Can openers are housewares that open metal cans by cutting around the inside rim of the lid. There are generally two kinds of can openers – manual and electric. Read on to see which is right for you.
Manual Can Openers have rotating ‘wheels’ with blades that cut through the metal lid. The wheels are controlled by hand using a knob. They are much cheaper and in some ways, more practical. They do not require batteries and can be used anytime, anywhere. However, Manual Can Openers may be hard to use on cans that are difficult to open.
Electric
Electric Can Openers use cutting blades to open the metal lid. They can either be hand-held or mounted on the wall. They are a bit expensive, but most ‘serious’ kitchens have them because they save time. The elderly and the infirm may also need Electric Can Openers.
Size. Before buying a can opener, make sure that it can handle small cans (such as tuna fish cans) to larger cans (such as dog food cans). Blade. A sharp blade is not enough – it has to be removable, too, so you can clean it in between opening a can of soup and a can of pet food. Handle. Choose a can opener with an ergonomic handle, especially if you are buying the manual version. Magnetic lid holder. Are you buying an electric version? Make sure that it has a magnetic lid holder so it can grip itself onto the can lid and never falls off to leave a mess.
