THE BEST: Can Opener

[blue_dolphin]

17 minutes ago, Laurentius said:

How many revolutions of the opener does it typically take for the cutter to free the lid?

So far, all lids have released after one revolution but I’ve only had it for ~ 2 years x ~ 2.5 cans/day = 1825 cans, so quite a limited sample. 
Oh wait. I think there may have been a little oval tinned fish can that didn’t release on the first go round. 

[Smithy]

3 hours ago, JAZ said:

 

Thanks. This is a very specific question, which you may or may not be able to answer. Apparently, my bother-in-law wants this mostly to open cans of coconut milk. In my experience, some brands of coconut milk don't work well with safety openers. Do you have any experience with your opener on coconut milk cans? (I know, weird question.)

 

Not at all a weird question, and as it happens I'll be able to test it by early next week, maybe as soon as Sunday. I'll report back.

 

3 hours ago, Laurentius said:

 

Good for you.  No doubt smooth edges are better than sharp ones, but really, aren't sharp can edges a First World problem?

 

How many revolutions of the opener does it typically take for the cutter to free the lid?

 

My particular electric opener seems to need 2 revolutions, maybe 3, to get the lid off. I let it do its thing and decide when it's finished. (If I'm looking for entertainment I just watch it go; otherwise, I work on other kitchen tasks while it's working.) The Oxo manual safety opener I had took many more turns around the can, and -- as somebody else pointed out earlier -- was difficult to attach and then, later, release.

[weinoo]

8 hours ago, JAZ said:

 

Thanks. This is a very specific question, which you may or may not be able to answer. Apparently, my bother-in-law wants this mostly to open cans of coconut milk. In my experience, some brands of coconut milk don't work well with safety openers. Do you have any experience with your opener on coconut milk cans? (I know, weird question.)

 

Make your brother-in-law's life easier with these (eG-friendly Amazon.com link)...

 

 

Better than what's in most cans, no openers needed.

[liuzhou]

I haven't used my can opener for years. It's an OK no name Chinese brand from the local supermarket.

 

I might use one can a year but they all seem to be ring pull here these days. There is one product ("salmon" roe) I use a lot of which does come in a ring pull can from Russia but I've never been able to open the cans without resorting to pliers and a system of levers put together from screwdrivers etc. For some reason, probably stubbornness, I've never thought to open them with the can opener. Can't think where it is.

 

 

 

P.S. Just checked. All the cans I have: beans, sardines and the above roe are ring pull. There is one ancient can of tomatoes which would require the opener, but I usually use fresh tomatoes.

 

Edited December 8, 2023 by liuzhou (log)

[Tropicalsenior]

I have exactly the same experience here. Almost everything is with the ring pull. Some years ago when I could no longer use the hand can opener I decided to buy an electric can opener. I bought three or four that just didn't work. A friend of mine, after listening to me bitch and moan, finally gave me her ancient Proctor Silex that does work, sort of. I might use it about twice a year so I figure it will last as long as I do.

[liuzhou]

I'm not sure my can opener would even deal with that can. The lip seems rather high, if you see what I mean. I'll try tomorrow. I'm not going on an opener hunt at this time of night.

[lindag]

I use this one and have for a very long time.  It's simple, very easy to turn and removes the in one go.  I actually have two, one is for me, the other for dogfood.

from Amazon:

(larger than life-size)😁

 

Edited December 8, 2023 by lindag (log)

[rotuts]

Oxo brand has bet6ter than average grips and cranks.

[liuzhou]

Curiosity got the better of me, so I dug out the opener. As you can see it is old and somewhat tarnished, but it is clean and the cutting wheel still sharp.

 

 

As I suspected the lip on the top of the can was too high for the cutting blade to engage, but I flipped the can over and was able to cleanly remove the bottom.

 

Now I have to eat 120 g of Russian fake salmon roe for supper!

 

 

 

Edited December 8, 2023 by liuzhou (log)

[Sid Post]

The EZ-DUZ-IT Deluxe Can Opener is a classic and works extremely well for me.  They cost between $8~$13 each depending on where you shop.

 

The Kuhn Rikon 'seamless' can oper works really well for me but, can be a bit tricky to use on some cans with weird rims since that is where the seam is a cut.  It is really nice not having a lid end up in a can of tomato sauce so, to me it is worth the effort on tricky cans when I am making something that needs tomatoes and other vegetables!

[Smithy]

Tonight I used my electric safety can opener and videotaped the whole thing in action on a can of coconut milk. Unfortunately, I've discovered that I can't convert a video to a .gif as I'd hoped so I could post it here.

 

Thoughts and observations:

 

1. By now, @JAZ has probably already made her choice. Nonetheless I stand by my recommendation (eG-friendly Amazon.com link). This little gizmo is almost as entertaining and gratifying as a FoodSaver while being considerably less expensive. It is a little startling when I accidentally bump it in the gadget drawer and it buzzes to life. 🙂

 

2. I haven't tried it on something as narrow as a can of tomato paste, so can't comment on its size limits.

 

3. I tried it specifically on a can of coconut milk, after having looked at many cans of coconut milk before making my purchase. I really can't see why coconut milk cans would be any more challenging than any other produce cans. I have not tried this on a can of condensed milk, which doesn't have a neat rim. Maybe that would be problematic.

 

4. The lid AND the can edge were both smooth. I'd be able to use the can as a biscuit cutter, but I wouldn't be afraid of cutting myself on either the lid or the can rim.

 

Sorry that I couldn't come up with good photos of the process!

[Porthos]

On 12/20/2023 at 8:16 PM, Smithy said:

Tonight I used my electric safety can opener and videotaped the whole thing in action on a can of coconut milk. Unfortunately, I've discovered that I can't convert a video to a .gif as I'd hoped so I could post it here.

