To Find the Best Can Openers, I Opened More Than 100 Cans of Tuna, Tomatoes, and More

Growing up, my family had an avocado-green electric can opener that matched our slow cooker. It felt so wonderfully modern, but was also cumbersome and took up valuable countertop space. It was incredibly slow, too—the can rotating like a ballerina in a jewelry box. That can opener machine broke halfway through middle school (or maybe my mom got tired of waiting to open cans of chicken noodle soup), and we switched to a manual, rotary can opener. It took up less space and opened up cans faster: a win-win.

Nowadays, I don’t rely much on canned food—not like my family did in the 80s and 90s. But I still reach for cans of tomatoes and beans regularly and can tell you there are some awful can openers out there. Some are barely able to open a can, while others are dangerous, slipping easily or creating jagged, sharp edges. To find the best can openers, I tested 12 of them by opening up over 100 cans of various shapes and sizes.

The Winners, at a Glance

The Best Can Opener

OXO Good Grip Soft Handle Manual Can Opener

$20 at Amazon $20 at Sur La Table View on Webstaurant Store

The OXO has soft, grippy handles and a large, comfortable knob that turns easily. Each rotation of its knob rotated the can farther than other models, making it speedier as well. 

Another Good Can Opener

Beneno Can Opener

$18

$15 at Amazon

The Beneno manual can opener is also a great option, with thick, comfortable handles and an easy-to-turn knob. The Beneno’s hinges open wide, which makes cleaning it easier. It features a small magnetic attachment, too, making it painless to lift off lids.

The Best Safety Can Opener

Bartelli Soft Edge 3-in-1 Ambidextrous Safety Can Opener

$17 at Amazon

The Bartelli can opener operates differently from a traditional hinged rotary can opener. But once you get the hang of it, it will be hard to go back. Cans open easily without the need to clamp down and hold the opener together as you turn. The edges aren't sharp, making it safer. And the opener can be turned in both directions, so it's both righty- and lefty-friendly.

The Best Electric Can Opener

Kitchen Mama Electric Can Opener

$30 at Amazon View on Walmart

$35

$30 at Newegg.com

This handheld, cordless electric can opener whizzed around cans of all sizes in our electric can opener review. Although it hums loudly, it works quickly and is small enough to store in any utensil drawer.

The Tests

• Standard Can Test: I opened up three three-inch diameter, 14.5-ounce cans of chickpeas, corn, and diced tomatoes. I then opened up a three-inch diameter, 14-ounce can of sweetened condensed milk. I checked how smoothly the can opener turned, how quickly it opened each can, and how easy it was to use.
• Small Can Test: I opened up a five-ounce can of evaporated milk with a 2.5-inch diameter and a six-ounce can of tomato paste with a two-inch diameter.
• Large Can Test: I opened up a five-ounce can of tuna with a 3.375-inch diameter and a 28-ounce can of whole tomatoes with a four-inch diameter.
• Oddly-Sized Can Test: I opened up a 15-ounce oval-shaped can of sardines that was 6.5 inches long and 4.25 inches wide to see how the can opener worked with non-standard-shaped cans.
• Cleaning Test: I washed each can opener six times during testing to see how easy it was to clean and remove sticky residue like garbanzo bean liquid (aquafaba) and sweetened condensed milk. I let each can opener air dry overnight to check for rust or discoloration.

What We Learned

Can Openers with Bigger Handles and Knobs Were More Comfortable to Use

Regardless of the can opener's style, the bigger and softer the handles and knobs were, the easier they were to use. Large, thick-handled can openers were more comfortable to close and hold tightly. And larger knobs were easier to grab and turn, requiring less stress and strength to open a can. This also meant a speedier can-opening experience.

Large Knobs Got in the Way

As much as I liked large knobs, when the cans were thin and shallow—like a tuna or sardine can—bigger knobs were more challenging to use. Thinner cans sit closer to the countertop, resulting in less clearance. With a traditional rotary can opener that clamps onto the can, I had to lift the can off of the counter and turn the knob. With a safety can opener, I ended up moving the can to the edge of the counter so the knob hung off of the side to allow for turning. It was slightly annoying, but not a deal-breaker. 

Tighter and Wider Hinges Were Useful

Most traditional rotary can openers have hinges that allow you to clamp the can opener to the top of the can. I initially thought a loose-hinged can opener would be easier to use, with minimal effort required to open and clamp down on the lid of a can. However, I preferred the tighter-hinged can openers that didn’t swing wide open when picked up.

I also preferred hinges that opened up wider and farther. It made cleaning the can opener easier, as I could open up and scrub the can opener.

