Best Manual Can Opener
What happens when you need to open a can, and there are no can openers in the house?
You may try to open the can with a knife. Doing this is neither good for the blade nor the can; plus, it’s highly risky, and you could get yourself hurt.
Having an inadequate can opener can also lead to accidents and spillages that are sure to leave your kitchen in a mess.
A manual can opener is a must for every household! They are compact, loaded with smart features, and come in different qualities of plastic. In addition to that, they’re cost-effective as well.
To help you choose the right one for your kitchen, we have tested the best manual can openers in the market by opening different sizes of cans.
We tested them for comfort, longevity, speed, safety, and several other factors.
Let’s dive right into it, and go through our picks for the best manual can openers.
Why Should You Buy A Manual Can Opener?
Why choose a manual can opener over an electrical one?
Although electric can openers look convenient and easy to operate, the manual can opener still provides the average household customer with many more advantages.
Electric can openers require you to remain still for a precise cut and are dependent on electricity. A manual can opener does not require stability or electricity; thus, making it easier to operate, even on a trek!
Furthermore, manual openers are made of sturdy materials and are lighter and more durable than their counterparts, electrical can openers.
Washing a manual can opener is a straightforward task as some are dishwasher safe. Their solid build ensures no loose parts during the washing process, unlike the electrical opener, where you have to be extra cautious not to detach or damage any moving parts.
Lastly, the manual can opener comes at a reasonable and much cheaper price than the electrical one.
Best Manual Can Opener: Buying Guide
Here are a few key factors that you need to consider when looking for the best manual can opener for your kitchen:
Easy To Handle And Use
The first thing you should take into account when buying a can opener is its practical convenience. Ignoring all other variables, your priority should be to get an opener that does the job with minimum fuss.
Make sure to choose one that operates effortlessly and smoothly. Plus, it should have ergonomic handles that provide you with comfort and safety during use.
After all, what good is a can opener if it’s hard to use?
Material
Another thing to consider is the material used to make the can opener’s cutting wheel and body. In this regard, you should always go for stainless steel blades. They’re sharp, long-lasting, and rust-resistant.
Sturdy Construction
The blade’s interlocking mechanisms and the rest of the body should come together to form a robust kitchen tool. Its moving parts should not just rotate adequately but also join together safely.
Trust your instinct: grip it and judge its overall feel. The more confident you are holding it; the better you will be at using it
Easy To Maintain And Clean
Choose a manual can opener that is corrosion-free and rust-free so that you won’t have to oil it time and again.
Though you can go for a dishwasher-safe manual can opener, but they’re scarce and hard to find. The next best option would be one that can be cleaned merely using dishwasher soap and tap water.
Extra Features And Operations
Most manual can openers boast numerous other functions such as removing jar lids, pulling out can tabs, opening bottles, or even lifting back the removed lid of a can.
These functions and others like them add value to the manual can opener while making it more usable and comfortable.
Based on the household, you can also select a mechanical device that offers the same top features but is explicitly designed to cater to specific groups of people, such as left-handed people or those with arthritis.
Best Manual Can Openers
Our criteria for the perfect manual can opener requires it to be easy to handle and maintain, made using robust materials, and also fulfills other arbitrary functions around the kitchen.
To help you make the right choice for your kitchen, read on to see our picks for the four best manual can openers!
ZYLISS Lock N’ Lift 7″ Manual Handheld Can Opener
Best lock-and-lift manual can opener
The ZYLISS 7 inch manual handheld can opener is designed for higher efficiency and maximum comfort. The opening mechanism locks on to the can and turns quickly while it cuts, making the process seem effortless.
Despite appearing smooth, the knob provides an impressive grip; it has been shaped mainly to offer customers a stress-free cutting experience.
This handled can opener includes a cutting mechanism made purely from top-quality stainless steel, providing superior precision with an opener that is already very easy to use.
We particularly liked this can opener because it includes an outstanding locking mechanism that can grip the can tight for you if you let go. This function promotes mobility in the kitchen by allowing you to multi-task safely.
Moreover, you can hold this can opener without worrying about it slipping as it provides a soft grip that is highly comfortable and slip-resistant.
An added advantage that you get with the ZYLISS 7 inch manual handheld can opener is that you can easily wash and dry it; the cleaning process is so simple that your handled can opener becomes good to go in no time!
Why Buy This?
The best thing about this can opener is that it comes with a safe locking mechanism, which gives you the chance to make consistent cuts while also letting you do multiple tasks simultaneously.
It provides users with a soft grip that offers superior performance when opening cans.
