As opening a can with hands or tools other than can openers is very risky and will damage the contents inside most of the time. Using a can opener ensures that the contents (mostly foods) and your hands are safe.
While there are many types of can openers out there, nothing beats the classic old-style can opener. And if you plan on using one, or just found one in your storeroom, this article will help you regarding how to use old style can openers. Compared to regular can openers, these are a bit different.
What Is an Old Style Can Opener?
Now, before diving into how you can use an old style can opener. It is necessary to understand what this can opener is. Ezra Warner first introduced can openers in late 1858.
When we talk about old-style can openers, we imagine the can opener invented by Ezra Warner. This type of can opener didn’t have any rotating wheels of such. The notable qualities of this type of can openers are the knife and tooth or holder.
The holder or the tooth is the lower part of the can opener’s head that acts as the pivoting point for old-style can openers. Once the tooth gets a hold, the knife does the rest. As there isn’t any use of motor or wheel, this type of can opener requires you to use your strength.
Where You Might Encounter Old Style Can Openers
Now, in a modern household, it is quite rare to find an old style can opener unless you are a collector or grandparents left one for you. While that’s true, one place where you will encounter such can openers is within all-purpose Swiss army knives or devices similar to that nature.
As old can openers are quite cheap you might own one just because you want to save some money. No matter the reason, if you know how to use it then the old can openers can put up quite a challenge for modern can openers.
How to Use an Old Style Can Opener: A Step-by-Step Guide
Here are the steps that you will need to follow in order to use an old style can opener properly.
Step 1: Holding the Can Opener
The first step that you will need to follow before even opening a can using the can opener is to hold it properly. Place the can opener on your dominant hand, and make sure it touches you palm properly.
Grab the can opener with all your strength, and then slowly start to loosen until you find your comfort zone.
Now place your index finger under the handle. You will need to use your thumb to apply pressure on the knife or the blade of the old style can opener. Once you are okay with it, proceed to the next step.
Step 2: Placing the Can Opener on the Can
Grab the can you want to open. Then using your index finger as a base, place the can opener on the opening area of the can.
Afterward, place the can opener’s knife or blade portion on top of the can. Normally, the knife will be placed in the middle of the can, but you need it to be at the edge of the can to cut it.
So, move the can opener with the help of your index finger following a perpendicular motion. Ensure that the knife is now placed on the edge of the can.
Step 3: Stabbing the Can
Once your can opener’s knife is placed on the edge of the can, ensure that the can is tightly placed and won’t move when you start opening the can.
Now, use your thumb gently to push on the knife’s head. You need to force the knife downwards until you break through the can’s surface. This process is called stabbing.
After you have gone through the can’s lid, take out the blade or knife and follow the process all over again, and it’s done.
This is how you can open a can using an old style can opener. You can call it the stab-push or old-fashioned push method to open a can using a can opener.
Now, if your old can opener comes with a motor, then after the initial stab, you just need to hold and circle around the can to open it.
Why Use Old Style Can Openers?
You might wonder why use old style can openers in the first place? Well, here are the reasons why you should use one –
- Old style can openers cost less than modern can openers.
- There is no requirement for an external energy source like electricity or batteries, the only requirement is your hands.
- This type of can opener is easier to clean compared to the modern options.
- These openers are easier to use once the users get a grasp of how the tool works.
Final Thoughts
Old style can openers can be your best friend in day-to-day use or during your travels. So, it is necessary to know how to use old style can opener. Hopefully, this article helped you to find the answer to that question.
If even the situation requires you to use an older generation can opener, the above techniques will help you to great a good impression on others.