handle of the opener so that in case large size jars, there is still a long handle to hold on and apply the force to twist open the lids because harder when a short handle and large size jars need a lot more force.

This really lives up to its hype! Heard about it on America's Test Kitchen and must admit, it really works well. Great for all size jars and bottles (just be sure you get the adjustible one that fits bottles). Little bit of a learning curve as your first instinct is to fit it around the lid when it really goes over the top, but who doesn't need a little help getting jars open at times?

This unit is flimsy and cheap:1. it's adjustable, but it falls out of its setting when you let go. So even if you open the same size jar everytime, you have to set it everytime.2. Setting it is annoying because first you have to put it on the jar, then tighten it, then remove it from the jar to get it into the correct setting, then put it back on the jar to use. Half the time, during this procedure it falls out of its setting due to issue #1 above.3. To tighten it you squeeze the handle, but to open the jar you have to twist. This means you have to be applying pressure in two different directions at once, which can be difficult if the lid is on very tightly.4. It grips with only four teeth, which provides very limited friction, and it slips easily. So you have to squeeze the handle harder, and I have actually crushed metal jar lids trying to squeeze hard enough to prevent it from slipping while trying to unscrew the lid.It's about as sturdy as something I would take on a camping trip. Around the house it's a waste of space. I would not buy again. I do not recommend to others.