Help me open this....

[Randi]

When my friend moved to Qatar, I helped her empty her house and she gave me a lot of things, including this, which I think may be small apricots in some kind of liquer - not sure.

There's a rubber band around the inside of the lid. I simply can't open it!

It looks like this:

[Karen]

See that part hanging down on the right side of the photo? Flip that up, and voila - it's openable, you can then undo the little latch above it!

[Randi]

Oh yeah? I've done that, have several of them with various pickled things and marmelade in them. This one just seem to be stuck. Perhaps I should try covering it with very hot water - do you think that would help?

Thanks anyway, Karen!

[moosmom]

Before you lift the lever up, gently tap the bottom of the jar with the palm of your hand. Sometimes that will break the seal. How OLD is the stuff in the jar? Might have passed it's expiration date. Good luck!!

[Randi]

It's homemade and may from 2010. She certainly did a good job keeping it closed. I think I'll put in hot water for a while and see if that helps - or bang it on the kitchen counter.

[Karen]

Oh yeah? I've done that, have several of them with various pickled things and marmelade in them. This one just seem to be stuck. Perhaps I should try covering it with very hot water - do you think that would help?

Thanks anyway, Karen!

Yes, if some of the sugary stuff got into the seal, or the rubber gasket has deteriorated, the warm water will dissolve the sear, and heating the metal parts will expand it slightly ...

[happylabs]

Maybe Fister can help?

[Randi]

Ha ha, he might have done, had there been anchovies inside.

I'll let you know when I get it opened.