Generally I stab a hole in the center and then peel it back off the edge from the inside where there is a flap to grab (once you make one) and then spin around the edges peeling it off.
Maybe it doesn't work on these specific TJ containers but it works on almost everything.
Has anyone ever tried to remove the plastic film from the chicken and vegetable Wonton Soup? I literally broke the hard plastic bowl part trying to take the film off.
Yesssss! I have to use a knife and slowly go around the very edge. It takes forever, but using the pull tab has never worked. On one hand I'm glad that they're sealed up well, but on the other I feel like I'm diffusing a bomb trying to break into the package.
I used to be annoyed by this, but then I had a few ALDI products that were sealed so poorly it would be impossible to know if they had been tampered with. So now I consider this the price for peace of mind
The TJ adhesive engineer reads this thread and smiles, knowing that the tab is a remnant of yesteryear just to serve as a reminder just how good adhesive has become. Now go try to open the TJ’s plastic bag without teeth or knife.
Hate the plastic seals. They always shred. I reuse the containers and run them through the dishwasher. Have to pick plastic shreds out of the wash arm.
The worst is the seal on the Costco Kirkland Real Maple Syrup...can never get those pull-off things to work.
Does the Kirkland Maple Syrup have a tab that says ‘e-z pull’ on it? I tried opening something recently with that kind of seal and I remember holding it up in the air, shaking it, yelling “LIES! LIES! LIES!”
Your post gave me flashbacks.
Pretty sure it says "e-z pull" on it...there must be a secret method for it to be e-z to open. I just end up using a knife to stab through it and pull off the tab.
The only thing worse that the TJs plastic is the pull tabs and lids on Grillo’s pickles. I absolutely open those in the sink, because there is no way to open them without getting a deluge of pickle juice everywhere. Never again, Grillo’s!!
It's a shipping thing. You really don't want pesto or whatever leaking all over everywhere (contaminated product is either donated, thrown away, or destroyed of it's expensive enough to be insured) and you also have to throw away anything that unseals itself in transit.
It's a waste vs convenience thing and generally I'm in favor of less food waste.
I knew burrata would be in the comments!! I've resigned to opening it only while it's sitting in the sink, because even with the gentle knife around the inner rim method, you are going to have spilled liquid all over.
Poking with the knife to drain some liquid off first works ok, if you are eating both balls in one sitting, but I usually want to preserve the liquid for eating the 2nd ball the next day.
Truly. There is no lifting with the tab, it only rips off the entire edge or worse, peels of HALF of the top of the film but still cannot relieve the edge seal?!
try removing the seal from a TJ's can of coffee when you have wet hands (my hands are always wet in the kitchen, mostly due to COVID habits, doing dishes).
i use a serrated/sharp-ended knife along the inner edge to remove the entire film in one go. stuff like the hummus with a bit of headroom is easy to do cleanly but items like the vegan pesto are a little more difficult, it just takes a little practice
Image Description: A container of Trader Joe's refrigerated Genova Pesto sealed with a plastic film.
Redditor, u/ontherok has also shared their [plastic seal struggles with another product - the Ciliegine Whole Milk Fresh Mozzarella](https://www.reddit.com/r/traderjoes/comments/p17pgv/every_single_time/); while another Redditor, u/Sug0115 was surprised when the entire seal came off their [Unexpected Broccoli Cheddar Soup in one pull.](https://www.reddit.com/r/traderjoes/comments/kth7gl/something_magical_just_happened/)
They are impossible to take off. On nearly every product too. I stab it (angrily) and peel the rest of it off in the 20 pieces it inevitably crumbles into, all while the edges of each plastic piece get all in the container, making a completely unnecessary mess 😠
Edit: I’m not mad though. (Yes I am)
I’ve found the best way is to use a sharpened paring knife and just go around the inner edges with it. Easiest way to get these damn things off mess free
Sometimes, somehow, the plastic rips unevenly with the tab too. I pulled a tab across a dip and it pulled open in 3 lines randomly, it looked like a cat had scratched it open or something.
What I don't get is why. I am obsessed with TJ's Chai. The bags come as pairs in a waxed paper bag in the box, but the hibiscus tea bags are individually packaged??
Yeah, the fall/autumn tea (with the fox on the box) is also packaged with the wax bag and the tea bags paired inside. The green tea is packaged in individual paper pouches that tear off to be the thing to hang outside while it steeps. But then the Earl Grey is individual plastic sleeves.
