Hunting For The Best Can Opener

1. Zyliss Can Opener $19

⭐️ ⭐️

This was the very first can opener we tested, and it was a bust. No seriously. It actually busted. This came as a shocker after so many of you recommended we try this one; plus it has over 32,000 4.4-star reviews on Amazon, but after looking through the reviews, we're not the only ones with the issue. It seems as though there's an issue with the manufacturer because the red locking piece was not built in properly and snapped out with one use.

The concept is really cool, though! It works just like a traditional can opener, but it has a locking mechanism, so you don't have to hold the clamp down as you crank the wheel. You might get lucky and get one that works just as it should.

2. Pampered Chef Can Opener $49

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Okay, this is a newer model than the one we tested, and assuming it works just as well, if not better than the older model, I'd say this is a great can opener! I borrowed one from a neighbor because so many of you said we HAVE to try it, and now I get the hype. Rather than cutting into the metal, this rests on the top of the can and unseals the metal lid from the metal rim. Then the claw pulls it off with the push of a button. No more shark edges! I've always been hesitant about these newer top openers because there's a bit of a learning curve, but this worked really well. I'm sold! The older version we tested actually had two handles that open and close, but I prefer this design much more.

3. OXO Can Opener $25

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I had high hopes for this OXO opener, but after using the sleek Pampered Chef opener, this was SO much bulkier and didn't unseal as well as some of the other top openers we tested. Not bad, but not the best. I think the larger shaped handle is supposed to be ergonomic, but I just kept picturing the bulky shape taking up so much space in our kitchen drawers.

4. KitchenAid Can Opener $11

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This is your standard, classic, metal-cutting can opener. I think the secret to keeping your blade sharp is to avoid washing this in the dishwasher. Unfortunately, this can opener didn't cut through the very last piece, which isn't the biggest deal, but it does make me skeptical of how well it will work overtime. And I'll admit, after using a few smooth-edge openers, having to fish out a sharp lid from the can contents suddenly felt barbaric.

5. Gorilla Grip Can Opener $11

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This is another standard can opener. Classic shape, straightforward to use, and I love the color! There's also no annoying branding on the can opener, which I find to be so tasteful. No complaints about this one. Every guest that finds themselves opening cans in your kitchen is going to know exactly what to do with this.

6. Bellemain Can Opener $15

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I really like that this had no handles to keep clamped while you open the can. It's another great smooth-edge opener, but pushing the button to use the tweezer-like claw and prying the lid off feels super awkward on this opener. A few others have the same pinchers, but these seemed especially tiny.

7. Good Cook Can Opener $9

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Okay, okay. Wow. This took a second to figure out how to use, but once I got it, it was so satisfying. This is another smooth-edge opener, and once it's rested on the can, you spin the handle to lock it into place. The way this handle spins so effortlessly is beyond me. Once you've made it all the way around, you simply lift it off. To unlatch the lid from the opener, you simply spin the other way. I was kind of shocked at how much fun it was to use this one, plus the design is so minimalist and simple, which I love. Yes, there's a bit of a learning curve, but it's pretty easy to get the hang of. I give it 5 stars!

8. Rosle Can Opener $37

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This is such a pretty can opener! I kept reaching to hold this one because the weight of the stainless steel just felt good in my hands. At this point, I'm super sold on the smooth-edge openers, and although this one has the little pliers to pull the lid off, I didn't find them as awkward to use as some of the others.

8. VCWTTY Electric Can Opener $10

⭐️ ⭐️

I love the idea of an electric can opener, but (spoiler alert) none of them worked. To be fair, this one did get the can opened, but it took a few times around to get it off. It's battery-operated (something else to stay on top of), and the instructions literally say that if it doesn't work the first time, try again. Um, no, thank you.

9. Kitchen Mama Auto Opener $29

⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️

To be honest, this device took a fall upon opening, and we couldn't get it working properly. It's supposed to work similarly to the other battery-operated opener, but we had some technical difficulties. I don't love that one little tumble could have your can opener inoperable, but I feel as if I can't give it a fair rating. That being said, it's ranked as the #1 best seller in electric can openers on Amazon, so that counts for something!

10. Hamilton Beach Electric Can Opener $26

⭐️

This electric opener is rechargeable, but it cannot be used while charging. In other words, if you need to open a can of tomatoes for dinner and you find your can opener to be dead, you're going to have to search for the charger, plug it in, and wait 10 or so minutes while it charges before you can get those tomatoes opened! Not ideal. Also, this device is huge and will take up a lot of drawer space. This was so finicky to use and was SO messy. The sharp lid got buried inside and required some fishing out. Also, how are you supposed to wash an electric can opener?

11. Cuisinart Electric Can Opener $41

⭐️

I've always wanted one of these. They stay plugged in to use, which is kind of nice – no charging and no batteries. Unfortunately, we could NOT get this one figured out. The nice lady in the demo video made it look so easy, but we couldn't get the magnet to hold the can up, and the blade kept slipping in and out. There's definitely some user error, but this Amazon review accurately depicts how our can looked by the end of the experiment. What am I missing with this??

Gorilla Grip Can Opener $11

Nobody tried to reinvent the wheel with this one. All they did was take the basic design of a can-opener and make it a bit better. If you're not up for learning a new skill and just want something that functions well but still looks nice, then I would recommend this $11 can opener. Available in 9 different colors!

Rosle Can Opener $37

If you're looking to add a beautiful new tool to your kitchen drawers that also functions super well, then I would recommend this elegant stainless steel opener. Out of all the can openers we tested, this is the one I decided to keep. (Tells you a lot about how much I like it.)

Good Cook Can Opener $9

I did not expect to like this one as much as I did, and honestly, it took a bit of figuring out, but if you want a sleek, reliable, no-mess, satisfying can opener that works every single time, then this is your guy!