Unless you’re the kind of person that treats a handshake like it’s Mortal Combat, you’ve probably found yourself struggling to open a jar of pickles or some other metal-capped container.

Canning items like sauces, jams, and pickled vegetables is an easy way to pack these foods safely for months. The science behind why canning is so effective is two-fold. First, the high heat kills off bacteria and organisms, and as sealed foods cool down, a vacuum forms, creating an air and moisture barrier that prevents spoilage.

As effective as canning is at keeping germs like lethal botulism away from our favorite bolognese sauce, the vacuum seal makes them hard to open. Folks with decreased grip strength due to health, age, or disability are often at the mercy of using special devices to loosen lids or TikTok “hack” videos.