Lets Talk Can Openers

[NCLee]

We come up with all sorts of lists of things for BOB's, hunkering down, etc. but simple can openers don't appear to be mentioned very often. So I thought I'd start a discussion about them.

Some thoughts to lead off. Chime in with your thoughts, recommendations, or duh moments, if you have them.

** I quit using electric can openers several years ago. It took up counter space and of the several I've owned over the years they couldn't handle #10 cans, tall or odd shaped ones either. Plus, when the power failed, it wasn't worth the proverbial "hill of beans". For the kitchen I use this. http://www.target.com/Chefmate-Safe-Cut-Can-Opener/dp/B000UBWHEG
Quiet, stows in a drawer, easy to use even on #10 cans.

The best part is that it's a side open. After opening a #10, it can be turned into a storage container with a lid. No more sharp lids that cut trash bags.

** For BOB, these don't take a lot of space. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/P-38_can_opener and they are so cheap, it's easy to have several stashed away. Putting one on your keychain means you'll never be without a can opener as long as you have your keys with you.

** I have several other manual can openers. I'm glad now that I didn't throw them away years ago when I bought a B&D under cabinet mount electric one. Replaced that twice, before going to a countertop that died, too. One of the manual openers has a corkscrew in the handle. In my shop I have a hand cranked wall mounted one.

Have you thought about your can opener?

Lee

[randallhilton]

http://www.target.com/Chefmate-Safe-Cut-Can-Opener/dp/B000UBWHEG[/url]
Quiet, stows in a drawer, easy to use even on #10 cans.

The best part is that it's a side open. After opening a #10, it can be turned into a storage container with a lid. No more sharp lids that cut trash bags.Lee

I'm looking for a can opener that can last a while. We've tried many different brands, including one similar to the one linked above (which I agree, it's very nice to cut the lid off a can in such a way as to let it be used for storage etc.) I just seems that after several dozen cans, they all wear out. My mom used the same can opener for all the years I was growing up (it seems) but we wear them out in months. And we don't eat much canned food either!

Good topic!

[CanNerd]

For the BOB I go with the P-38, especially since I'm not planning on carrying canned goods in the BOB so there is no practical reason to carry a bulky opener. However, one could come across a can it is practical to have a means of opening it.

For the long-term storage vault there will be several good mechanical can openers since bulk is not an issue, but ability to open multiple cans without much physical effort may be.

[rAcErRicK]

Agreed NCLee. I have one of the Chefmate models and would not take anything for it. I won't brag because as soon as I do, I'll cut my finger off on one :shout:, never done it myself, but I have seen some really nasty cuts over the years from the old fashioned lids that are razor sharp. This can opener completely eliminates the possibility of this, and suddenly the hazard of a used can lid in the trash for a child, or a pet, is gone away. Another bonus is that the bottoms of many cans can now safely be used for nuts, bolts, screws, or whatever for storage containers, or with a few strokes of an old spray can of paint, make a nice container for small items in the household, not to mention that the lid can even be used now also. I am a grand master tinkeror and have found many uses for some cans, especially the odd shaped ones.

Also agreed on the P-38, or the 51. They also are priceless when the bulk of a kitchen sized opener is not practacle. One would have simply starved in the "old" military, K and C ration days without one. I carried one on my dogtag chain in case i lost the one I regularly used. :wink:

Thanks for the thread, as folk unfamiliar with these can definately benifit from the knowledge of them. A basic necessity, and will no doubt in days to come, be even more so.

[CapeCMom]

I also use a manual can opener-the electric ones are junk. I know they are fairly expensive, but this can opener is also a side cut. It is guaranteed not to wear out or they replace it.
My girlfriend sells this stuff and all of their products are top notch. Some things I will not pay the money for, but this one I have and love.

https://www.pamperedchef.com/ordering/prod_details.tpc?prodId=603&catId=123&parentCatId=123&outletSubCat=&viewAllOutlet=

I also keep a few extra that I got at Wally World (Kitchen Aid brand $7.00) in with the preps. Just in case one gets lost or is not sharp anymore.

[NCLee]

So, far, I've had good luck with the ChefMate. I've replaced mine one time, after several years use.

My sister taught me one thing about them. If there's a problem opening a can, she tries to use brute force, rather than stopping to figure out what's gone wrong. Once in a while, I've run into a can that's hard to open, for some reason. Then, I stop, move the opener to the other side of the can and start again. Usually that'll work without putting undue stress on the opener. I don't know if the problem happens because I didn't start off correctly or there's a defect in the can itself.

Along with can openers, add the church key type bottle opener to your stash. With the advent of the twist off bottle caps, these are gradually disappearing from the market. They're still handy for opening cans of liquids and you can open a can of beans with one, if nothing else is available. FWIW, I have them stashed in the kitchen, in the shop, and the camper.

Lee

[RueTheDay]

I have one of the manual can openers that cuts around the side of the can rather than on top, so you can actually put the lid back on when you're done. I forget the brand.

[DavidOH]

Definetly a must have item.

Here is an excellent brand made in USA: Swing-A-Way
http://www.amazon.com/Amco-Swing-107BK-Compact-Opener/dp/B001CDAW66/ref=sr_1_21?ie=UTF8&s=home-garden&qid=1249056826&sr=1-21

They have several models, including wall mounted ones.
Mon had a wall mounted one. We used it for decades and it still worked perfectly.
I hope they make a smooth edge opener. That I would buy.


Here is the WORST one that I bought:
Krups Open Master. It cost me about $3 a can to open.
Worked great for about 12 cans.
Then it started shredding metal. Worthless piece of junk.

The P38 is great.
I got a box of 100 and started stashing them in kits, bags, and kitchen drawers.

[bookwormom]

never had an electric one. I have a real old one that will last years yet, but it does not cut a smooth edge. since my friend Mary has Pampered Chef parties once in a while I bought a can opener. I do like it, especially the way it cuts a very smooth edge and you can put the lid back on. And I like those cans for baking fruitcake for gifts.

[NCLee]

Bookwormom, your post just triggered a thought.....

Wonder if I can use silicone to reseal those cans for long term storage of things that need to be repackaged for better shelf life? (Beans in plastic bags, for example.)

Anyone tried this with cans opened with a side open can opener?

Any thoughts?

Lee

[CanNerd]

If its not a food grade sealant you would be risking contamination of your food. You might be able to use melted paraffin wax.

[NCLee]

Thanks for your reply. Good point!

I did a quick google and saw some "food safe" suppliers advertising, so it appears that it's available. However, I want to research both aquarium sealers (as they have to be fish safe) and check the specs on what's available locally - plain clear silicone sealer - before ordering.

Lee

[annabella1]

I have always had an interest in can openers. Did you know that they weren't invented until 50 years after canned food was invented. The first canned food came with instructions to work around the top near the edge with a hammer and chisel. many cans were opened by cutting an X across the top and then bending the center out with pliers. Old cans found along trails in the old west are dated according to how they were opened.
The first can opener looked like a short curved bayonet and was stuck in and worked around the top. They were so expensive and so hard to operate that the opener stayed at the grocers, and a clerk would open the cans for the customers.
I have some p-38's and p-51, military type openers, and some work better than others, I haven't figured out why.
I also have a regular manual type can opener, and a side opening can opener.
I remember at church camp when I was a kid they had this big can opener that was mounted on the kitchen counter it would adjust to just about any type can. It slid on a track that made it taller or shorter, it had a blade that would pierce the can and a hand crank on the side that would then turn the can until the lid came off. I thought that was just the smartest thing, and would volunteer to open cans when I was on Kitchen duty.

[Mr.B]

I have a P-38 on my key chain, Ive used it a number of times. Mostly when someone forgets the can opener when camping. Works good for digging dirt out from under your nails also....

-B

[NCLee]

Thanks for the history notes. I didn't know that about the early days of them. Learn something new here everyday!

The toothpick from my tiny Swiss army knife is the perfect nail digger outter. :D I'm thinking about pickup up either P38's or P51's for Christmas stocking stuffers this year. (Stealth prepardness for some folks I know. :wink:)

Lee

[annabella1]

A fun thing to do with kids, give an eight or nine year old a p38 or p51 and ask them to figure out what it is for. Then when they give up or figure it out show them how it works

[Wyobuckaroo]

Agree with DavidOH. I will tolerate the size and weight of that type can opener anytime any where. Keep several on hand in house, kits, vehicles.

With arthritis in hands and such, can't operate P38/P51 openers anymore.

Definitely will use electric can opener, as long as there is power. Best one I've had for a lot of years has been a small, cheap Black and Decker. Maybe I just got a good one.

Not crazy about the side cutting openers. Never used on, but. Cans are too useful to have a razor sharp edge there. Besides if top openers leave a sharp rim on the inside, it can be flattened out flush with the side of the can.

What ever works best for you is your best choice.
Wyo

[NCLee]

Wyo, that the beauty of side open can openers. There are NO sharp edges on either the can or the lid.

The ChefMate has a large easy to grasp knob to turn to cut. I don't have the strength in my right hand that I used to have, but it works for me. I can no longer use those small top opening ones with the metal handle that goes around the side of the can.

Another benefit is that the lid never falls into the can anymore. No more washing the tops of cans before opening them. Used to hate to have to fish a lid out of the contents of the can.