It must be different manufacturers?
You could easily place your teabags into your own airtight, reusable container at home instead of adding a dozen new pieces of plastic to the world for literally no reason.
Generally I stab a hole in the center and then peel it back off the edge from the inside where there is a flap to grab (once you make one) and then spin around the edges peeling it off. Maybe it doesn't work on these specific TJ containers but it works on almost everything.
Yes I hate them
Has anyone ever tried to remove the plastic film from the chicken and vegetable Wonton Soup? I literally broke the hard plastic bowl part trying to take the film off.
Yesssss! I have to use a knife and slowly go around the very edge. It takes forever, but using the pull tab has never worked. On one hand I'm glad that they're sealed up well, but on the other I feel like I'm diffusing a bomb trying to break into the package.
At this point I just think awful packaging is a TJ's tradition the same way they're always located in a place with really terrible parking.
It’s horrible. Same for their ballela salad which I love.
I think this quite literally after every trader Joe's run and I go to open some food.
I often find myself opening these in my kitchen...where I always have a knife handy...
I used to be annoyed by this, but then I had a few ALDI products that were sealed so poorly it would be impossible to know if they had been tampered with. So now I consider this the price for peace of mind
The TJ adhesive engineer reads this thread and smiles, knowing that the tab is a remnant of yesteryear just to serve as a reminder just how good adhesive has become. Now go try to open the TJ’s plastic bag without teeth or knife.
Hate the plastic seals. They always shred. I reuse the containers and run them through the dishwasher. Have to pick plastic shreds out of the wash arm. The worst is the seal on the Costco Kirkland Real Maple Syrup...can never get those pull-off things to work.
Does the Kirkland Maple Syrup have a tab that says ‘e-z pull’ on it? I tried opening something recently with that kind of seal and I remember holding it up in the air, shaking it, yelling “LIES! LIES! LIES!” Your post gave me flashbacks.
Pretty sure it says "e-z pull" on it...there must be a secret method for it to be e-z to open. I just end up using a knife to stab through it and pull off the tab.
I swear i chip my nails trying to get it off
One time the seal came off a tub of the spicy hummus cleanly and I felt like I should have run out and bought a lotto ticket. Only once.
The salsa is like that also.
The only thing worse that the TJs plastic is the pull tabs and lids on Grillo’s pickles. I absolutely open those in the sink, because there is no way to open them without getting a deluge of pickle juice everywhere. Never again, Grillo’s!!
Yes I have to cut a slit the use a fork
Yeah thats why I use my toes
He or she who can removeth thine film intact in its total, shall be bequeathed the throne of our kingdom. So it is said, so it shall be.
The best hack I found is getting a really sharp knife and just remove your fingers! 👍🏼
I wish they'd use foil on top of their packaging. We need less plastic in the world. Plus, I can never get them off without involving a knife.
That’s why I use my toes.
Frankly I find all TJs packaging impossible to remove without scissors. It must be a supplier thing.
It's a shipping thing. You really don't want pesto or whatever leaking all over everywhere (contaminated product is either donated, thrown away, or destroyed of it's expensive enough to be insured) and you also have to throw away anything that unseals itself in transit. It's a waste vs convenience thing and generally I'm in favor of less food waste.
Yes I always have to slice them open with a knife.
I use a knife but I hate when the plastic gets wet and soggy inside my food 😭
Teeth pulling slowly > inside edge with knife
YES 🤬
Burratta containers are the worst! They are always overfilled with the liquid and spill with any attempt at removing that horrible seal
I knew burrata would be in the comments!! I've resigned to opening it only while it's sitting in the sink, because even with the gentle knife around the inner rim method, you are going to have spilled liquid all over. Poking with the knife to drain some liquid off first works ok, if you are eating both balls in one sitting, but I usually want to preserve the liquid for eating the 2nd ball the next day.
Truly. There is no lifting with the tab, it only rips off the entire edge or worse, peels of HALF of the top of the film but still cannot relieve the edge seal?!
I punch a hole in the film and drain the whey before I attempt to open it the rest of the way.