Fixed Can Openers Were More Dangerous

I tested a couple of fixed can openers, which are basically a blade attached to a piece of metal and a hook. You use the hook to leverage the blade and pierce the lid of the can, and then manually move the fixed can opener around the edge of the lid, employing a series of piercings to remove the can. Though fixed openers have their fan base as they're simple to use and don’t have any moving parts that can break (and are good for, say, camping), they are slower and more difficult to use, creating sharp and jagged lid edges.

Safety Can Openers Truly Were Safer

Traditional hinged can openers are intuitive to use, mostly because people grew up with them. But safety can openers can also be easy once you get the hang of them. Instead of manually clamping the can between two gears, you place the safety can opener on top of the can, then twist the knob to start opening. The gears cut through the side of the can, leaving a smooth edge. Plus, there’s no need to tightly close a clamp mechanism like in a rotary can opener, which is a plus for those with arthritis or limited mobility.

The Criteria: What to Look for in a Can Opener

Look for a can opener with larger, comfortable handles and knobs made of a softer material. Harder plastic was less comfortable to hold, and thinner, plastic-coated metal handles created fatigue when used continually. Look for one that opens lids fairly smoothly, without jagged wavy edges that might snag or cut. Pick a can opener with a tight hinge that can open widely for easy cleanup. Loose hinges can swing open unexpectedly.

If selecting a safety can opener, which opens lids with duller edges, look for one that's made of thick, durable plastic and has a knob that's easy to turn. 

Our Favorite Can Openers

The Best Can Opener

OXO Good Grip Soft Handle Manual Can Opener

$20 at Amazon $20 at Sur La Table View on Webstaurant Store

What we liked: The OXO has a tight hinge that opens wide, making it easy to both clamp onto the can and wash and scrub all the areas of it after use.

It also has large soft handles and a wide, plastic knob for turning, making it easy to hold onto and use and reducing hand fatigue. The soft grip handles are nonslip even when wet and make it more comfortable when you have to lift the can up from the counter to open it. The OXO opened up cans faster than any of the other models I tested. The knob turned the can more with each twist, requiring less twisting and resulting in speedier lid removal. The lids and edges of the cans were relatively smooth, with minimal jagged or wavy areas. 

What we didn’t like: The OXO didn’t always cleanly cut away the lid, sometimes leaving it hanging on by a small piece of metal.

Key Specs

• Style: Traditional rotary can opener
• Material: Stainless steel and nonslip plastic
• Dimensions: 7.5 x 2 x 2.75 inches
• Weight: 7.75 ounces
• Care instructions: Handwash only and dry

Another Good Rotary Can Opener

Beneno Can Opener

$18

$15 at Amazon

What we liked: The Beneno manual can opener functions similarly to the OXO as a traditional hinged can opener. Like the OXO, it features soft grip handles that are nonslip even when wet, and a larger knob. The tight hinge opens up wide, allowing you to clamp onto the can easily and open the opener to clean it thoroughly. 

The Beneno did not open cans as quickly as the OXO, with more twists of the knob required. But it did have a nifty magnetic attachment on it, which allowed you to lift the lid out of the can once you’d opened it up. Though this seems like a minor feature, it means you don’t have to constantly reach for a butter knife to remove the lid if it falls into the can after opening. The lids and edges of the can were relatively smooth as well, with minimal jagged or wavy areas.

What we didn’t like: After multiple washings, I noticed the start of a very small rust spot inside the hinge.

Key Specs

• Style: Traditional rotary can opener
• Material: Stainless steel and nonslip plastic
• Dimensions: 7.5 x 2.25 x 2 inches
• Weight: 8 ounces
• Care instructions: Handwash only and then dry
  

The Best Safety Can Opener

Bartelli Soft Edge 3-in-1 Ambidextrous Safety Can Opener

$17 at Amazon

What we liked: Unlike a hinged rotary can opener, with a sharp rotating blade that pierces the top of the lid, safety can openers like the Bartelli clamp on top of the can and cut around the top side of the lid. This leads to a lid that has a slight lip on the bottom without sharp edges. 

Most safety edge can openers do require a little more power to cut sideways, but the Bartelli has a large, wide turning knob that gives you plenty of leverage. Opening a can with the Bartelli was no more difficult than using a hinged rotary can opener, and the compact design meant storing it was easy as well.

The lids opened smoothly, and there was no “hangnail” jagged metal edge where the can opener begins and ends, with the lid barely hanging on or snapping off. The lack of a hinge clamp also means it is easier to use for people who may have wrist issues or arthritis. And the design of the opener means the knob can be turned in both directions, making it an ambidextrous design, perfect for left- and right-handed folks. 

