Types of Can Openers and Their Uses [with Pictures]

Types of Can Openers and Their Uses [with Pictures] :- Can opener is referred to as one of the most commonly used accoutrement in the kitchen tools or devices that help you cut into a metal can with great ease as well as convenience. These can openers are the ones which are found being operated in a fairly simple manner in which they are found being punctured into the metal.

Types of Can Openers

Here are some of the most commonly known can openers that you are likely to find in almost all types of households in today’s era.

1.Claw-Type Opener

A can opener referred to as the claw-type opener which is termed in such a manner due to its shape like a claw. However, a level type can opener is found to be one of the most basic as well as primal types of can openers that has gained a highly significant population over the years and is still found to be used in various household works.

This opener is one of the foremost design that is found being used in order to slice the open cans. It comes along with a large sickle-shaped blade that is found being responsible for puncturing the lid of the can and to also open it up. On the opposite side of this curve-shaped blade one can notice a kind of shield or guard that is found serving the purpose of keeping the blade from cutting it too deep in the can. This is referred to as that type of opener which are responsible for preventing the blade from touching or contacting any content present inside the can in order to let it keep safe.

The most appropriate way to use this type of can opener is to first puncture the rim of the can lid after which there is a need of slowly driving the sickle-shaped blade inside the can. The edges along with these caution are found since it can result in a very sharp-edged container.

Pros

• The contents of the can is safe and untouched.
• Puncturing the can lid is neat.

Cons

• The blade is sharp which can hurt the hand.

2. Butterfly Can Opener

Butterfly can opener is referred to as a manual can opener that is found resembling and functioning like a bunker opener. The butterfly can opener is the one which seems to come with a rotating cutting wheel that is responsible for allowing you to break open the top of the can, to let the user tightly hold the lid which can thus be used for gradually opening the can by spinning the lid around.

This can opener is the one which is found coming with a key or a crank and a tongs that helps one turn the can. This is the one which allows the serrated wheel of the opener in order to easily open the can.

The best way to use the butterfly can opener is to first of all puncture the lid using any sharp or a kind of device with pointed end after which it can be tightly secured with the pliers of the can opener. Then there is a need to cut through the lid using the sharp wheel at the back by cranking up the lever.

Pros

• Works excellent in terms of execution

Cons

• Complicated to use

3. Church Key Opener

Church key opener is one amongst the popular choice of can opener especially among the campers as well as the beer drinkers. Whereas the popularity stems from the fact that it is found to be incredibly easy as well as simple to use. The church key opener is known to be one of the most basic hand-operated opener and is commonly used in order to slice open the flat top of any type of cans like the beer cans as well as to open the cork of bottles of varying sizes.

This can opener was found to be invented back in the year 1892 and has been used in various different types of households ever since then. Initially once it was invented it wasn’t known to be a church key opener whereas its shape as well as design of the opener did make it look like a large simple key.

Church key openers are the ones which are found being made using a single piece of a pressed metal which is found having a pointed edge that is responsible for helping in piercing the lid of the can. The most appropriate way to use it is to first secure the guard firmly at the edge of the can which is then followed by a puncture in the lid using the help in case the pointed edge of the can opener. After this simply lift the opener in a very swift, rapid movement. This will help rip a great part of the can, which will allow you to empty out its contents.

Pros

• Best for drinks
• Basic operating mechanism

Cons

• Pointed edges can hurt the hand if not handled carefully

4. Single Wheel Opener

A single wheel can opener is referred to as that opener which seems to be quite similar to the bunker can opener in terms of the designing as well as the functioning. The only difference is that the wheel opener is found to come with a magnet that seems to be attached in order to keep the lid in place. This can opener seems to be more similar to a handy solution for all those times where you might need to struggle along with opening a tin can and you might end up hurting your fingers from the sharp ends.

It is the one which allows quicker, safer as well as much easier can opening due to its finer grate that is the reason for letting you cut open a can accompanied with a very smooth as well as even finish. The magnets are the ones which further help in keeping the can in place as the wheel of the opener is observed to slowly cut through the rim of the can. The most ideal way to use this type of opener is to attach the can opener at the top of the can lid in such a way that the wheel is properly positioned very close to the rim. After this, crank the key in order to turn the wheel as well as to easily slice through the lid.

Pros

• The magnet makes things quite easy
• Results in smooth, even finish

Cons

• Can be difficult if not worked properly

5. Electric Can Opener

The first ever electric can opener was created in the year 1931 which was re-introduced in the year 1956. Electric can openers are referred to as those can openers which have been majorly invented in order to get the ultimate hassle-free can opening experience. These openers are found to be extremely easy in order to use since all you need to do is to simply push the button or flip the level that will surely depend on the type of electric can opener which you are currently having.

