A couple years ago, I broke my right wrist. Yeah, I’m right handed. And while the bone has healed, I lost a lot of grip strength. And I’m not too good with my left hand, either.
Silly as it sounds, one of my biggest problems is been opening jars. Then I grabbed my Gecko Grip — and it has been so incredibly useful that I just have to write about it again.
Reader and cruiser-in-waiting Julie Lambert invented these while in culinary school. They were originally designed to go under the ends of a cutting board to make it non-slip, and that’s one good use for them on a boat. But they’re also great as a trivet (100% silicone, heat resistant to 500° F.) — in particular putting one under each end of large pans so they don’t tip as you serve from them.
And, as I mentioned before, they are great as jar grips. They work way better than a damp towel or my old standby, my round silicone trivet. (I do sometimes have to run the lid under hot water as well.) I just leave one on the counter all the time so it’s easy to grab. The funny thing is that I’ve noticed Dave using it as well . . . and one day I had to scrub oil off it from where he’d used it to get a better grip on an oil filter (it’s non-porous so it’s easy to wash pretty much anything off).
For those who have a set of Gecko Grips, I just wanted to remind you how well they work for gripping jars — the more purposes something has, the better, right? And for those who don’t have a set, I really recommend them!
P.S. Dave has found them useful as a pseudo strap wrench, too!
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Allan Cobb says
I hate losing my grip.
Rose Alderson says
Yahoo! I need these already! Thanks Carolyn!
The Boat Galley says
The longer I have them, the more I love them.
Toni Gypsy Borrett says
I’m in the same ‘boat’ as you! Great tip!
Sarah Burnham Swett says
“can’t” ?
The Boat Galley says
The “can’t” was right, just that “with” should have been “withOUT” — thanks for catching it, I corrected it! 🙂
S/V Dos Libras says
We love ours! They’re also nice for eating in the cockpit, place one under a plate to keep it from diving off the combing.
Cathy Colley says
Great product for everyone! Get yours today!
Cari Gunsaulus says
I keep two under the cutting board… It does not budge off the counter. Easy to grab them for opening jars, etc from there.
Kathy Belanger-Barber says
I broke my hand about a year ago I am so looking these up!!!!
Lynn Kaak says
Or, turn the jar upside down, and “spank” the bottom. Works with anything that isn’t too sticky (sauces and pickles are okay, jam and peanut butter aren’t). This breaks the seal and makes opening very easy
Nikki Dowden says
I won these in one of your competitions, and I agree, they are brilliant!
Bridget McGraw says
Checked Amazon and it says currently unavailable. Do you know who makes them?
The Boat Galley says
Oh no! Let me check.
Jerri Miller says
You could probably cut up a silicone pot holder. That’s what I’m going to do since I’m in no mans land.
Eve says
Bridget – they’re on Amazon still in Blue. Just put “The Gecko Grip” into the Amazon search bar. I love mine – just as Carolyn says, always the perfect size trivet and great for opening stubborn jars