What we didn’t like: Because it’s a non-traditional safety can opener, there's a small learning curve. It opens slightly slower than traditional hinged can openers, but it is a fairly minimal difference. It is also recommended to wipe clean with a cloth and not wash with water, though I did wash the can opener during testing and didn't notice any rust or other issues.

Key Specs

• Style: Safety rotary can opener
• Material: Stainless steel and plastic
• Dimensions: 3.25 x 3.25 x 4.5 inches
• Weight: 4 ounces
• Care instructions: Wipe down with a clean cloth, do not wash in water directly

The Best Electric Can Opener

Kitchen Mama Electric Can Opener

$30 at Amazon View on Walmart

$35

$30 at Newegg.com

What we liked: In our review of electric can openers, we named two winners. If you have room for a stand-up electric can opener on your counter, you may like the one from Hamilton Beach. But if space is tight, or you just don't want to give up the real estate, the handheld, cordless electric can opener from Kitchen Mama is a game-changer. In our tests, it could handle every size and shape of can and worked quickly. There's a magnet that attaches to the lid, so you can easily pull it off once it's detached. It's about the size of a TV remote, which means finding storage space for it won't be a problem.

What we didn't like: It was noisier than the stand-up models we tested. It's pricier than basic handheld models.

Key Specs

• Style: Handheld cordless electric can opener
• Material: Plastic, stainless steel blade
• Dimensions: 7 x 2.7 x 2.1 inches
• Weight: 8.48 ounces
• Care instructions: None given, but do not submerge in water

The Competition

• EZ-Duz-It Deluxe Can Opener: This hinged can opener worked well, but it rusted after washing it twice.
• Kuhn Rikon Auto Safety Can Opener: This safety can opener was more expensive than the Bartelli safety can opener, but it has a lot of nice features, including a grasping pincher that helps lift the lid from the can. But it didn’t fully cut and open up the lid of the oval sardine can.
• Nogent Super Kim Safety Can Opener: This rotary can opener didn't have two handles or a hinge, which made it more compact but also harder to operate. The twisting handle was harder to turn, and clamping it onto the can was difficult, pinching me a few times as we started opening cans.
• Korin Can Opener: This fixed can opener was awkward and slow to use, and created jagged, sharp lids and can edges.
• US Shelby Can Opener: This small, fixed can opener was dangerous to use. It did not give enough leverage, and the thin metal bent and warped after testing it on only two cans. It also slipped several times during testing and nicked me once.
• Swing-A-Way Portable Can Opener: Like the EZ-Duz-It can opener, the Swing-A-Way opened cans easily and efficiently. It also had thicker handles, making it more comfortable to hold. But like the EZ-Duz-It, rust spots appeared after washing almost immediately.
• KitchenAid Classic Multifunction Can Opener: The KitchenAid can opener has hard plastic handles that not only feel cheap but also create fatigue after using them for extended periods. The can opener itself had a hard time “clamping” onto the lid of the cans to open them, requiring multiple starting attempts to open a single can.
• The Original Gorilla Grip Can Opener: The Gorilla Grip can opener had a soft grip handle and knob and functioned very similarly to the Boneno. But it does not have a magnetic attachment and doesn’t open up widely, making it harder to clean.
• Farberware Pro 2 Can Opener: The Farberware can opener is the cheapest one I tested. It did a poor job opening cans, spinning in place a few times, and falling off the oval-shaped sardine cans several times.
  

FAQs

Can you clean a can opener in the dishwasher?

While some can openers are touted as dishwasher-safe, it’s generally best practice to avoid exposing the tool to the harsh environment of a dishwasher. A quick wash or rinse immediately after use should make for easy cleanup without the high temperatures and detergents. Make sure to dry the can opener thoroughly before storing it.

How do you stop a can opener from rusting?

Most can openers are made from stainless steel, but that doesn’t mean they won’t rust eventually. Ensure that your can opener is always clean and thoroughly dried before storing, which should keep rust at bay.

How long does a can opener last?

If you take care of a can opener properly, a can opener can last for many years. Not drying it after washing and cleaning it in the dishwasher will shorten its lifespan.

Are there ambidextrous can openers?

There are some! Our pick for the top safety can opener can be used by both left- and right-handed people.

Why We’re the Experts

• Irvin Lin is a cookbook author, recipe developer, food writer, photographer, and ceramicist.
• He wrote the cookbook Marbled, Swirled, and Layered, which was picked by The New York Times as one of the best baking cookbooks of 2016.
• He’s tested and reviewed hundreds of kitchen items, including stand mixers and saucepans.
• For this review, Irvin tested 12 manual can openers, opening over 100 cans of various sizes.