Lee

[Mom_of_Four]

We have a Swing-a-way that is 25 years old and still going strong. I wash it with hot water, dry it and give it a squirt of WD40 if it's looking gummy. I have another new one in a drawer in case this one every breaks, but I've been very happy with it. I've never used an electric can opener except at my MIL's house. We got one for a wedding present and I gave it away.

http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/4192NTKF60L._SL500_AA280_.jpg

[Cil]

Actually stuff like this make great wedding presents. A woman at my church is getting married and when I could afford it, I got her a brand new manual can opener, measuring spoons, and metal measuring cups. She'll get her present on Sunday.

[gunsmoke]

I carry 3 sts of keys, when I was 18 I locked my keys in my car and it cost me $25 ro get it slim jimmed.


Since then I keep a set of slim jims in my truc and a spare in my garage.

On each ket ring and the backup of backups the KEY CASE I keep a US GI P38 can opener. I have used each of them 100s of times and they are still as sharp as ever and I've had them since the 1970s they are my favorite canopeners and when you get the hang of handling them they are just as quick and easy as a crank type.

If You are not familiar with them they were part of every US GI "C" (for canned) ration they are tiny and folded lay flat weigh nothing.

HERE'S A PIC

http://www.georgia-outfitters.com/page52.shtml#p38

[sonshine]

I have arthritis in my hands and can't use just any kind of can opener. I refuse to use an electric one, never had one in all my adult life. One that I have found that works well for me is by Farberware. The handles and the twistie thing don't hurt my hands. I've been using this brand for years and never had one to wear out. But I buy a new one from time to time just in case. I use to be able to open a can with a knife but no more. I keep on in every vehicle in my prep bags. I have two are three in my kitchen drawers and a couple in the RV. I also have one in a tote bag that I take on trips. You never know when you might need one. I'd carry one in my purse but I recently downsized to a very small purse.

Judy

[gunsmoke]

This is another kind of manual can openers used in restaraunts etc if you can afford it and have the room it is easy to use even for arthritic hands and in home use will last forever, much faster than any electric!

http://www.bigtray.com/edlund-can-opener-2-sku-edd2-c-18310.html

[annabella1]

That edlund is just like the one I used at camp as a teenager. It's a little pricey for me now but I'll have to plan to have it in my dream kitchen someday.

[Dayzee]

We have a Swing-a-way that is 25 years old and still going strong. I wash it with hot water, dry it and give it a squirt of WD40 if it's looking gummy. I have another new one in a drawer in case this one every breaks, but I've been very happy with it. I've never used an electric can opener except at my MIL's house. We got one for a wedding present and I gave it away.

http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/4192NTKF60L._SL500_AA280_.jpg

Mom, your picture looks exactly like my can opener. I just went out to the kitchen and brought it into my office so that I could get it's name, etc., and write it up. A couple of you beat me to it, I see.

I, too, gave up on those electric jobbies. I kept one of them out in the garage that had a good knife sharpener on the back end of it and kept my knives in fair shape for awhile.

This hand-operated Swing-A-Way came from a grocery store. I thought it was very expensive at that time, but it sure has been worth whatever I paid. I've lost count of the years it has worked perfectly for me.

[bltjr1951]

I thought we talked about P38 and P51 already??

Every dang can opener I've seen at stores is made in china.
Doesn't anyone make one in the USA??

BTW, while washing pots for turkey day, I noticed one that had "Designed in USA. Made in china" stamped on bottom.

[CanNerd]

With Union labor wages the way they are in the United States, nobody can hardly afford making or buying anything made here. We wanted our cake and eat it too and now we are paying the price, literally. And the US Dollar has lost its value overseas which will soon show up in our stores as much higher prices.

And of course with everyone/everything going out of business we will be forced to return to reality.

[MT4me]

I don't get the hubbub. I use a standard opener in my kitchen. But, I have not met one person who can open a can faster than I can with my p-38 or p-51. Sorry folks this is a non-topic.

[NCLee]

A lot of folks have an electric can opener in the kitchen.

Think about it a minute

......

......

......

Power just went out! :eek:

Opps!

Now how am I going to open than can of pork and beans??? :confused:

Lee

PS - that was the premise for my original post. :wink:

[Pitdog]

I have had 3 Swiss Army knives over the past 15 years, first one was confiscated as a teenager, the second was retired but is still operational, and the third is STILL in pocket, getting ready to be retired. The can opener on it has opened hundreds of cans and has never failed and looks as new as it did, and is quite fast after the practice I have gotten.

While fishing for trout and using corn, in the most desperate of times I used a knife blade to open a can. Not safe, not good for knife, but it worked and I fished.