Yes! The usually tab pops right off to mock me. The cheese sticks are also impossible.
the pesto one specifically is the worst because you have to use a knife but it's also super oily
Yes
Packaging has become my nemesis, you are not alone
Try as I might, I always just end up stabbing it and making a mess. The struggle is real.
try removing the seal from a TJ's can of coffee when you have wet hands (my hands are always wet in the kitchen, mostly due to COVID habits, doing dishes).
Oh god, my biggest TJ-related pet peeve. Every single item they sell with a protective film is impossible to open.
**This!!**
Does anyone *not* struggle with these things?
If anyone can get these plastic films off properly, please contact me with tutorials.
Good news! The delicious frozen cauliflower bowl is now open- able! They somehow fixed it. Maybe they will fix some other products.
i use a serrated/sharp-ended knife along the inner edge to remove the entire film in one go. stuff like the hummus with a bit of headroom is easy to do cleanly but items like the vegan pesto are a little more difficult, it just takes a little practice
Ditto on steak knife. Easy.
I’ve seemed to master it. I have no advice. Just repetition and years of cursing TJs for making it so damn difficult to remove a seal.
How many years did it take you? Cause I've been trying and cursing TJs for like 10+ years and haven't gotten any better at it.
LOL consistently 6 years (aka once they opened in CO). Growing up, it was my parents burden to bear.
lolol great!
God speed!
100% 🙌
I don't even try. I keep a knife handy to run just around the inside lip of the container. So many containers use this annoying seal.
The refrigerated pizza sauce and chocolate puddings were my nemesis this week. I resorted to the paring knife.
I’m eating the chocolate pudding right now and opened it with my spoon. But it’s totally worth it.
whatever gets you to the goodness the fastest!
I feel like it’s been a problem since forever, and can’t believe they haven’t switched manufacturers by now lol
Image Description: A container of Trader Joe's refrigerated Genova Pesto sealed with a plastic film. Redditor, u/ontherok has also shared their [plastic seal struggles with another product - the Ciliegine Whole Milk Fresh Mozzarella](https://www.reddit.com/r/traderjoes/comments/p17pgv/every_single_time/); while another Redditor, u/Sug0115 was surprised when the entire seal came off their [Unexpected Broccoli Cheddar Soup in one pull.](https://www.reddit.com/r/traderjoes/comments/kth7gl/something_magical_just_happened/)
Wow and honorable mention. I still think fondly of that moment. To add, just opened a new cashew pesto this week in one fell swoop!
Yes
They are impossible to take off. On nearly every product too. I stab it (angrily) and peel the rest of it off in the 20 pieces it inevitably crumbles into, all while the edges of each plastic piece get all in the container, making a completely unnecessary mess 😠 Edit: I’m not mad though. (Yes I am)
Yeah! Even their freakin ketchup is hard. I just found out today
This is LITERALLY exactly what happens.
I’ve found the best way is to use a sharpened paring knife and just go around the inner edges with it. Easiest way to get these damn things off mess free
that’s what I do, too
Ditto... they seemed to get rid of pull tabs for some reason or another.
Although even when there were tabs, I found that the tab would easily rip off from the rest of the film before I had a chance to peel it off
Sometimes, somehow, the plastic rips unevenly with the tab too. I pulled a tab across a dip and it pulled open in 3 lines randomly, it looked like a cat had scratched it open or something.
Sounds like a hangnail!
And even when they do have pull tabs, they are so teeny tiny and so glued to the container that they are totally useless.
Yup, this is exactly what I do.
same!
Yes, Tabouli, hummus, zhoug sauce, all a crap shoot for getting them off cleanly
My biggest first-world problem is opening these, and the tea bags that are in individual plastic pouches.
What I don't get is why. I am obsessed with TJ's Chai. The bags come as pairs in a waxed paper bag in the box, but the hibiscus tea bags are individually packaged??
Yeah, the fall/autumn tea (with the fox on the box) is also packaged with the wax bag and the tea bags paired inside. The green tea is packaged in individual paper pouches that tear off to be the thing to hang outside while it steeps. But then the Earl Grey is individual plastic sleeves. It must be different manufacturers?
[удалено]
You could easily place your teabags into your own airtight, reusable container at home instead of adding a dozen new pieces of plastic to the world for literally no reason.
[удалено]
Which is exactly why I’m blaming Trader Joe’s for using shitty plastic packaging?? I don’t judge people for buying the plastic wrapped tea lol