Everything About Can Opener

Most cans contain the most delicious foods. And a can opener works like a key to unlocking happiness. But if you have the wrong opener, it will ruin the satisfying feeling of opening a can. I know that because I have been in such a situation.

If the opener doesn’t get a good grip, it will not open the can right. On the other hand, if it holds the can too tightly, it can end up cutting the lid in the wrong way.

There are various can openers available these days. But which one is suitable for you? Since today’s article contains everything about can opener, I believe you won’t have to look elsewhere to find the answer.

What Is Compulsory To Be The Best Can Opener?

The best can opener must have some essential features. These features will allow you to understand how the can openers work and whether they will meet your requirements. To help you know everything about can opener, I have divided the article into different sections.

First, you need to understand the essential features the can opener must-have. Then you will learn about different types of can openers. I will be adding pros and cons for each type to help you weigh your options. Finally, I’ll help you find out which can opener is best for you.

Essentials

There are some must-have features for a can opener. Without these features, such an opener is entirely useless. So, what are the essential qualities of a can opener?

• Able To Open A Can: I know it looks ridiculous to mention this. All can openers open cans, right? But you’ll be surprised to know how many of them can fail to do the job. So yes, the one you are getting should be able to open a can.
• Simple To Set Up And Operate: You don’t want a can opener that is tough to set up and operate. It should not come with complicated working steps.
• Long-Lasting: It is a waste of money to buy a can opener every few months or years. You need to purchase one that comes with suitable material and an extended warranty.

Additional Requirements

The previous requirements are essential for sure. But that’s not where the quality should end. Here are a few additional requirements that you need to look for in your can opener.

• Well-Made: It’s all about feeling the comfort of your hand. A well-built can opener’s handle will feel comfortable under your grip. If it is an electric can opener, it will stay firm rather than tipping over.
• Rust-Resistant: You don’t want a low-quality can opener that collects rust. Stainless steel is an excellent option and will not make your food dirty.
• Easy To Maintain: If it is a manual can opener, it should be dishwasher safe for easy maintenance. If it is an electric model, it should have removable dishwasher-safe cutting units.
• Leaves Smooth, Safe Edges: It is better to take precautions while cutting the edges or lids of the can. A perfect can opener will leave smooth and safe edges.
• A Cutting Wheel That Does Not Touch Food: As a hygiene freak, I always make sure my can opener does not touch the food inside. You never know what could be on the cutter that you cannot see through your naked eyes. The opener will open the lid without touching its inner parts.
• Lid Lifter Magnet: Traditional can openers come with a magnetic lid lifter. It prevents the lid from creating any mess on your kitchen counter. And if it has a release button, you can discard the top directly in the trash can.
• Able To Open Unusual Shaped Cans: Canned products do not always come in round cans. Select a can opener that works on rectangular, square, pull or pop cans.

Types Of Can Opener

You will be surprised to learn how many types of can openers there are. Each type is different from another and works in unique ways. Here, I will describe these types briefly and share the pros and cons.

Manual Can Opener

Manual can openers are the ones that you operate with your hands. They require a little physical force to work. But most of them are efficient and easy to handle. This can opener has different types as well.

1. No Removing Part

This can opener has a cutter bit attached to the handle. You open cans by punching a hole and moving the cutter along the rim to open the can lid. It does not have a moving part like the others.

Types

You will find two types of can openers with no moving parts:

• P-38 can opener
• Manual can opener with long lever

Pros

• It does the job
• Extremely lightweight
• Does not take up much space
• Suitable for traveling

Cons

• Leaves uneven and sharp edges
• Touches food when you cut the can
• Prone to rust

2. Rotary Style

Rotary style can openers come with a cutting knob or wheel. You turn the knob, which propels the cutting wheel to open the can.

Types

These can openers can be divided into two sub-categories:

• Openers that cut the lid from the top and touch the food and require cleaning after each use.
• Openers that cut the lid from the side but do not touch the food and leave safe edges.

