The 6 Best Can Openers That Cut Smoothly Every Time, According to Our Testing
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Replace your dull can opener with one of these reliable picks.
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Can openers aren’t an exciting or expensive purchase, but they are an item you want to buy once and never again, or at least for a long time. We don't always reach for canned foods, but you can't deny their convenience for items like plum tomatoes, condensed milk, coconut milk, canned beans, and more. If you’ve dealt with an awkward can opener, you know the importance of a quality one that latches on effortlessly and cuts smoothly around the entire can. Safety is also of the essence. No one wants to cut themselves instead of the can when making Marcella Hazan's famous tomato sauce recipe with butter, onion, and tomatoes.
In order to find the best can openers worthy of a spot in your kitchen drawers, we tested the best-rated models, evaluating each one’s design and ease of use. Whether you want an electric, manual, or ambidextrous can opener, our list features options that are functional and built to last.
Best Overall: Zyliss Lock N’ Lift Can Opener
Pros
We love its lid lock mechanism, smooth-turning soft handle, and built-in magnet for retrieving the top.
Cons
It’s mostly made of plastic.
This manual can opener from Zyliss lands in the top spot on our list because, frankly, the company nailed the design. Our favorite feature is that once the lid is punctured, the blades lock into place, meaning you don’t squeeze the handles tightly as you move around the can. After opening the can, you simply press the red release button to unlock the blades from the lid. Following that step, you use the magnetic part of the can opener to lift the lid out of the can and throw it away for completely hands-free disposal. Best of all, this smartly designed model is just a little over $20.
Price at time of publish: $22
Type: Manual crank
Material: Plastic and stainless steel
Dishwasher-Safe: No
Best Electric : Kitchen Mama Electric Can Opener
Pros
You get the convenience of electric without the bulk.
Cons
You need to ensure the batteries don't run out or it's useless.
While there are plenty of other electric can openers, we love how light and compact the Kitchen Mama is. The Kitchen Mama is unlike larger electric can openers, which can be bulky eyesores you must lug out for every use. It also fits in most kitchen drawers and into the palm of your hand. It looks like a red and white spaceship, but the way it works is that you snap it onto the lid of a can and press a button to activate the can opener. You don't need to hold anything, which is a serious leg up, versus other tabletop models that require you to support larger cans during use. The can opener moves its way around the can's lid and stops when it reaches the end of a circle. Not only is it easy to use, but it is great for anyone with mobility issues, carpal tunnel syndrome, or arthritis since you just set it and forget it.
Price at time of publish: $40
Type: Electric
Material: Stainless steel and plastic
Dishwasher-Safe: No
Best Value: Good Cook Safe Cut Can Opener
Pros
It is compact enough to take anywhere.
Cons
Some may find it difficult to use at first.
Not only is the Good Cook Can Opener a great value, but it is also compact. It is the perfect size to throw in a bag for tailgating or camping and also fits nicely into any kitchen drawer. It can be tricky to use at first since it is not your typical clamp-on can opener. You rest it on the edge, and the latch is very strong once engaged. It is easy to use and cuts smooth lids with a few jagged edges, which is important for safety when lifting the lid yourself. It's also lightweight and small enough to fit any size hand, big or small. And, at just four ounces, it can be used by kids and adults alike. Since the chrome cutting wheel never touches the food during cutting, you can be rest assured there will be no cross-contamination.
Price at time of publish: $10
Type: Manual crank
Material: Stainless steel
Dishwasher-Safe: No
Best Splurge: Oxo Good Grips Smooth Edge Can Opener
Pros
This manual can opener is functional and reliable while being gentle on the hands.
Cons
Its side-wind mechanism might take a few tries to get used to.
Gripping the arms of a can opener and turning the crank can be challenging for cooks with arthritic hands or weak wrists. If you can relate, we recommend the Oxo Good Grips opener. The long arms are cushioned and slightly curved to fit perfectly into your palm, and the knob is also large and soft. Built-in pliers for hands-free top removal round out the user-friendly features. Plus, instead of cutting inside the upper rim of the can, this can opener cuts around the outside — so if you only need a cup of beans, you can put the top of the can back on, place it in the refrigerator, and use the rest another time.
Price at time of publish: $26
Type: Manual crank
Material: Stainless steel and plastic
Dishwasher-Safe: No
Related: The 15 Must-Have Kitchen Tools to Stay Ready for Anything
Safest: Kuhn Rikon Safety Can Opener
Pros
The Kuhn Rikon is very easy to use and the safest can opener once you get the handle of it.
Cons
It can be difficult to get the hang of at first due to all the various features.
The stainless and steel Kuhn Rikon Can Opener was one of the best and safest we tested. The can opener doesn't cut metal, so there are no remaining sharp edges to cut your fingers on. You remove the lid with mini-pinchers attached to the head of the can opener. So, one smooth motion is opening the cans and plucking the lid off. Opening cans is also smooth since you don't have to exert a lot of effort to open cans. When opening the cutting mechanism does not touch the food for maximum hygiene. It's also extremely versatile with a ring-pull opener also attached on the side of the can opener.
Price at time of publish: $20
Type: Manual crank
Material: Stainless steel and plastic
Dishwasher-Safe: No
Best for Lefties: Lefty’s Left-Handed Manual Can Opener
Pros
Unlike traditional can openers, lefties can hold it in their right hand while comfortably turning it with their left.