These can openers are the ones which are found coming in two major types of varieties; cabinet models and free-standing countertop models. Mostly these types of electric can openers are the ones which come along with the magnets that keeps the can in place. The trick here is to keep it in position that the can under goes the opener after which it starts to rotate on the top of the can, which can tear the lid that is open within a matter of a few seconds. Although these openers are found requiring the space on the worktop, they seem to be a great option for all those people whose hands has a reduced grip or for all those who are found having less strength in their upper limbs.

The downsides of the electric can openers is that firstly, they are slightly found to be more expensive as compared to many other types of can openers and secondly, they are found requiring two hands in order to operate properly. Despite such factors, these types of openers tend to be super practical, especially in case you suffer from any type of joint pain or you are always too busy in the kitchen. These can openers are found being operated easily and are termed to be the top rated kitchen gadgets due to of their excellent quality, ease of use and efficiency, they are a must-have for any smart kitchen.

Pros

• Super quick and easy to use
• Updated design that is super practical

Cons

• A tad expensive than others
• Requires usage of both hands

6. Key-Shaped Can Opener

These key shaped can openers are referred to as those which looks a lot like door keys especially due to the way in which they are specifically designed. The key can openers are found coming with a single twisted piece of metal that seems to be an excellent way in order to open the thin-walled cans. They work properly only if they are attached to the container completely in order for them to let them work properly.

These openers are those which are commonly found in the majority of households as they seem to be super easy to use and does not even require very much storage space. All which needs to be done is to affix or attach the key opener to the cap in order to puncture it by using the sharp, pointed edge of the key-shaped feature.

The best way to use any type of key can opener is to twist it in any particular direction so that you are easily able to tear it from any specific side of the can and then it can be rolled either upwards or outwards.

These types of can openers are preferred as they do a very smooth as well as quick job in terms of execution as well as performance by ripping off the lid of a can within a few seconds. These can also leave the edges of the can really even so there is absolutely no chance of you hurting your hands while using such type of openers.

Pros

• Compact as well as small
• Easy to use

Cons

• Not cost effective

7. Bunker Opener

Bunker opener is known to be one of the most popular one-handed opener that is found being made of pliers-type handles, a serrated wheel, along with a key, all together which are responsible for making a smooth and easy can-opening experience by the user.

The bunker feature of this can opener provides an option of firm gripping the can as you crank up the key in order for the serrated wheel to rotate. This features does not let the drinks get spilled or hurt your hand.

To let the bunker can opener work smoothly there is a requirement to first get a proper grip to the can with the help of using the pliers. After that simply turn the key and then slice it through the lid of the can using the serrated wheel.

Pros

• Requires only one hand
• Easy to use

8. Side Can Opener

Side can opener is referred to as one of the few novel designs which seemed to be emerged during the early 1980s. Most of such types of can openers are found working through cutting down the lid from the top, which in result tends to give a neat removal of the top as well as the rim being left behind which needs to be attached to the can. This results in the complete removal of the rim as well as the top.

These can openers are the ones which are found equipping with a serrated wheel which can also have the cutting wheel. This is responsible for adding feature that provide a better grip when you slice through the lid of the can. Since the side can openers are found to be initially designed at a lower stage which tends to puncture the outside rim of the can, they might end up leaving a very neat as well as smooth finish.

Pros

• New as well as innovative design
• Removes the entire top and rim

Cons

• Complicated to use

9. Countertop Opener

Countertop openers are referred to as those openers which are found being meant to be used by either securing or attaching them on the kitchen counter. They are often found coming with a vacuum base that is very helpful to lock them on the countertops.

The best feature about such type of can opener is that they are the ones which help in open regular as well as pop top cans. They are the ones dues to which a very fine job in terms of cutting along the side of the can and producing a super smooth, touchable lid is possible. This is the reason which also prevents the occurrence of any type of sharp lid edges that can potentially be responsible for hurting the hand of the user. The opening lever of most of these countertop openers is found being easy to touch that does require a very light touch to let it work properly.

The most appropriate way to use such can openers is to first secure the opener well in place and after which you must firmly hold the base of the can. After this you need to turn the knob with the other free hand and at the same time, the sharp wheel on the opener will neatly and swiftly slice into the lid which will produce a perfectly opened can.

Pros

• They result in neatly opened cans
• Stay put in one place

Cons

• Might need large counter space

10. Manual Can Opener

A manual can opener is referred to as an ideal choice for all those people who are on a budget since they are available in a very cheap as well as with inexpensive. They are the ones which are also fairly easy to use and all you need to do is to turn the wheel or crank which will then make the lid easily slide through the spinning blades. This action of the can opener is the one which helps in revealing the top of the can which means that now one can easily empty the contents of the can.

One major downside of such type of can opener is that they need very steady hands along with a tight grip in order to operate.

Pros

• Not heavy in terms of economy
• Easy to use

Cons

• Requires quite high physical strength
• Not ideal for people with arthritis

These are some of the different varieties of can openers which is found to be important to make a well-informed decision by thoroughly researching what type of can opener you really need as per your requirement.