The Best Can Opener
1. KitchenAid Can Opener
Key Features
Strong stainless steel blade
Oversized, easy-grip turn knob
Ergonomic handles
This beautiful, chic 9-1/2 inch KitchenAid Can Opener will complement any kitchen. It has a user-friendly, chunky turning knob that will facilitate the opening of any number of different cans. Its durable, stainless steel cutting wheel is fit for any task and is fine with being soaked in tepid water with mild detergent. KitchenAid products come with a one-year warranty that covers all issues with workmanship or material. A free replacement will be provided upon receipt of the faulty product. From year two onwards, repairs will be carried out at no cost to you, throughout the lifetime of this product.
Pros
Easy to clean
1 year no questions replacement
Cons
Not dishwasher safe
Can rust easily if not quickly dried
2. OXO Good Grips Soft-Handled Can Opener
Key Features
Large, comfortable handles
Cushioned handles
Oversized knob
Sharp cutting wheel
This comfortable, user-friendly OXO Good Grips Soft-Handled Can Opener has a soft handle, stainless steel cutting wheel, and larger than normal, padded handles, which are also non-slip – ideal for the maturer citizen. It will work on any can, so you don’t need to worry about only smaller cans being suitable. It possesses a bottle cap opener for added convenience, while its smart black design adds a certain executive sharpness to your kitchen.
Pros
Built-in bottle opener
Satisfaction Guarantee
Cons
Hand wash only
Handles could be more durable
3. Hamilton Beach Smooth Touch Electric Automatic Can Opener
Key Features
Eliminates sharp lid edges
Opens pop-top and regular cans
Easy-touch opening lever
The Hamilton Beach Smooth Touch Electric Automatic Can Opener takes the pain out of the process by being instantly accessible. With just one hand you can effortlessly engage a can in this professional sleek product and it will perfectly remove it automatically; no jagged edges or messy spillage. It actually cuts around the can’s side, not its top, resulting in a lack of sharp edges and zero mess. The lever is fool-proof; once the can is in place the can opener does the rest. The design is pleasing to the eye and it will look good on any countertop, blending into any kitchen design. Its motor will require no oiling or maintenance because it is designed to be permanently operable.
Pros
Sleek, stylish design
Permanently lubricated motor
Cons
Can’t go in cutlery drawer
Cutting-blade could be sharper
4. Faberware Professional Can & Bottle Opener
Key Features
Cuts varying sized cans
Stainless steel cutting wheel
Polished chrome head
This professional Faberware Professional Can & Bottle Opener has artistically sculpted handles that result in a comfortable and empowering clasp grip. It boasts a stainless steel circular blade that can handle cans of varying dimensions. Its chrome head is polished and so gleams when wiped with a damp cloth. It need not be washed conventionally but is fine just being wiped down with a dampened cloth.
Pros
Easy-to-turn knob
In-built bottle opener
Cons
Not even hand-washable
Could give a cleaner cut
5. Kuhn Rikon Auto Safety Master Opener
Key Features
Opener functions x 5
‘Lock-on’ technology
Designed for safety
Mini-pliers/pincers remove lids
Easy to clean
This Swiss-designed 5-in-1 Kuhn Rikon Auto Safety Master Opener is as good as it looks. It can deal with regular cans, ring-pulls can, beer caps, screw-top bottles (PET), and jars. It is small enough to be stowed in your cutlery drawer and is durable but lightweight. The Master Opener sits neatly on the can and the two semi-circles pincer on to the can’s rim. Each of the features works intuitively. It isn’t difficult to figure out how the classic bottle opener, screw top, ring-pull, and screw-on lid remover works. You will love this opener’s versatility as much as its price.