Cons
It's not the most durable can opener, and we wish the handle was made of something other than flimsy plastic.
Any lefty is familiar with the struggle of using their non-dominant hand to perform kitchen tasks, and opening a can is surely one of them. This can opener's construction allows it to be held in the right hand while the left hand turns counter-clockwise, away from the body. "For my entire life, I'd just been adapting to the small nuances of right-hand dominant kitchen tools," says left-handed Senior Commerce Editor Dana Fouchia. "This tool has been a small-but-substantial win in my kitchen tool lineup, and I love telling other lefties I know about it." While it's a decent opener that will release lids when held tightly, it's not the most durable-feeling tool. That said, we appreciate the thoughtful design for the often-neglected Southpaw community. It also features a bottle opener, which is a nice touch.
Price at time of publish: $22
Type: Manual crank
Material: Plastic and stainless steel
Dishwasher-Safe: No
Our Favorite
We love the Zyliss Lock N’ Lift Can Opener for its lid lock mechanism, comfortable handles, and magnetic, hands-free removal. If you want an electric model, we recommend the Kitchen Mama, as it performed the best during our tests and is the easiest electric to use.
Factors to Consider
Type
Classic manual can openers are the most popular choice. They feature a sharp rotating blade that pierces into the lid and comfort handles and a turning knob to cut around the can. While most models are similar to one another, some might include bonus features like a bottle opener or cut from the side rather than the top, which works best for lefties who prefer using left-handed kitchen tools. For people with arthritis, we recommend an electric can opener such as the Kitchen Mama. These automatic models get the job done with minimal effort required from you. The only con is that some, like the Hamilton Beach, tend to be more expensive and bigger than their manual counterparts.
Size
While electric can openers may make things easier, they are also larger than manual can openers. If you don’t have the space to stand your can opener in a cupboard and would rather tuck it away in a drawer, a manual one might be your best option. Likewise, if you need a can opener to bring on the go, a smaller model is a smart choice.
Ease of Use
Most of the can openers on this list are manual crank openers, meaning you position the opener on the ridge of the can, squeeze it, and then turn a handle to open the can. These tend to be relatively easy to use unless you have difficulty gripping the can opener’s handles with one hand as you spin the crank with the other. That said, a hands-free, electric can opener offers the ultimate ease of use.
How We Tested Can Openers
To find the best can openers, we put them through the paces of regular home use over the course of a few weeks. We opened small cans of beans, tuna in water, and large vats of tomatoes for batches of tomato sauce. We even opened cans with dented lids to see how the can openers faired when they didn't have even terrain.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do you sharpen a can opener?
With frequent use, the blades on your can opener will inevitably grow dull. However, it’s very easy to sharpen a can opener. When you notice the blades starting to struggle, run a folded piece of aluminum foil or a piece of coarse-grade sandpaper through the can opener a few times to sharpen the blades — you’ll need another set of hands to either hold the foil/sandpaper or operate the can opener. Once this method stops working, it’s likely time to replace the blades or purchase a new can opener.
How do you clean a can opener?
The easiest way to keep a can opener germ-free is to scrub it with dish soap after each use and let it air dry completely before returning it to your drawer. But if it starts to rust or has visible buildup, soak it in white vinegar for a few minutes and then scrub the blades with a toothbrush — do this as many times as you need to in order to get it really clean.
Are electric can openers worth it?
It depends on what’s important to you. If you’re looking for a way to take the possibility of human error out of opening cans and storage space isn’t an issue, then certainly. Ditto if you are worried about your can opener getting dirty, as the blades attachment on our favorite electric can opener can be washed in the dishwasher. But if you’ve never had any gripes with a manual can opener and you like being able to tuck it away in a drawer, you don’t need to make the switch.
Other Can Openers We Tested
Strong Contenders
OXO Steel Can Opener (Amazon $23)
We like everything Oxo, and this Steel Can Opener scored high marks in our previous and current tests. We found the competition smoother with cleaner lines and chose those over this standard. It's still a great buy, but it takes more elbow grease to open cans than those above, including the other Oxo we did include.
Hamilton Beach Smooth Touch Electric Automatic Can Opener (Amazon $33)
The Hamilton Beach Smooth Touch Electric Can Opener is a standard bearer for electric can openers. However, we think it is outdated. Most people will have to store it in a cabinet, which seems like a waste of space. You also have to hold up heavier cans while in use, which can be difficult for some. We prefer the Kitchen Mama.
What Didn't Make The List
Although the Korin Can Opener is extremely compact, it is difficult to use and hard to store safely. It would be great for camping, but so would any other of our more compact choices. The weight of the KitchenAid Classic Multifunction Can Opener could be prohibitive for some, especially those with mobility issues. Its bulky handle is another reason why we left it out of our list of recommendations. The EZ-DUZ-IT Deluxe Can Opener with Black Grips is a good basic can opener, but it cut jagged edges. We prefer smoother operators.
Our Expertise
Alyssa Sybertz is an experienced food writer and recipe developer who covers everything you may find in your kitchen for Food and wine. For this article, she researched the most durable and reliable can openers for all your canned food needs. Food & Wine's Senior Commerce Writer Jennifer Zyman contributed to this article. She also performed further testing and added insights to keep our data and recommendations updated.
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