Practical Soup Container Science Related Question

abraxas01

Hi,
Need some science help. I have a soup container that I took the top off and microwaved. I then put the top back on. Unfortunately, I appear to have created a vacuum and can not get the lid off for love nor money. Is there a safe way that I can get the lid to come off (aside from piercing it) that will not involve soup exploding all over the place?
Cheers
Abraxas01

ApeXaviour

Describe the container. Is it a tuppaware with a clip seal? Is the lid metallic? Is it screw on?

If the lid is not metallic, and the lid is being held at least mostly by vacuum pressure, then I'd say put it back in microwave again, make the pressures inside and out equivalent. If it's a screw on seal then you'll have to be a little more careful, ie heat it a little at a time and keep trying to open it (with oven-mitt/tea-towel)

Delphi91

It would be much safer to place it in a bowl of hot water. Or run it under the hot water tap - I've done it before with a saucepan that had its lid put on too soon and it works quite well.

Mike

mawk

or you could pierce it?


something small like a fine picture tack. tap it in till the container equalises pressure. if the hole is small enough then the surface tension of water/soup wont let it through the hole.

a drip of glue if youre worried

passive

mawk wrote: »

or you could pierce it?


something small like a fine picture tack. tap it in till the container equalises pressure. if the hole is small enough then the surface tension of water/soup wont let it through the hole.

a drip of glue if youre worried

glue+soup+microwave ftw. Physics is phun.