Pros (Top Cutter)

• Easy to use
• Does not take up much storage space
• Affordable

Cons (Top Cutter)

• Leaves sharp edges
• Touches your food
• Requires cleaning after each use
• Not suitable for someone with arthritis

Pros (Side Cutter)

• Easy to use
• Take up a small storage space
• Does not touch your food
• Does not require frequent cleaning
• Leaves smooth and edges
• Affordable

Cons (Side Cutter)

• Not suitable for people with arthritis or weak hands
• Turning the knob can be a little challenging sometimes
• Less durable than top cutters

3. Counter Top Can Opener

You need to screw a countertop can opener to a flat surface. As you turn the opener’s handle, it engages a blade that cuts the can’s lid. These openers are suitable for commercial or heavy use as they can open 7-11 inches size cans.

Pros

• Heavy duty can opener
• Can handle many cans per day
• Suitable for commercial use
• Opens tall cans

Cons

• Expensive
• Takes up a lot of counter space
• Challenging to maintain

4. Beer Can Opener

Beer can openers are perfect for your men’s cave. This type of opener is not just for canned beers. You can also open juice, soft drinks, soda, or cola cans with it.

Types

Beer can openers are of two types:

• Tab can openers that help pull the tab so that you can drink.
• The other one pulls off the entire lid and turns the can into a drinking cup.

Pros

• Leaves smooth and safe edges
• Does not contaminate the drink
• Helps open other canned drinks

Cons

• Comparatively expensive
• The blade becomes dull easily

Electric Can Opener

The first-ever electric can opener came out in 1931. At that time, people called it a power-operated cutting device. Then in the 1950s, freestanding electric can openers were manufactured.

1. Electric Can Opener

Operating a modern can opener is easy. The freestanding device holds the can using magnets while the sharp blade cuts the lid. You need to push a button to turn it on. But don’t forget to plug the can opener into an electric outlet.

Types

There are two types of electric can opener:

• Top cutters cut the lid from the top.
• Side cutters cut the lid from the side.

Pros (Top Cutter)

• Easy to use
• Suitable for people with weak hands

Cons (Top Cutter)

• Cutting knife touches food
• Leaves sharp edges
• Requires electricity
• Can be pretty loud
• If the magnet comes loose, the can will fall

Pros (Side Cutter)

• Suitable for anyone with weak hands
• Does not leave sharp edges
• Safe to use
• The cutting knife does not touch the food

Cons (Side Cutter)

• A weak magnet can drop the can
• Requires electricity to operate
• It’s loud

2. Battery Operated Can Opener

Batteries operate this electric can opener. They don’t require electric power, and you need to push a button to run the blade.

Pros

• Does not need electric power
• Suitable for people with weak hands
• Does not take up much space
• Leave smooth edges
• The cutting blade does not touch food

Cons

• Battery requires frequent changing

Crown Punch Can Opener

Crown punch can openers are suitable for large cans and commercial use. This heavy-duty opener has a lever that punches the blade down to cut the lid. Depending on the can size, you need to change the knife to make sure it cuts accurately.

Pros

• Versatile construction
• Easy to clean and wash
• Opens cans with a single punch
• Saves time
• Suitable for commercial use

Cons

• Requires blade changing based on can size
• Very expensive

Which Type Of Can Opener Is Best For You?

Now you know about different types of can openers. But don’t know the history of can opener. We recommend you to check the history of the can and can opener. I understand if you are confused right now. Because even if you know everything about can opener, it is challenging to understand which type suits your requirements.

Individual Needs

We all have differences in our choice of things. The can opener you are buying has to be perfect for the individual who will use it. Nevertheless, you can go through the individual need list to ensure a better choice.

• Left-Handed Person: According to The Washington Post, 10% of the world’s population is left-handed. However, most kitchen gadgets seem to be made for right-handed people. But left-handed people can use can openers efficiently, especially electric or battery-operated ones.

The downside of such can openers is that they take up your kitchen counter’s space. Moreover, they can be pretty loud. But there are can openers for both left and right-handed people. You can purchase one of such openers.