Almost all of the combo tools and of course Swiss Army knives have some sort of can opener and they do work, remember to count them in!

[NCLee]

Pitdog, I'd forgotten all about those. I'm better prepared than I thought I was. LOL

Have one of the small Swiss Army knives on my keyring. A hospital security guard took that away from me for a while, one time. A multi-tool lives in my tool belt. Plus a couple more of them in the shop along with another Swiss knife.

A few times, I've used a church key type bottle opener to punch enough holes in a can lid to allow the lid to be pulled back enough to empty the contents of the can. Doesn't take long to do that, but that lid can be dangerous with all those sharp points around it. (If you've never done it, punch a hole as you normally would with that type opener. Right beside the first hole, punch another one slightly overlaping the first one. Repeat around the top of the can, until you've freed enough of the lid to grasp the edge and pull it up. )

Lee

[Christine]

A few times, I've used a church key type bottle opener to punch enough holes in a can lid to allow the lid to be pulled back enough to empty the contents of the can. Doesn't take long to do that, but that lid can be dangerous with all those sharp points around it. (If you've never done it, punch a hole as you normally would with that type opener. Right beside the first hole, punch another one slightly overlaping the first one. Repeat around the top of the can, until you've freed enough of the lid to grasp the edge and pull it up. )

Lee

*laughs* I've done that, and did it exactly how you said to, overlap - works!! I learned that lil' tidbit in Girl Scouts growing up, thank you! Boys weren't the only ones taught to be prepared. :dirol:

[Old_John]

Definetly a must have item.

Here is an excellent brand made in USA: Swing-A-Way
http://www.amazon.com/Amco-Swing-107BK-Compact-Opener/dp/B001CDAW66/ref=sr_1_21?ie=UTF8&s=home-garden&qid=1249056826&sr=1-21

They have several models, including wall mounted ones.
Mon had a wall mounted one. We used it for decades and it still worked perfectly.
I hope they make a smooth edge opener. That I would buy.


Here is the WORST one that I bought:
Krups Open Master. It cost me about $3 a can to open.
Worked great for about 12 cans.
Then it started shredding metal. Worthless piece of junk.

The P38 is great.
I got a box of 100 and started stashing them in kits, bags, and kitchen drawers.


On another really popular Homsteading Forum within the last year..........
In that Poll.......
It was the ever popular, long-lasting Swing Away can opener that was the most popular,
simplest and longest lasting........according to the Poll.
I have one in my camping box that is at least 30 years old. Another in my Brewing kitchen
that is at least 20 years.......
I use them regularly.

[Blacksmith]

using a 6" stainless kitchen knife for about 10 years to open cans. It can be dangerous...have to be careful..and not in a hurry.

Works on the same principle at the hand can opener..the one with the extended point and sharp arm. You put knife point straight down on can lid and sharply strike the butt of the handle to pierce the lid about a 1/2 inch. Then with sharp side up...insert the point into the small slit and rock knife backwards with the knife back slightly angled against rim...cut the lid about a 1/2 at a time...rocking the knife and turning the ca at the same time. Old Army field method.

Be careful! But it works.

[DavidOH]

I took my can opener off the wall and got mom's out of the drawer, here they are:

http://i49.tinypic.com/e00cie.jpg
http://i46.tinypic.com/9tz769.jpg

My family had the yellow one for as long as I can remember.
It's from at least the 1960's maybe the mid 50's.
It still looks in good shape and works perfectly.
Some things ARE made like they used to be.

[hillbillygal]

We have an electric that I use as my everyday opener but we also have two regular old metal manual openers and dh and I both carry a p38 on our key rings. I need to practice more with my p38 as I've not used it much.

[Dreamin']

I took my can opener off the wall and got mom's out of the drawer, here they are:

http://i49.tinypic.com/e00cie.jpg
http://i46.tinypic.com/9tz769.jpg

My family had the yellow one for as long as I can remember.
It's from at least the 1960's maybe the mid 50's.
It still looks in good shape and works perfectly.
Some things ARE made like they used to be.

I have that same exact can opener on the wall in my kitchen. It works great.

[NCLee]

I have that same exact can opener on the wall in my kitchen. It works great.

Ditto on the yellow one. Don't have any idea how old it is. Was originally in an old camper that we bought years ago.

Lee

[MYellowRose]

We, DD and I, also have a ChefMate opener that we use. Sometimes I have to go around a can at least twice before the lid comes up but that's okkay by me. I have a P-38 with my keys that I wear around my neck on a lanyard, I'm tired of locking myself out of thehouse. I've also got a small cordless one I got through the Occupational Therapy department at my VA hospital where I see the Rheumatologist. Haven't used the cordless one yet but it's nice to know I have it if there comes a time when I'm not able to use a manual opener.