The melted ice crumbles under its weight. Exhale from the jar with a tight lid. Garlic peel flying. Gently massage meat (in ziplock bag) to even thickness. What is this amazing kitchen tool, you ask? One that may surprise you and hopefully delight you. what i said is This special rubber hammer Just got 17% off during Amazon’s Prime Day sale, and it’s now under $9.
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Wait, what? You read that right. I keep this mallet on the windowsill above my sink, within easy reach, to easily open stubborn suction jar lids and gently tap (or tap) anything that requires the gentle touch of a blunt object.
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I actually spent the weekend using a rubber mallet to tap the vertical sides of six Costco-sized jars of Rao’s marinara sauce (the best!) to create a make-ahead dish for a big birthday party.
It all started one particularly exhausting and soul-draining night when I was alone in the kitchen, losing my battle with the tight lid. I’ve tried everything I can think of that seems safe to me, including This can opening tool I’ve never had such luck, grabbing the lid with a towel, holding the jar under a stream of hot water, tapping the sides and bottom to release the seal, and even unwisely inserting the tip of a butter knife between the lid and lid.
(My colleague, Senior Editor David Watsky, uses the spurs on a pair of good kitchen shears to open jars — and I love it my scissorsbut I knew I would find ways to hurt myself in the process.
Then I texted a dear friend who was going through a lot of physical adjustments in his life, living alone: “What? you Open the jar? What.
I didn’t worry about gouging myself with this rubber mallet, and I never came close to smacking my thumb. Use a mallet to gently tap the edge of the lid to make it easier to unscrew and release the vacuum. (You still need to keep your hands dry to grip, or use a towel.) This mallet method is easy, takes only seconds, and works every time—no safety glasses required. I have to admit, swinging a hammer around in the kitchen is fun.
Whenever you’re using it with meat, the mallet head is easily covered with a clean bag or cloth, but most of the time I cover the food at the point of contact, not the mallet.
Sometimes I even use a rubber mallet for non-cooking utilitarian tasks, like hammering in those pesky dowel ends when assembling furniture. But next time a friend teases me with “Why do you have one?” hammer In your kitchen?
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