• Should It Be Ambidextrous?: That’s what I was talking about a moment ago. Having a can opener that both left and right-handed family members can use is a perfect choice. Buying an ambidextrous can opener saves you money from buying two different openers.
• Operated By One Hand: For more efficient can lid removal, you can use one-hand operated can openers. There are three types of such can openers. Countertop manual ones stay screwed to the countertop and help you open the can with one hand.

Automatic battery-operated ones are hand-free can openers, even though you need one hand to use them. Manual ratcheting can openers are helpful to cut the lid from the top with one hand.

• By Someone With Arthritis Or Weak Hands: It is better to consider a more accessible option if you have family members with arthritis or weak hands. In that case, you can purchase an electric or battery-operated can opener. These can openers require little to zero physical strength.
• For Camping Or Travelling: If you are traveling or camping, you can’t carry around heavy or electric can openers. You need something small and light so that it would not take up a lot of space.
• For Commercial Use: Commercial can openers are for heavy-duty use. This type of can opener is suitable if you open 20-30 cans a day or large cans.

They help save both your time and energy. Manual, electric, and crown punch can openers are perfect for commercial use.

• Budget-Friendly: Can openers are not that expensive. However, some of them come at a very budget-friendly price. You don’t need to spend a lot to get a good-quality can opener. But make sure it has an excellent quality material that ensures safety.

Aesthetic Needs

Not everyone wants a can opener for the sake of opening cans only. Even I won’t buy any random can opener just because I need one.

I would want it to look unique and aesthetic. It has to be something that will sit nicely on my kitchen counter. And if you want that too, you would wish to have the following in your can opener.

• Particular Color: Having a thing for a specific color is not a problem. It means you want everything to look more elegant. You can have a can opener that matches the color of your other kitchen appliances.
• Countertop Display: Who wants to hide their beautiful kitchen appliances? Of course, you will want it to be on your kitchen countertop. So choose a can opener design that will look aesthetic.
• Mounted Under Cabinet: Many of us choose to mount our kitchen appliances under the cabinets. If you want to keep a can opener that way, you need to ensure a stylish look.
• Wall Mount: The same goes for wall mount can openers. They always stand out and grab attention.
• Multifunctional: Multifunctional models are life-saving for any user. Some of the can openers come with bottles, jar openers, and other functions. You can get one such can opener and save money.
• Hidden In Drawer: Well, if you are not a fan of countertop-mount, cabinet-mount or wall-mount can openers, you can always keep it in the drawer. The choice of how you want your can opener is entirely up to you.

All the requirements mentioned above are to help you understand everything about can opener and choose the right one. To go another step closer, ask yourself the following questions.

How Many Cans Do You Need Per Day?

That’s right! The opener type relies on how many cans you open per day. The more bottles you open, the stronger or heavy-duty can opener you need.

• If you use heavy-duty manual can openers, you can work on 45-50 cans per day. This type of can opener can open up to 4-6 cans per minute.
• On the other hand, heavy-duty electric can openers can help open 50-55 cans per day. And it will open 5-7 cans per minute.
• High-volume heavy-duty can openers are even better if you need to open more cans. It can open 200 cans per day and 5-8 cans per minute.
• Crown punch openers are the best option if you need to open many cans every day. You can handle up to 200 cans per day with the manual ones while opening 5-6 cans per minute. But if you use the air-powered crown punch opener, it will easily handle 300-400 cans per day.

How Big Are Those Cans?

The can size matters when it comes to the can opener’s efficiency. Just like the daily count of cans, the size determines which can opener will work better.

• Heavy-duty manual can openers can handle 7 inches cans for up to 25 cans per day.
• Heavy-duty electric can openers can handle cans of 11 inches.
• High volume and crown punch can openers can open the same can size without any difficulty.

Final Thoughts About Can Opener

The perk of knowing everything about can opener is that it becomes less and less challenging when purchasing one. Choose a type that fits your demand but remember to make sure that it is safe to use.

If it is a manual can opener, the handle should provide a good grip. It will keep your hand from getting painful even after opening many cans. The essential requirements are a must for any can opener, and the rest will be up to you.