I’ve found myself looking for a really good can opener. I purchased my last one, a KitchenAid, from Target and I’ve been disappointed in it the whole time. Sometimes it doesn’t puncture the lid right, and it feels like it got rusty kinda fast–not at all what I want out of a utensil I hoped would last for a decade or more (who wants to keep buying can openers? lol).
I’m looking for a manual handheld can opener. I’ve always had the type that opens from the top, but a little bit of Googling shows that there are types that open from the side. I’m in the USA if that matters!
What does Lemmy think?
Have you tried the other type of can openers, the one that completely removes the lid leaving no sharp parts afterwards.
This guy makes me want so many old appliances
I hope this doesn’t awaken something in me.
Look. just embrace the inner nerd.
He’s the Bob Ross of 20th century technology
That guy is just fantastic
God damnit. I’m trying to save money right now… and now… I want to buy a freakin can opener. I don’t even open cans often! Uggghhh
Everyone raves about these but I find using the tin to strain the contents nigh impossible for things like tuna.
Still prefer the traditional from the top kind. Ima die on this tiny hill.
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Bad bot
Honestly, the side-cutters suck.
They tend to dull out, and I’m concerned about the addhesive sealant (the gray goop, usually.).
Also, as a side note. you can’t do things like using the lid to hold beans in place while rinsing them, or using the lid top to squeeze tuna. (I know, a bundle of contradictions here.) And, like really, does anybody know anyone that had more than a paper (probably bad,) paper cut from the old-school versions?
I got one of these after watching this video and it awesome.
If you want one of those which will survive the next three nuclear wars, I’m quite happy with this model: https://www.roesle.com/us/can-opener-with-pliers-grip/
Oxo good grips is extremely highly recommended everywhere - it hits that perfect balance of well designed, durable, and not too outrageously expensive.
Agree, I’ve used the same one for almost a decade a few times a month with no degradation.
Wait wait wait. Stop everything. I’ve found my post.
I too was like you. Every flimsy-ass can opener I had ever used couldn’t puncture cans consistently, would get off track, leave uncut sections, and just generally suck completely. I got so fed up replacing them that I went off the deep end researching these things.
My wife got impatient with me. She told me to come back to bed; that can openers weren’t this important. That didn’t stop me. I was going to put an end to the suck. I read review sites, I visited stores, I called people. After literal days of research, I made my decision.
A can opener doesn’t need to be complicated or decked out with fancy features. Fundamentally, the qualities you want are reliability, comfort, build quality, and leverage (i.e. a powerful mechanical advantage).
I didn’t buy the OXO. Not a side-cutter (don’t get me started). I bought the EZ-Duz-It can opener—an unassuming name for the most brilliant can opener ever built.
It’s inexpensive and durable. It securely latches onto cans and glides through them with ease. The knob spins smoothly with little effort. This thing is a dream. Never before have I experienced such a drastic shift in how I felt about a product.
There simply is no other answer.
Best of Lemmy material here…
About 10 years ago I needed a new can opener. I also bought the EZ-Duz-It from Walmart, it was like $9 at the time, double the cost of the other one available. Totally worth it, and I still have it. The only way I see this thing breaking is if I start using it to loosen rusted bolts on the car while changing out the brakes.
My favorite is oxo good grips. They were designed for people with arthritis, but work great for everyone.
The EZ-DUZ-IT deluxe can opener is simply the best one I’ve ever had! It’s really durable, doesn’t rust, has a comfortable grip, and it’s made in the USA. It’s top-notch!
I feel like it’s solid. Something you would find in a cafeteria where it gets used every day. It’s got a short reach and isn’t super heavy, but if I had to use it for self defence it wouldn’t come out any worse for wear.
Could you get yourself one of these Finnish can openers (“tölkinavaaja”). It’s the most simple design and works perfectly.
I remember these from my childhood, but had forgotten about them entirely. I might actually pick a couple of these up for camping and to try out around the house–would be much better than taking a full sized can opener with me on trips, anyways. Thanks!
Just bought one, and one of those side-opening suckers from amazon. Cheers!
This style is the only one that reliably works all the time.
Looks very similar to a P38 can opener. I use one in my camping gear.
Get any kind of “safety can opener”. They are awesome. They cut the lid from the outside so contents never spills nor do you have to wash the can opener later on.
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The P-38 and P-51 never fail
Get one of those that open from the side, they’re awesome.
Swingline.
uhm. aren’t those staplers?
Bwahahaha - yes, you are totally right.
Swing-away, not swingline.
I have an unorthodox one. I’m a sucker for a gadget so I got a Kitchen Mama Can Opener and it works great. There was a short learning curve but now I just put it on the can and let it roll. Cuts with no sharp edge and, an unexpected benefit, it’s stupid looking so I can always find it. I was making a roux last night, in fact, and set it to open a can with one hand while I stirred.
If you’re puncturing the top, you’re doing it wrong.
Watch:
That depends on the type of can opener, y’all. They aren’t all supposed to be oriented to the top, y’all.
Pretty much any opener that looks like this:
Video:
Bunkers and single wheel look almost identical, and butterfly and side openers aren’t that different.
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I like Magican. Tupperware make something similar that does a good job, probably ten times the price. Both have lasted us over 30 years.
Probably shouldn’t buy it from a shady MLM though. There are tons of brands better than Tupperware and none of them had to scam a poor woman’s work to be sold.
Swing A Way 7 inch had been my go to for years.
The newer ones seem to be less consistent. Ez Duz It is the modern equivalent to the old USA made Swingaways.
Bought one of these in 2000-something at Walmart and it broke in 2020 found it again online at the link. The plastic handle gives out eventually but I haven’t found anything that’s better at opening a can.
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