The Best Can Opener
The Stubbornest – Rosle
The Rosle Can Opener is made entirely of high quality stainless steel and has a great gear mechanism. It opens the can from the side, which is safer and more hygienic.
DURABILITY
Will last decades. Quality stainless steel, sweet gear mechanism
COST
Pretty expensive
COMFORT
Feels good in the hand, mechanism is smooth
Pros
Cons
Also Great – EZ-DUZ-IT
The EZ-DUZ-IT is a cheaper alternative to our first choice. We think this one will last a long time and is made in the USA with a good quality gear mechanism.
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VIDEO REVIEW
Our video review of the best can openers.
CANDIDATES
Because there are so many can openers out there, we started by scouring reviews, looking at materials, and looking for suggestions in the BuyItForLife Subreddit. We narrowed it down to 6 different can openers to try to find the one that will last a lifetime. Our engineers looked at durability, materials, handle quality, grip comfort, effectiveness and safety, as well as cost and user reviews to help you make an informed decision when buying your next opener.
We compared openers from several prominent brands: Rosle, Gangy, EZ-DUZ-IT, Kuhn, Oxo, and Kitchen Aid.
1 – Rosle
Materials: The Rosle is an all metal can opener made with 18/10 stainless steel.
Mechanism: The gear mechanism is another reason we feel like this is a buy it once product. The gears are tightly toleranced and mesh better than any of the other openers we tested. It also opens the can from the side, eliminating the jagged edges that have hurt us all.
Cost: Expect to drop $60, but you can often find it on sale for around $40. Buy once, cry one.
Reviews: This German brand got great reviews, as well as glowing recommendations from the Buy It For Life subreddit!
2 – EZ-DUZ-IT
Summary: The EZ-DUZ-IT can opener is a time-tested classic known for its durability and rugged design. Made in the USA since the 1950s, it has a solid reputation for long-lasting performance, thanks to its all-steel construction and smooth gear-driven cutting mechanism. Built to withstand years of regular use, this can opener is perfect for those looking for a dependable tool that can stand the test of time. Its history of reliability makes it a favorite among those who appreciate simple, sturdy kitchen tools. Your grandma probably had this can opener.
3 – Kuhn
Summary: Kuhn is a Swiss made brand that also got great reviews. Its smart design is very similar to our first choice (the Rosle) in that it cuts along the side of the can, ensuring no sharp edges are left behind. The Kuhn is not only easy on your hands but also hygienic, as the cutting mechanism never touches the food. It has some plastic parts (mainly the release button and turning knob), which brought it down in our rankings.
4 – Gangy
Summary: The Gangy is a different style of can opener similar to the military P-38 model. It is a reliable and straightforward tool with its sturdy build and no moving parts. It does require a bit more manual effort compared to other options and does leave a very jagged sharp edge. It also has an integrated bottle opener.
5 – Kitchen Aid
Summary: The Kitchen Aid can opener was decent, but we think there are better options out there in this price range. The gears were smooth and it opened cans well.
6 – Oxo Softworks
Summary: The Oxo was by far the worst opener we tested. The design is almost all plastic and felt like a toy. The locking mechanism also broke on the first use. Avoid this opener, unless you like frustration and wasting money.
7 – Swing-A-Way
Summary: Swing-A-Way wasn’t tested, but we are listing it here because it is often recommended as an alternative to the EZ-DUZ-IT. Swing-A-Way used to be a trusted name in can openers. Once they stopped making them in America the quality greatly suffered. This will work fine for a while, but dull and become loose over time. We do not recommend this opener.
ANALYSIS
After hours or research and testing, we determined that the Rosle Can Opener is the best buy it for life opener. It is easy to use, and safely opens cans without the jagged edge. The Gangy and EZ-DUZ-IT were cheaper alternatives that we also think will last a long time. The Kuhn worked great, but has some plastic parts.
See our findings in the table above, including the anvil score, and the price at the time of testing.
TYPES
Our analysis started by looking at the different types of can openers:
Traditional Can Opener: This is the classic one most people have in their kitchen. You clamp it onto the can, twist the handle, and it cuts around the top. It works well, but you do end up with sharp edges on the lid, so you have to be a bit careful when removing it.
Safety Can Opener: This version is designed with, you guessed it, safety in mind! Instead of cutting into the top, it slices around the side of the can just under the rim, leaving smooth edges on both the can and the lid. It’s a great choice if you want to avoid the risk of cutting yourself. As an added bonus, the lid can be placed back on top to store in the fridge.
P-38 Type Can Opener: This is a tiny, no-frills can opener originally made for the military. It’s super compact and portable, great for camping or emergencies. You manually work your way around the can, and while it’s not the fastest option, it’s incredibly practical for its size.
Electric Can Opener: If you want to save your hands from any effort, the electric can opener is your go-to. Just press a button, and it does all the work for you. It’s perfect if you open a lot of cans or are just lazy.
BUILD QUALITY
Build quality was determined from research into the type of materials used for each can opener, as well as longevity of each material.
Each can opener started out with a durability score of 100. We then deducted points for:
We tested each opener for the following characteristics:
REVIEWS
After narrowing down our choices, we scoured the internet for good quality reviews. These can be very hard to find now that fake and paid-for reviews are everywhere.
Sites like ReviewMeta and FakeSpot analyze reviews with their algorithm to eliminate suspicious ones and give an updated score.
The Rosle that is our winner has over 2,326 ratings on Amazon as of the time of this review. Fakespot review analysis gave it a score of A, showing that the reviews are acurate and high quality.
AMAZON RATING
4.2
ADJUSTED RATING
4.2
MATERIALS
Our engineers are experts on finding products with the right materials that will last. The materials that each can opener is made of makes a huge difference in ruggedness and longevity.
METAL
At Stubborn Gear, we’ve got a thing for metal. It just lasts longer. Not every can opener out there is made of metal, though, and that’s something to keep in mind. Metal generally outperforms plastic in durability (especially if there are gears involved), but not all metal is created equal. Some steel is poorly made, with impurities from a subpar refining process that weaken it. That’s why we prefer USA-made steel – it’s usually higher quality, stronger, and built to last.
ELECTRONICS
Products that have electronics are often the first to break. You used to find electrical appliances that would last decades, but most modern electric can openers will not last. We do not recommend any electric can opener as a buy it once product.
PLASTIC
Plastic often gets a bad rap for being cheap and fragile, and sometimes that’s fair. But when used in the right way, plastic can actually be pretty effective. Not all plastic is the same, though – some types are brittle, while others are flexible, UV-resistant, or more prone to wear. It really depends on the formulation and how it’s used.
*Disclaimer: We don’t accept payment from any company, so you know our reviews are honest and unbiased. We are completely supported our fans. This page contains affiliate links. That means that we are awarded a small commission for purchases made through them, at no added cost for you. As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases