I’m really tired of buying can openers that only work on some cans, and I need a nuclear warhead to open the others. Is there any can opener that works all the time, with every can? I don’t care if it’s manual or electric, and price is no object.
The longstanding gold standard is the Swing-A-Way.
I’ve had a handheld Swing-A-Way can opener like that one for about twenty years, and it works great. But last year, I bought one of those side cutting can openers that used to be advertised on TV and now use that. Mine is by Zyliss, but other companies make them as well. They seem to work by mechanically separating the lid of the can from the side, so that the edge that’s left is not at all sharp. As a bonus, you can use the lid to cover the can, which is useful if you’ve left food in the can.
I’ve given up on electric can openers years ago and have not had any problems with the regular style from Oxo / Good Grips.
I can’t recommend this one enough.http://www.qvc.com/qic/qvcapp.aspx/view.2/app.detail/params.item.K18779.desc.Kuhn-Rikon-Ultimate-Can-Opener-with-Auto-Attach-Feature
I’m not a big fan of QVC, but we’ve had this for several months now and it’s awesome. The handle part that you turn to open the can is big enough to give you good leverage even for someone with smaller or weaker hands and it’s built like a tank. It’s pretty handy to have a bottle opener around and the little bird’s beak looking thing helps open cans with pull rings. I feel a little silly being this excited about a can opener, but I just love finding little gadgets that simply work great and this one does.
I’ve got an Oxo Good Grips and would buy another in a second
Get a high-end Swiss Army Knife and never worry about this nonsense again. Also, Army surplus stores have a little thing called a P3 that generally costs less than 50 cents and does mortal damage to any can known to man.
I’ve got one of those styles as well, and once I figured out how to use it I found it to be much better than the traditional style. It cuts through just about anything, including dented cans, and I agree getting that a usable lid is nice.
Swing-A-Way thirded or fourthed. Depending on use it will usually last at least 5 + years, longer if only used occasionally. Eventually the hardened cutting wheel on all openers will wear out with extensive use.
Thrift stores are great places to find cheap, good quality can openers with little use. I paid a dollar for a near brand new Swing a Away
Ditto.
A few years ago on this board, someone recommended the Oxo Good Grips - and I had gone through many crappy can openers before.
I have had this one now for a few years - works perfectly to this day, never once had a problem and wouldn’t even think of buying anything else from now on. I believe I bought this one at Target and it was only a couple dollars more expensive than the other crappier can openers that aren’t worth anything.
Some are discussed here
http://www.spotshoppingguide.com/choosing-the-best-can-openers-reviews/
But decidedly less useful if you want to use the lid to squeeze the oil/water out of your tuna fish.
I use the side opener for all other cans, myself.
We also have an Oxo, and no need for anything else.
I’ll throw in another vote for the Oxo manual opener. I got some fancy-schmancy electric can opener that hung under the cabinets as a wedding present many years ago, and the thing was a piece of shit. I don’t know how many electric openers we went through (3 or 4, at least) before I bought the Oxo. Nothing beats a good quality manual can opener. I’ll never buy another electric one again.
I got one of those “sideways” openers already mentioned and so far it’s been 100% for me. I open at least one can a day.
Previously I had a traditional hand-held opener and I found that it would get out of joint regularly. So one night it would open a can just fine, the next night not at all, until I bent it, but not bent it in any specific way…just finagled it.
Needless to say, my dog - who gets a can of green beans every night - is a big fan of the quick-working side opener.
Oxo Good Grips. The only can open we’ve had for the last 15 years or so.
Actually, it’s a P-38. Also known as a “John Wayne.” Get the Swing-A-Way.
Another vote for the Swing-A-Way.
I’ve been using the same one for 20+ years now and doubt if I’ll need another one for another 20. As posted upthread, it works well for any type of can and doesn’t require super kung fu grip to do it.
I bought mine at the Dollar Store about 5 years ago. Works just fine, but I suppose I could upgrade. Still, electric can openers kind of freak me out for some reason.
Mom has had crappy can openers for years. Since she is now well past 70, I bought her an Oxo locking can opener - works like a charm: easy to crank, always cuts, never drops the can.