No matter how large or tiny your kitchen is you’ll certainly need to use a can opener at a certain time if you’re opening canned veggies for lunch or feeding a cat to her favourite meal. Manual best can opener are a perfect weapon in the kitchen because they take up less space than their electrical counterparts, and they don’t cost almost as much.
Manual can openers fall into two simple categories, those that remove the can’s lid just within the can’s lip, and those that unseal the can’s outer edge. Those in the first category allow you to keep the lid in place and use it to hold the food back when you want to drink the liquid. Those in the second group cause the lids to be placed on the can for temporary storage, even if the lids don’t snap on so removing the can from the top can lead to a mess if you’re not careful. No matter your pick, here’s the top manual opener you can attach to your arsenal of kitchen equipment.
We’ve found that the classic EZ-DUZ-IT Deluxe Can Opener (available at Amazon) is our choice and ideally fits most users. It can survive the competition without losing speed or comfort. However, the OXO Good Grips Smooth Edge Can Opener has outperformed all our can openers and is our favourite safety model, cutting through the side of the cans to create a smooth edge our only concern is some of the plastic construction may limit its long-term durability.
Although electric openers are the best option for those who use a lot of canned food or have difficulty using their hands, they may take up precious counter space making a good manual opener necessary.
Hamilton Beach Heavyweight Electric Can Opener
Our pick
If you look for just the best can opener, you’re likely to break into a messy yet tasty ingredient like tomato sauce or pumpkin purée. Save yourself the hassle ahead and go for one that can be washed free of noise—that is just putting it through the dishwasher.
This heavyweight opener is extra high, which is perfect for fast gripping and maneuvering, and electric, making it easy to use. The base is still plugged in but the cutting unit is removable and the dishwasher safe. What’s more, this component is built with proprietary technologies to guarantee that the first attempt can be opened every time.
The appliance itself is not too noisy, and when it comes to most regular-size containers, you can click start and step away while the magnet does its thing (no need to hold). We really love getting an auto-shutdown until you’re through with it to ensure safety.
OXO Good Grips Smooth Edge Can Opener
Our pick
If safety and comfort are more valuable to you than a decade of using the OXO nice grips smooth edge best can opener is the right way to go. This ultra-rubberized safety opener immediately sticks to the top of the cans with visual reference to eliminating the conjecture of positioning and glides effortlessly over the edges, producing a top that cleanly separates from the base of the can like the lid of the bottle.
While it works more slowly than our ambidextrous safety pick of Kuhn Rikon, the OXO rests more securely in the hand and appears much less likely to break where the Kuhn Rikon has a plastic button used to pinch the can’s lid for the final release, the OXO pinches are integrated into the metal of the whole opening and are operated by gripping the handle. Using these pinchers is not as intuitive as clicking a bell, but we hope construction pays off in the long run.
The OXO Good Grips Smooth Edge is now one of the cheapest safety openers we’ve reviewed, so you don’t have to feel like you’re going over the top to open a can. Although this OXO took first place in our overall ranking, its plastic parts and safety blade clearly mean that it won’t work well for as long as the EZ-DUZ-IT or other conventional all-metal versions do.
EZ-DUZ-IT Deluxe Can Opener
Our pick
The unassuming EZ-DUZ-IT undoubtedly looks just like the opener you grew up with—and for a good cause. What it lacks in unique features and flashy architecture is made up of sheer strength and rock-solid construction, making it our top pick for most users. Throughout our testing, the EZ-DUZ-IT quickly breached the lids, remained stuck to the edges, and worked its way around the cans without grabbing or resisting along the way. Its slender rubberized handles were simple to carry and avoided hand exhaustion when opening can after can. And with such an intuitive, concise interface, there’s no space for error in the consumer.
Although the EZ-DUZ-It excelled in ease of use and speed checks, its longevity is what moved it ahead of the competition. Its all-metal structure makes us sure that it can survive several years of day-to-day use, including being jostled about in drawers and dropped off the table, and its Amazon customer ratings confirm our hypothesis. You may try to drop this thing off a four-story building without damaging it but we wouldn’t suggest it.
In a world with flimsy plastic levers and rusty blades, the EZ-DUZ-IT is a long-lasting friend. The only disadvantages of the opener are that it creates sharp lids and is made for right-handed users, but these are the basic characteristics of most conventional rotary openers.
Hamilton Beach Smooth Touch Can Opener
Our pick
The Hamilton Beach Smooth Touch Can Opener can take up precious counter space and need an outlet, but we’ve found it to be the best electrical choice for someone who has trouble using a manual can opener. It’s also a perfect choice for those who want a protection can opener that produces smooth edges.
