Any housewife uses canned food in her everyday life. During the preparation of salads, canned polka dots or cornwhen there is no time to prepare snacks, you can always use canned fish. And going on a hike, people always take with them stew, porridge or canned soup. Although many jars have special tools for opening the lid, a good can opener should always be in the house.
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Before talking about the origin of the can opener, it is worth touching on the history of the origin of the canned food itself. They appeared during the time of Napoleon, when his army needed long-term storage of products. Napoleon's army was not small, therefore, a lot of products were also needed, and they had to be stored for a long time. Then the confectioner Apper suggested canning food. At first, glass jars were used for this, but they were not practical and fragile. Therefore, they began to look for other ways to solve this problem. This is how tin cans for food storage were invented. And here the question arose of how to open such banks.
They were used not only by soldiers, but also on expeditions. Manufacturers wrote on their banks that a hammer and chisel should be used to open. It was very problematic and inconvenient.
Since thick tin cans were not easy to open, thinner tin was later used. And already in 1858 the first can opener was patented. Ezra Warner became its inventor. Such a knife was called the "bull's head". Such a product had two blades. One of them was straight and sharp, and the second was curved. With the help of a straight blade, a can was pierced, and a curved one was used to cut tin. "Bull's head" opened not only canned food, but could also open the lids of bottles and cans.
About 10 years later, another American inventor suggested using a cutting wheel to open it. His tool was a kind of compass, now to open a tin it was necessary to stick one leg into the center of the can, and the second rotated along the edge of the lid. This design was later improved.A gear has been added to the product. So when opening a can, its rim was fixed between the blade and the gear. At the same time, during the opening, the blade did not slip, and the cut turned out to be even and had no notches. This mechanism is still used today, only models began to be supplemented with magnets and electric drives.
On the shelves of stores you can find a large selection of this tool for opening cans. They may differ in the material of manufacture, size, shape, and most importantly in the mechanism.
The simplest option is a hand knife. This option is close to the first version of the can opener invented by Ezra Warner. This knife has a handle, which can be made of wood, metal or plastic, and two knives with a jumper. A jumper is needed to make an emphasis when opening a can. The knives differ in size, with the help of a long blade you can open canned food, and a small rounded knife is designed for uncorking lids from glass jars or bottles.
The next option is a mechanical knife. Its design is a little more complicated than the manual model. When operating, it is necessary to make a hole at the beginning, then fix the product well on the side of the can and rotate the mechanism. In their manufacture, strong metal is used, and to create comfort during operation, the handles are made with plastic, rubber or wooden lining. It is worth noting that the cans after opening with such a knife do not have sharp edges that can be cut.
The third option is an automatic can opener. Such models are very popular today due to their ease of use.Batteries are used to operate this device. To open the jar, you just need to attach the device and start the mechanism. It is worth noting that the lid will open from the inside, so the edges will not only be smooth, but also smoothed, so it will be impossible to get hurt. Also, these models have a magnet, with which the lid will be removed immediately after opening. The main advantages of such models are convenience, compactness and durability. But still, before use, you should carefully study the instructions and follow all safety rules.
Well, the last type is an electric “opener”. The design of this product consists of an electric motor, a clamp and a cutting mechanism. Different models may differ in design, but the principle of operation remains the same. Before starting work with such a kitchen assistant, you should fix the jar with a latch, the ambassador starts the mechanism. When the device is finished, the jar is removed from the latch. The main advantage of these models is safety and speed, but still, electric models are bulky and will not work in the absence of electricity.
Even when using the simplest “opener” model, problems may arise due to non-compliance with certain nuances. So, if you have a manual version of the product, then the cutting element is installed perpendicular to the can, after which you need to press on the handle to create a hole. In this case, it is necessary to firmly hold the jar so that it does not slip in the process. When the hole is made, the cutting element is inserted there and move forward with translational movements.From such an opener, notches will remain on the lid, so it should be removed with extreme caution.
For owners of a mechanical model, place the jar under the wheel and secure the wedge. After that, you can start turning the mechanism. The edges in this case will not have notches and there will be no problems when removing the cover.
To use the electric version of the knife, you need to raise the cutting part and fix the jar under it. In this case, the edge of the can should be under the knife. After that, the cutting part is lowered and the mechanism starts. Such devices have a magnet that will hold the lid. When the knife makes a circle, it will be necessary to raise the cutting head and remove the can.
In order for a canned knife to be convenient to use, several criteria should be considered before purchase. Since you can find many different models on store shelves, then, first of all, you should decide on the most suitable mechanism.
After that, you should study the material of manufacture, not only the convenience of use, but also the durability of the device will depend on this. Dimensions and weight also play an important role. If the model is too heavy, it will create inconvenience during work. And large devices will take up a lot of storage space. The handles must be made of non-slip material, otherwise you can easily get hurt or knock over the jar during operation.
When buying an electrical device, you need to pay attention to the type of power supply, the length of the cord and the material of manufacture. During operation, they should not slide on the countertop, otherwise the use will not be safe.