 

Thoughts and observations:

 

1. By now, @JAZ has probably already made her choice. Nonetheless I stand by my recommendation (eG-friendly Amazon.com link). This little gizmo is almost as entertaining and gratifying as a FoodSaver while being considerably less expensive. It is a little startling when I accidentally bump it in the gadget drawer and it buzzes to life. 🙂

 

2. I haven't tried it on something as narrow as a can of tomato paste, so can't comment on its size limits.

 

3. I tried it specifically on a can of coconut milk, after having looked at many cans of coconut milk before making my purchase. I really can't see why coconut milk cans would be any more challenging than any other produce cans. I have not tried this on a can of condensed milk, which doesn't have a neat rim. Maybe that would be problematic.

 

4. The lid AND the can edge were both smooth. I'd be able to use the can as a biscuit cutter, but I wouldn't be afraid of cutting myself on either the lid or the can rim.

 

Sorry that I couldn't come up with good photos of the process!

Your recommendation was enough to make me pull the trigger and order one. I like our (my) handheld Swingaway crank handle opener.  My Sweetie, however, is a leftie and finds it basically impossible to use.

[Smithy]

1 hour ago, Porthos said:

Your recommendation was enough to make me pull the trigger and order one. I like our (my) handheld Swingaway crank handle opener.  My Sweetie, however, is a leftie and finds it basically impossible to use.

 

I hope you like it. So far we love ours for its utitlity and compactness. As a bonus, there is the giggle / startle factor when it's accidentally activated in the gadget drawer. "What's that?" exclaims my darling. It deactivates quickly when it doesn't sense the proper pressure.

[palo]

3 hours ago, Smithy said:

 

there is the giggle / startle factor when it's accidentally activated in the gadget drawer. "What's that?" exclaims my darling.

Sort of like at the airport when something embarrassing and "unmentionable" goes off in your luggage

 

I too have ordered one - thanks for updating us especially with regards to the smoothness and safety of both the can and the removed lid

 

p

[Smithy]

@FauxPas suggested elsewhere that I upload a video of my can opener in action to YouTube. Here it is.

 

 

[FauxPas]

17 minutes ago, Smithy said:

@FauxPas suggested elsewhere that I upload a video of my can opener in action to YouTube. Here it is.

 

Oooooh, I like it! Very similar to mine, but yours has a higher tone. Mine has a slightly deeper rumble. I love these types of openers!!!!  🙂

 

[Maison Rustique]

I can't tell from photos or the video. Is the round part on the opener level/straight? I ordered one and it looked bent to me. I contacted them and they sent another and I've got the first one ready to return. The second one arrived and it is the same. I can't figure out if they are defective or supposed to be that way. Would you be able to post ore photos of the under side of yours, @Smithy? Thank you!

[Smithy]

2 hours ago, Maison Rustique said:

I can't tell from photos or the video. Is the round part on the opener level/straight? I ordered one and it looked bent to me. I contacted them and they sent another and I've got the first one ready to return. The second one arrived and it is the same. I can't figure out if they are defective or supposed to be that way. Would you be able to post ore photos of the under side of yours, @Smithy? Thank you!

 

Funny, I hadn't noticed it before! But yes, the cutting wheel has a slight angle. It's most noticeable when looking at the gizmo end-on. 

 

 

If it dies in the next few uses we'll know it isn't supposed to be like that. 🙂 But it's been working fine so far.

[gulfporter]

We liked this one so much we now have it at each of our homes.  I have had multiple hand surgeries and treatments for my Dupuytren's Contracture in both hands and find this one lightweight and quick.  

 

From Good Cook at Amazon.  

 

 

[Smithy]

On 12/24/2023 at 6:48 AM, Maison Rustique said:

I can't tell from photos or the video. Is the round part on the opener level/straight? I ordered one and it looked bent to me. I contacted them and they sent another and I've got the first one ready to return. The second one arrived and it is the same. I can't figure out if they are defective or supposed to be that way. Would you be able to post ore photos of the under side of yours, @Smithy? Thank you!

 

On 12/24/2023 at 9:04 AM, Smithy said:

 

Funny, I hadn't noticed it before! But yes, the cutting wheel has a slight angle. It's most noticeable when looking at the gizmo end-on. 

 

 

If it dies in the next few uses we'll know it isn't supposed to be like that. 🙂 But it's been working fine so far.

 

Here it is, working on a very small can of jalapenos -- about the diameter of a can of tomato paste. It worked like a charm.

 

 

@Maison Rustique. I think the angle of the cylinder is necessary so that the cutter is going halfway from top to bottom of the top seam. Note the angle of the body of the opener while it was in action. Even on this small can, when it was done I had a smooth edge on both the lid and the can.

[Maison Rustique]

@Smithy Thank you so much!!

[Maison Rustique]

I finally had the occasion to use my new can opener. Opened 2 cans and it worked great! So easy and no sharp edges. Yay!! (This is the red/white opener discussed above.)

[AlaMoi]

don't throw your old style can opener away . . .

 

seems the Asian canners have invented a new can "lip" / "seal" that the side openers do not work on.

ran into that problem on some tuna cans from Costco, and more recently on Bumbee Red Salmon can - had to resort to my old P-51 C-Rats opener . . .

[Maison Rustique]

I will keep a manual opener or two just in case I run out of batteries or whatever. You never know!

[Smithy]

On 1/14/2024 at 6:45 AM, Maison Rustique said:

I will keep a manual opener or two just in case I run out of batteries or whatever. You never know!

 

That's fair, and what I've done too. And I still have my Swiss Army Knife with the can opener as a backup to the backups. But boy, I sure like my little electric safety-style can opener!