It operates on all sizes of the can something most checked can openers couldn’t do and easily keeps the lid in place after opening. Due to its large scale, this electric opener is recommended only for people who cannot use a manual one.
OXO Good Grips Can Opener – Best Can Opener
Our pick
The OXO opener may not be electronic, but the snap-and-lock feature and the cushioned handle make it such that you can grip the gadget without much effort. The side breeze is oversized, so it’s easy to capture. And it’s going quickly, without that much finger strength.
The opener never hits the content of a can, so you don’t have to think about wiping it just chuck it back into the drawer after use. If it gets dirty, the stainless steel body is quickly washed by hand but it can’t go through the dishwasher.
When the can is fully cut, the opener works like a pin to lift the cover without touching it. And the gadget is built in such a way that it opens cans without leaving sharp edges when it is without its lid. This minimizes the risk of hurting your finger when you scoop out what’s inside.
Rösle Stainless Steel Can Opener with Pliers Grip
Our pick
If it’s not a matter of cost, this stainless steel can opener is the way to go. High-quality stainless steel will not rust, tarnish or break apart with time, and it looks perfect in every kitchen environment. Perhaps notably, the cutting device is fully enclosed and will not come into contact with food—which ensures that it barely has to be washed.
If it’s not a matter of cost, this stainless steel can opener is the way to go. High-quality stainless steel will not rust, tarnish or break apart with time, and it looks perfect in every kitchen environment. Perhaps notably, the cutting device is fully enclosed and will not come into contact with food which ensures that it barely has to be washed.
Kuhn Rikon Auto Safety Lid Lifter – Best Can Opener for Wine
Our pick
The Lefties and Ambidextrous People at Checked have spoken the Kuhn Rikon Auto Safety Lid Lift is the easiest, most natural opener to use if you do not have a dominant right hand. The Kuhn Rikon looks and works in the same manner as the OXO Good Grips Smooth, but the knob is positioned on the top of the opener rather than on the foot.
Even as a right-handed guy, I always liked to use the Kuhn Rikon for checking. Its push-button regulation of tiny pinchers that raise lids will make it the fastest safety opener we’ve tried, beginning to finish. Unfortunately, the button is made of plastic, as is much of Kuhn Rikon’s handle and knob, which leads me to assume that it won’t withstand as much use as our other top options. Amazon’s reviews of the commodity are mostly favourable, although some consumers note the short shelf life on the ‘lid lifter” component.
Hamilton Beach Smooth Touch Electric Can Opener
Our pick
Electric openers are significantly easier to use if you have limited power or limited range of motion in your hands. And while this appliance is a little more valuable than everything else in our chart, it is also handing down the product with the least concessions or concerns.
For instance, this appliance is very well designed: bring the can up to the blade and press down to the top lever—which is massive and has limited resistance, making it easy to press regardless of mobility and power. Then the appliance can keep the can on its own as it slices all the way around, allowing you to concentrate on pressing the lever down. Only remove the lever until it’s over.
You’re left with not only an open can but one with no rough edges. The blade slices right down the boundary between the lid and the can, making a smooth edge that you could hit if you wanted us not to try. We really appreciate that this gadget opens all standard-sized cans and pop-tops, along with non-circular-shaped tins that most others can’t do.
The elegant black-and-chrome style looks tidy, unobstructed, and suits every kitchen. The unit itself is thinner at the foot, meaning it won’t fall over. And it’s also got a retractable cord so it won’t get in the way if you keep it on the counter all the time.
SC0-60 Deluxe Can Opener – Best Can Opener in 2022
Our pick
Cuisinart’s stainless steel deluxe can opener boasts a robust, large base and elegant construction that won’t feel like clutter on your kitchen counter. During our checks, the magnet kept cans up to 32 ounces in place without any support, and the one-touch auto shut-off feature worked well. The lever is quickly withdrawn for washing and can be changed to cut from the top of the foot. This model comes with an extended warranty of three years.
Kuhn Rikon Auto Safety Master Can Opener
Our pick
If you have children or teenagers who like to help out in the kitchen, you should invest in a can opener that opens cans from the side of your lid so you don’t have sharp edges. The Kuhn Rikon Car Safety Master Best Can Opener would be our first pick. It is moderately priced and has over 1,400 user ratings.
There’s no need to squeeze the handle with this opener since the opener immediately grips the can as you start spinning the top handle. If the lid appears to be a little stuck after it’s opened, the mini pins allow you to grip the side of the lid for quick removal. Only press the button on the side to open the lid to the recycle bin. This product also includes a bottle opener, a bottle opener, and a hook for quick grasping of the containers on the cans.