It will also be very useful if the product, in addition to opening cans, has additional functionality. For example, the ability to open bottles. This will help you avoid buying additional appliances and save space in cabinets for storing kitchen utensils.
With the help of "Tefal Comfort" you can easily and quickly open a tin can. The cutting part is made of steel, so during operation there will be no rust and darkening on the metal. Operation will be convenient, since the manufacturer used lightweight but durable plastic. The handle has an ergonomic shape, so "Tefal Comfort" will lie comfortably in your hand and not slip when opening. For convenient storage, there is a hole on the handle, with which the product can be hung on a hook.
"Tefal Comfort" is available in black. To clean the opener, both hand and machine washing is allowed.
The average cost is 1900 rubles.
The British company "Joseph Joseph" has long established itself as a reliable manufacturer of kitchen appliances. And the Can-Do opener is proof of that. First of all, it should be noted that only environmentally friendly materials are used for manufacturing, which are also not afraid of thermal exposure.
The "Can-Do" handle has an ergonomic shape, due to this, the operation of the device will not cause difficulties. This will provide a secure grip on the lid, making it easy to remove after opening.The fixation on the canned food will be tight, which will prevent the device from slipping out. A swivel mechanism and a sharp steel knife can easily handle any metal. It is also worth noting that it will be equally convenient to use such a device for right-handers and left-handers.
The size of "Can-Do" is 7 * 5.5 * 5.5 cm, and the weight is 100 grams.
The average cost is 1600 rubles.
This model has a rigid mount and a swivel mechanism, thanks to which the opening of canned food does not take much time and effort. The body and the cutting mechanism of "Marvel" are made of stainless steel. So even with frequent use of the opener, rust will not appear on the metal, and it will not change color. For added convenience, the handles have plastic inserts that will prevent slipping.
The Marvel size is 25*7.5*6 cm and the weight is 270 grams.
The average cost is 450 rubles.
With Taller TR-5151 you can easily open any can. This model has a cutting part made of alloy steel, and its body is made of zinc alloy with a chrome coating. Handles "Taller TR-5151" have an ergonomic shape, and to eliminate slipping during operation, the manufacturer added a silicone coating.
The size of Taller TR-5151 is 22*1*6.8 cm.Caring for such an opener will not require much effort, and you can even wash it in the dishwasher.
The average cost is 850 rubles.
This model from the Czech brand "Tescoma" will be appreciated by housewives, as well as professional chefs. A feature of Tescoma GrandChef is the ability to open not only cans, but also bottles with crown caps. For the manufacture of the case of such an opener, the manufacturer used metal with a treated surface that has a matte finish. And the cutting element is made of high quality stainless steel. The Tescoma GrandChef's sharp blade cuts through a tin with ease without leaving any sharp edges or nicks that could be dangerous.
Tescoma GrandChef is 21 cm long and 5.5 cm wide. The weight is about 200 grams. Dishwasher safe.
The average cost is 1000 rubles.
With Rommelsbacher DO 65, you can quickly and, most importantly, safely open a tin can. It can easily cope with canned goods, the weight of which does not exceed 850 grams. When the can is installed, the Rommelsbacher DO 65 will automatically start working, and the device will turn itself off when it has completed a full circle. The lid will be securely fixed with a magnetic holder, which will not make it possible to get your hands dirty.
The body of the "Rommelsbacher DO 65" is made of plastic, and the cutting elements are made of steel. It is worth noting that the case has an additional bottle opener, as well as a knife sharpener. The size of the "Rommelsbacher DO 65" is 22.4 * 13.5 * 13.5 cm. The power of the device is 60 watts.
The average cost is 3500 rubles.
This model from the KuchenLand company belongs to automatic models of openers. The device requires 4 AA batteries to operate. When the batteries are installed, the device is placed on the can, while the edges should be between the blade and the cogwheel. There is no need to hold the device, you only need to press the power button. At this time, the opener will be securely held on the tin can with a magnet. When the device has completed a full circle, it will automatically turn off.
The body of "Kitchen Tools" is made of plastic, and the cutting element is made of stainless steel. The size of the device is 12*7 cm. You can use a soft damp cloth to clean the opener. The device must not be washed.
The average cost is 2500 rubles.
This model can be called a universal opener. With its help, you can not only open cans of any size, but also bottles with metal caps and sharpen knives.The body of the device is quite high, so you can place a jar of any size, while continuous cutting will occur and the lid will not have sharp edges. When the lid is fully open, the appliance will automatically turn off.
The size of "Endever Smart-25" is 11.2 * 9.8 * 22.5 cm, and the weight is 750 grams. In this case, the device has a power of 70 watts.
The average cost is 1000 rubles.
A good opener will become an indispensable assistant in the kitchen for any housewife. In order for such a device to serve for more than one year, it is worth choosing only high-quality models. The rating includes mechanical and electrical options for devices, all of which have stainless steel knives that can easily handle any tin can.