Pros
- Impressive locking mechanism
- Stylish design
- 5-year warranty
- Convenient magnet
Cons
- Plastic made handle
OXO Good Grips Soft-Handled Can Opener
Best manual can opener for a comfortable grip
The OXO soft handled can opener ranks second in our list of the best manual can openers on the market. It ranks this high because of its large, cushioned handles that allow you to pierce cans without inflicting the slightest strain.
It comes with a stainless steel blade that offers precise cuts and is easy to clean. Therefore, with the OXO can opener, you can open almost any can you want with minimum hassle or after-thought.
What we found highly attractive about the OXO soft-handled can opener is its sleek steel construction. This stainless steel shape gives the opener enhanced durability, making it a lasting addition to your collection of kitchen tools.
Moreover, the stainless-steel cutting wheel of the can opener is extremely sharp and easy to maintain. This ensures smooth cutting of the lid.
This opener also features a unique magnet that attracts the lid and tethers it safely until you choose to dispose of it. Additionally, it has a window at the top that allows users to monitor the can opening process, ensuring additional safety.
Lastly, it comes with an embedded bottle opener that is highly convenient and simple to use.
Why Buy This?
The bottle-opener and the magnetic lid-attraction mechanism make it a blessing for multi-taskers!
This manual can opener includes an oversized handle that makes the opening of cans extremely comfortable, and the non-slip grip of this soft handled can opener allows you to open cans with relative ease, even when wet.
Pros
- Embedded bottle opener
- Sharp edge cutting wheel
- Ergonomic design
- Non-slip grip
Cons
- Hand-wash only
Swing-A-Way Portable Manual Can Opener
Budget-friendly manual can opener
The Swing-A-Way portable manual can opener is another good option that you can choose for your kitchen. It comes with an extra-long, easy-to-use handle that provides a firm grip that cuts open cans without putting any strain on your hands.
It has an oversized cushion grip that allows for soft handling; therefore, opening a can is a breeze and the least of your problems.
What we specifically liked about this manual can opener is that its ergonomic handles are comfortable and can fit seamlessly into hands of all sizes.
As it’s made using very durable steel, you can use the can opener to cut through even the toughest of can tops with ease. Plus, it’s easy to use and extremely smooth. This manual can opener’s razor-sharp wheel is constructed from high-carbon steel and slides accurately through the can’s top.
Although the design of Swing-A-Way portable can opener is simple, it embodies all the features of a high-quality and modern can opener design, including an embedded bottle opener.
Moreover, the additional benefit you get with this can opener is that it’s simple to clean and weighs only about 10.4oz.
Due to its light-weight design, it can play an important role at your outdoor barbecues, hiking trips, or camping trips.
Why Buy This?
This manual can opener comes with a durable all-steel design and construction and can pierce almost any metal can with ease.
The soft and comfortable handle remains folded when it isn’t being used, making it a lot easier for users to store and carry.
Pros
- Extra-large handle
- Durable steel blades
- Easy to clean
- Easy soft grip
- Easy to store and manage
- Super light-weight
Cons
- Cutting wheels should have been safely locked
Kuhn Rikon Auto Safety Master Manual Can Opener
Best manual can opener for safety
The Kuhn Rikon Auto-Safety Master manual can opener pierces cans from the corner, avoiding sharp edges. This makes it a great tool to have if you have young chefs in the house, or if you lack experience handling sharp kitchen tools.
With this master can opener, you won’t have to force the handle much, as it grips the lid automatically once you start spinning the handle.
Furthermore, if the lid gets stuck as you open it, this multipurpose manual can opener includes mini pliers that help you remove the stuck lid from the can. Once removed, push the can opener’s side button to drop the lid in the trash can.
This product includes a collection of other captivating features and functions – five different opener functions to be precise – such as bottle opener, hook (to grab pull-tabs off the cans), and twist cap bottle opener, among others.
Lastly, you can clean the can opener with minimum effort. Simply grab a damp cloth and start wiping, that’s all!
Whatever you do, please do not attempt to wash it in the dishwasher!.
Why Buy This?
This unique multipurpose manual can opener pierces the outer part of the can rather than the top portion. This way, it leaves a smooth, safe finish on a can’s rim.
The lock-on feature of the can opener makes it incredibly easy to grip the can and open.
Pros
- Stainless steel blade
- Highly hygienic
- Multi-purpose
Cons
- Creating small splinters of metal around the edges
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Bottom Line
Manual can openers can add tremendous value to your kitchen. They can make can opening an enjoyable and straightforward feat.
Our picks come with many impressive features such as durable steel blades, soft-grip, ergonomic design, and non-slip exterior. They are easy to clean, store, and focus on providing a safe and stress-free can-opening experience to people of all ages.
We’ve reviewed four manual can openers that excel in safety, are budget-friendly, boast comfortable usage, and offer various extra features to boot.
Choose one of these options to make sure whenever you need to open a can; you have the best possible tool at your disposal!