The OXO Good Grips Jar Opener with Base Pad is a useful manual option when the hardest part of opening a jar is getting a secure hold on a smooth lid. Its separate non-slip pad helps keep the jar from sliding across the counter, while the opener grips the lid. It does not eliminate twisting, and it still requires two-handed use.
Quick Verdict
Choose the OXO Good Grips Jar Opener with Base Pad if you can hold a jar with one hand and rotate the opener with the other, but bare fingers slip or painful pinching makes narrow lid edges difficult.
Skip it if you need one-handed operation, cannot safely stabilize a glass jar, or have wrist pain that makes rotational force the main barrier. A mounted opener or a powered jar opener addresses those problems more directly.
Best fit
- People who lose grip on smooth metal lids
- Two-handed users working at a stable counter
- Occasional jar opening without a powered appliance
- Kitchens that need a tool that stores in a drawer
Poor fit
- One-handed opening
- Severe wrist or thumb pain during twisting
- Tremor or coordination problems around glass containers
- Users who need the jar physically clamped in place
What OXO Actually Sells
This is an identifiable OXO product, not a site-branded model or a generic label. OXO lists it as the Jar Opener with Base Pad, SKU 1173600. The manufacturer specifies a stainless steel construction and dimensions of 9 by 5 by 1 inches.
The package has two working parts. The handled opener goes over the lid, and a separate non-slip pad sits beneath the jar. OXO’s instructions are straightforward: place the pad on the counter, put the jar on it, slide the opener over the lid, and turn counter-clockwise.
That design solves two related problems, but only partly. The opener gives the top hand a larger gripping surface than the lid edge. The pad increases friction below the jar. Neither part supplies power, locks the container to the counter, or removes the need to control the twisting motion.
How the Base Pad Changes the Task
A jar can rotate or slide even after the lid is firmly gripped. That is why a lid-only gripper may disappoint someone whose supporting hand is also weak. The OXO pad adds a second point of friction under the container, which is more useful than treating the lid as the only problem.
The pad should still be understood as a stability aid, not a clamp. The user must keep the jar upright and apply enough downward and rotational control to prevent tipping. A dry, level counter matters. Oil, water, crumbs, or an uneven work surface can reduce control.
The arrangement also needs clear counter space. Trying to use the pad on a crowded draining board, a lap tray, or an unstable table removes much of its value. Set the jar near the front of a firm counter so the elbows can stay close to the body rather than reaching forward.
Grip and Wrist Demands
The long handle creates more leverage than gripping a lid directly. It also spreads contact across the hand instead of concentrating effort at the fingertips. Those are meaningful advantages for someone whose problem is a slippery lid or a painful pinch grip.
However, opening still depends on wrist and forearm rotation. The tool cannot tell whether a lid is cross-threaded, vacuum-sealed unusually tightly, or stuck by dried food. More leverage can make the task feel possible, but it can also encourage a user to apply more force than is comfortable.
Stop if the motion causes sharp pain or if the jar starts to tilt. A kitchen aid should reduce strain, not turn opening into a test of strength. When the same person repeatedly needs both hands merely to keep the container upright, a mounted or powered design is the more appropriate category.
Size, Storage, and Cleanup
At 9 by 5 by 1 inches, the opener needs more drawer room than a flat silicone disk but much less permanent space than a countertop appliance. The base pad is separate, so it needs to be stored with the opener rather than allowed to disappear into another drawer.
Stainless steel forms the working part identified by OXO. Wipe away brine, oil, syrup, or sauce before storage because residue can reduce friction and make the next use unpleasant. Follow the manufacturer’s current care directions for washing; the product page does not state a dishwasher-safe claim for this model.
The simple two-piece setup has no battery, charging cable, hinge installation, or motor. That makes it easy to keep available for occasional use. It also means the physical work remains with the user.
OXO Jar Opener vs Other Opener Types
| Opener type | What it helps with | Physical work still required | Best match |
|---|---|---|---|
| OXO Jar Opener with Base Pad | Lid grip plus some jar-base stability | Holding the jar and rotating the wrist | Two-handed users whose fingers slip on lids |
| Flat silicone grip pad | Friction on a lid or jar body | Pinching, gripping, and twisting | Mild slipping and very limited storage space |
| Strap-style opener | Different lid diameters and added leverage | Positioning the strap and rotating the handle | Users who can manage setup but need reach around wide lids |
| Under-cabinet mounted opener | A fixed gripping point | Positioning the jar and turning it | Users who need one hand freed from holding the opener |
| Powered jar opener | Motorized lid rotation | Correct placement and supervising the cycle | Users for whom twisting is the main barrier |
The OXO model occupies the middle ground. It provides more structure than a simple rubber pad without the installation, counter footprint, or moving parts of mounted and powered openers.
Safety and Setup
Start with a cool, dry jar. Hot glass, condensation, grease, and wet hands make control less predictable. Check the lid and rim for chips or damage before applying force.
Place the base pad completely beneath the jar on a flat surface. Keep the jar upright with the supporting hand, position the opener squarely over the lid, and turn counter-clockwise with controlled pressure. Do not use a knife to pry under the lid, strike the glass against a counter, or continue forcing a jar that is tipping.
A helper should take over when the user cannot keep the container stable. The safest product choice is the one that matches the person’s actual movement limits, not the one that produces the most leverage on paper.
Who Should Buy It
The OXO Good Grips Jar Opener with Base Pad is worth considering when all three statements are true:
- The user can hold a jar steadily with one hand.
- The user can turn the wrist without sharp pain.
- The main difficulty is getting enough grip on the lid.
If the first statement is false, look for a mounted solution that creates a fixed gripping point. If the second is false, consider a powered opener. If the third is false because only a few vacuum-sealed jars cause trouble, changing jar size or asking for help may be safer than adding another tool.
Final Recommendation
The OXO Jar Opener with Base Pad is a well-defined manual product with a sensible division of labor: the opener grips the lid, and the pad reduces movement at the base. Its benefit is clearest for weak or slippery fingertip grip.
It is not an automatic opener and should not be presented as one. Buyers who understand that boundary are more likely to choose correctly. For two-handed use and occasional stubborn lids, it is a practical drawer tool. For one-handed use, painful wrist rotation, or major difficulty controlling glass jars, move to a different opener category.
FAQ
Does the OXO Jar Opener with Base Pad open jars one-handed?
No. OXO’s instructions require the jar to be held steady with one hand while the other hand turns the opener. The base pad reduces sliding but does not secure the container by itself.
What does the base pad do?
The non-slip pad sits beneath the jar and adds friction against a flat counter. It improves stability but is not a clamp, so the user must still control the jar.
What lid sizes does it handle?
OXO says the tool grips jars and lids but does not publish a lid-diameter range for this model. Very small bottles, low-profile caps, or unusually wide lids may call for a different opener shape.
Is it an electric jar opener?
No. It is a manual stainless steel opener supplied with a separate non-slip pad. There is no motor, battery, or automatic opening cycle.