Pros
No sharp edges
Opens everything
Hygienic – no-touch
Cons
Manufacturer’s warranty has to requested
For domestic use only
6. Swing-A-Way Portable Can Opener
Key Features
Durable all-steel construction
Extra-long crank handle – better grip
Cushion grip included
Since 1938, Swing-A-Way has been providing great quality products, including this classic 8.5-inch Portable Can Opener. It is easy to store, durable, made completely from steel, and has a comfortable, ergonomically designed grip. Is high-carbon cutting wheel is gear-driven and it even has a bottle opener integrated into its design. It has a magnetic design so that it can be affixed to walls, thus saving you space. It locks in three positions and also has an in-built magnet which literally lifts the can’s lid straight off, without any mess being generated. It comes with screws and mounting bracket, for added convenience.
Pros
High-carbon cutting wheel
A built-in bottle opener is included
Easy to clean
Lifetime limited warranty
Cons
Non dishwasher safe
Rusts if not dried immediately
7. OXO SteeL Can Opener
Key Features
Big, cushioned handles absorb pressure
Oversized knob is easy to turn
This stylish looking OXO SteeL Can Opener boasts a durable, stainless steel handle that has comfortably soft grips. In fact, the grip is non-slip so you won’t be disadvantaged when your hands are a little wet. The oversized turning knob provides you with a great deal of leverage, which manes you’ll need to exert less force in order to make it glide through aluminum like a knife through butter. It features a cap remover – very handy – so has multiple functions. It looks good, too, and will be an asset in your design, both in terms of functionality and appearance.
Pros
Sharp cutting wheel
Built-in bottle cap opener
Cons
Manufacturer’s warranty must be requested
Hand wash only
8. New Star Foodservice Manual Table Can Opener
Key Features
Big, cushioned handles absorb pressure
Oversized knob is easy to turn
This robust tall New Star Foodservice Manual Table Can Opener is suitable for a commercial setting or, if you like, domestic use especially if you get through a number of cans per week, maybe through a cat or dog food. This sturdy can opener is able to open cans which are 11 inches, without a problem, so you won’t need different sized openers; just this one. Maybe you have a small family restaurant or work in a school canteen in which you need to be able to open #10 cans and various other sizes quickly throughout your shift; this should cover your bases without a problem. If you intend to use it very often, then it is possible to buy New Star Foodservice Commercial Can Opener Replacement Blades, which will exactly fit your model and should last well due to their high quality. The design of this can opener is such that you can just use one hand to rotate the crank and be done. It has a bar that can be mounted on to a table; included is a steel base that can be screwed in. It is a serious can opener ideal for heavy-duty and high usage.
Pros
Sharp cutting wheel
Built-in bottle cap opener
Cons
Manufacturer’s warranty must be requested
Replacement blades must be bought separately
Hand wash only
9. KitchenAid Gourmet Multifunction Can Opener
Key Features
Stainless steel blade
Easy to turn knob
Ergonomic handles
This beautiful, elegant KitchenAid Gourmet Multifunction Can Opener has a user-friendly wide knob to create a wider torque therefore easier rotating action. Its sharp cutting wheel is made from stainless steel and the design incorporates a bottle opener in it, for added convenience. Its sleek, hand-hugging handles make for a perfect grip, while its chrome-plated bolster and debossed logo create a high-quality feel to it, and so it will nicely match your surrounding appliances and kitchen accouterments. Its endcap even has a ‘KitchenAid 1919’ medallion, thus referencing the year the company was founded; it also brings a sense of heritage and authenticity into your kitchen.
Pros
One year hassle-free replacement and lifetime limited
Integrated bottle opener
Cons
Must be hand washed
Gear could be more robust
10. Swing-A-Way Commercial Easy Crank Can Opener
Key Features
Brand new to market
Soft rubber handling
This hardened-steel Swing-A-Way Easy Crank Can Opener is fit for commercial use but can also be used at home. Its larger than standard dimensions (9″ L x 2″ W) and malleable rubberized grips make it fit for any task, whether in the kitchen or out in the garage. Its significant turning crank means you won’t have to be a bodybuilder to open sturdy, industrial-sized containers. It has a bottle opening capacity, as well as a cutting blade which is gear-operated; it works for cans which are a bit dented, so is robust enough to handle anything put in front of it.
Pros
Wing-a-way pedigree (since 1938)
Five-year warranty
Cons
For light commercial not heavy
No lifetime guarantee
Features To Consider With Can Openers
Durability
It should not be the case that you're replacing your can opener every few years; they're made from thick, durable stainless steel, on the whole, and unlike kettles or toasters have no electrical elements; neither are they in constant use - you might go a whole week without using it. Even the sturdiest of cap openers should be able to be held snugly in the palm of your hand, while electric models should remain unswayed by the weight of any can. It goes without saying that it should be able to clasp on to any can without letting it slip out or drop. A warranty is worth scrutinizing; some come with a lifetime guarantee, others with a free replacement if it malfunctions within Year 1 or free repairs if it breaks after that. As with all your appliances, kitchen or otherwise, it's worth keeping all warranties in a safe designated place in your home. You never know when you'll need it.
Ease Of Cleaning
Most can openers are able to be washed with warm water and detergent; they are not, on the whole, able to be run through the dishwasher. Then again, they are only ever going to be used to make contact with one strip of metal around a can, so wiping down with a damp cloth should suffice, most of the time. It is worth checking, sporadically, for any signs of rust, ie. it is making minimal but definite contact with the food you about to consume, so you don't want to be ingesting rust! If you opt for an electric can opener there may be a removable cutting unit that can be washed with tepid water and detergent. On the whole, though, your can opener is unlike the vast majority of knives, forks, and spoons, of for that matter kettles, toasters, and microwaves - its contact and length of usage is at a bare minimum compared with any of those so the cleaning of it should be minimal.
Extra Functions
Having a molded grip can help you gain extra control over your can opener, which might be a consideration if you are elderly or suffer from an arthritic condition. If it's non slip then all the better because your hands can sometimes become a little damp or greasy during the cooking process. A lid magnet is a useful thing; it stops you from having to fiddle around with a submerged or greasy lid, and risk cutting your finger. A pliers-like feature, again, will just make things that much easier and negate the need for your to get the end of your finger involved in fishing out a dropped lid. You're doing well if you can find a can opener which doubles up as a bottle opener or hole puncher or even a corkscrew. It's just one less thing to fiddle around with, or a useful back-up plan when one of these goes missing for some reason.
Grip
Get a grip! Yes, that's an issue for those with arthritic or other debilitating conditions. Electric freestanding or hands-free battery-powered can openers are best, in that case. However, if you want to keep it simple and store it away in the cutlery drawer then a manual can opener is the way to go. You'll be best served by one that has an extra-large turning knob and longer handles which are rubberized and non-slip. The reviews and pictures should help you, in this regard. Opening cans is not rocket science, that is true; however, people need one that meets their needs and one that is comfortable and graspable as well as highly effective.
Safety
Certain can openers will leave cans with smooth edges after they're done; they tend to be known as 'smooth-edge' or 'safe-cut' can openers; this is great for eliminating nasty jagged edges and hence the risk of snagging your skin thereon. Some of the best manual can openers will have a design in which the metal cutting wheel will roll its way around the can without going above the outer lip of the lid, meaning you won't have to fiddle around with a potentially dangerous sharp edge. You can also get models with a magnet that lifts the lid clean off and has a release switch so that you can drop the lid in the trash or recycling without having to make any physical contact with it. The same goes for the pull or pop cans; a safety can opener can do away with the risk of slicing yourself on the sharp edge - you can simply slice the whole top part off and then get right to the meat of the issue.
Types Of Can Openers
Manual
There are various types of can opener, and there are even various types of manual can opener. You can get those that have the cutter affixed to the handle; it then pierces the lid and you move the cutter along by using an up and down motion, either away or toward yourself. The advantage is that there are no moving parts that could possibly malfunction.
Then there is the type that has a rotating knob which moves a sharp metallic wheel around the circumference of the can. It is sometimes called a rotary-style opener. Some of them touch the food as they move around the can's circumference; those kinds need to be cleansed so as to avoid cross-contamination. Others cut from the side and so do not make direct contact with food, hence create a smooth edge.
There is a third type of manual opener; a much larger manual opener that sits on your countertop and has to be screwed into place. A handle maneuvers a knife that splices into the can's lid; these are more common in commercial outfits such as modest-sized eateries. They can handle cans that are up to 11" tall.
Automatic
When we say 'automatic' we really mean electric, or in rare cases, battery-powered. The drive-thru culture of the USA specializes in making things easy and it's no different from can openers. Actually, the first one was invented in 1931, but it didn't really take off until the 1950s. Nowadays they're plentiful and if manual can openers are too much for you then the automatic variant is a perfect 10 in terms of ease of use. Typically, a button will engage the can, it will automatically rotate through a sharp blade while a magnet holds the can in place.
Like their manual cousins, automatic can openers can either be 'side cutters' or 'top cutters' so-called, which will have advantages or disadvantages depending on what it is you're normally cutting. There are models that sit on a countertop or under a cabinet. Some are multi-functional, doubling, or tripling up as a knife sharpener, bottle opener, or even bag cutter.
Battery-powered handheld can openers have become popular in recent times, perhaps due to their lowering price and the ease with which you can use and store them, ie. they can slot snugly into your cutlery drawer or cupboard. With these sorts of openers, you simply apply them to the can, push a button, and wait for it to sever the lid.
Table
These are otherwise known as 'crown punch' can openers. They are commonly used for commercial operations because they tend to be bigger and more robust. They can comfortably be used for opening hundreds of cans each and every day! After pressing down a lever a circular blade will be 'punched' into the can; different blade settings can be inserted, depending on the batch of cans in question.
Ultimately, your choice of which can opener will depend on how heavy-duty you need it to be, how big the cans are (eg. extra-large dog food, industrial-sized tomato sauce or small cans of tuna, etc.), and whether you're using it at home, at work, or for a camping expedition.
Can Opener FAQ
Q: What is the correct way to use a can opener?
For many people, a manual can opener is a necessity rather than a luxury. It's small, user-friendly, and many come with an oversized turning knob which is applied in a clockwise manner after opening and squeezing the cutting blade into the can's lid by pressing the V-shaped arms tightly shut. Here are the steps you will need to make this a success:
- First, grab the V-shaped arms and clasp them over the top of the can, in order to puncture the aluminum lid with the sharp circular cutter.
- Lock in place, until there is no wiggle-room
- Start to turn the large knob in a clockwise direction, until you get to the end. Some can openers will have a magnetic feature that holds the can in place after it's open.
- It's best practice to do this over the kitchen sink, though, to capture any potential spillage from the can of tuna, tomato soup, or whatever else it may be.
- If you want, you can drain the liquid water, oil or brine from the can of tuna or sweetcorn, etc. before completely severing the lid from the can. You can either do this slowly or use a sieve to do it rapidly.
- Once you open up the can opener's arms the can will either plop down naturally or you can pluck it if it is clinging on to the magnetic element of the opener.
If you're camping and therefore using a Swiss Army Knife then it's a slightly different procedure:
- First, unfold your Swiss Army Knife opener blade. It has a straight edge and rounded tip, accompanied by another edge that has a curved hook; this combines in a kind of pincer movement so it can be maneuvered around the can.
- Pierce the top of the can, holding the can in your other hand. With the pincer in place, you then need to wobble the handle of the Swiss Army Knife and rotate the can in order to get a good cutting motion going. Take care not to spill any of the can's contents.
- You can go all the way until the lid is completely severed, or stop short in order to drain the liquid from the can, using its own lid to prevent the meat or sweetcorn from spilling out.
- It's best to go anticlockwise around the can if using the can opening function that doubles as a bottle opener.
- Take care not to press your finger to the lid's edges; unlike with an automatic can opener, they will be dangerously jagged!