
The best can openers that make light work of tough tins
Can openers come in a range of styles with various price points. From classic metal models to handles designed for those with limited grip strength, choosing the right tin opener for you depends on your own needs and preferences.
As a keen cook, I've tested my fair share of kitchen appliances and gadgets, so I know exactly what separates a great tool from one that's just taking up drawer space. When it comes to can openers, I've learned to look beyond the basics. I test for smooth, safe cuts, how comfortable the grip is during use, how easy it is to clean, and whether it works reliably over time without jamming or slipping. After years of hands-on experience, I know which features actually make your life easier and which ones are just marketing fluff.
So, whether you're looking for a reliable everyday can opener or one that will support your specific needs, my tried-and-tested picks have you covered.
How I tested
I tested these can openers the way most people actually use them – at home, in the middle of busy weeknight dinners and lazy Sunday meal preps. I opened everything from standard soup cans to stubborn, oversized tomato tins, sometimes one after another, just to see how each opener held up when put to work. Some went straight into rotation for weeks as I wanted to know not just how well they worked fresh out of the box, but whether they stayed sharp and didn't make a simple task more frustrating than it needed to be. I tested against a strict set of criteria including: ease of use, comfort, cutting performance, build quality, durability, and extra features.
Ease of use: This was a top priority during testing because a can opener should make life easier, not more frustrating. I paid close attention to how quickly and smoothly each opener attached to the can, whether it locked into place securely or needed fiddling. I also looked at how much effort it took to turn the handle or crank with the best gliding through lids effortlessly.
Comfort and grip: I also paid special attention to comfort and grip, as this is especially important for anyone with arthritic hands or limited wrist strength. A good can opener should feel secure and stable in your hand without causing strain. I looked at the handle size, shape, and material, giving bonus points to those with soft, non-slip grips that felt great even during longer use.
Cutting performance: Even the most comfortable can opener is useless if it struggles to open a can cleanly, so I looked at how easily and smoothly each model pierced the lid and whether it cut all the way around without stopping, slipping, or leaving jagged edges. A good can opener should glide through the metal with minimal effort and produce a clean, safe cut every time.
Durability: A can opener needs to hold up over time, not just work well out of the box. I paid attention to the materials used, how solid each opener felt in hand, and whether any parts wobbled, bent, or loosened with repeated use. A well-built can opener should feel dependable from the first use to the hundredth.
Why you can trust IndyBest reviews
Rachael Penn is a journalist who specialises in lifestyle, tech and food and drink. She has been writing product reviews for IndyBest since 2021, covering a whole range of home and kitchen appliances, from the best toaster for your morning slice to the best microwaves. For each review, Rachael prioritises quality, high performance and, of course, affordability.
The best can openers for 2025 are:

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


Daily Mail
2 hours ago
- Daily Mail
A look back at Hulk Hogan's life
By STEPHANIE MAKRI Published: 13:23 EDT, 24 July 2025 | Updated: 13:23 EDT, 24 July 2025 Advertisement


Daily Mail
5 hours ago
- Daily Mail
College football mascot has eye removed in major health blow ahead of new season
One of the most iconic live animal mascots in college football was forced to undergo an emergency surgery to remove its eye in a sad development ahead of the start of a new season. Texas A&M's live border collie mascot, Reveille X (better known to Aggies fans as 'Miss Rev' or 'The First Lady of Aggieland') had to get her right eye surgically removed. She had been diagnosed with glaucoma by her veterinarians after experiencing discomfort and cloudiness in her right eye. In a message on the school's website, president Mark Welsh III said the eye needed to be removed out of an abundance of caution after discovering signs of abnormal tissue. 'I'm grateful to report that Miss Rev has come through the surgery successfully, has been discharged and is resting comfortably,' Welsh said. Glaucoma does not appear to be typically common among border collies, however, the breed is prone to visual diseases such as Collie Eye Anomaly. Texas A&M's use of the Reveille mascot dates back to 1931, when the school still had in place a requirement that students join the Corps of Cadets - in line with its status as a senior military college in the United States. A group of cadets in the 'Fightin' Texas Aggie Band' were coming back from a party when they hit a small stray mutt and then snuck it onto campus. The dog barked when buglers in College Station blew for morning reveille, leading cadets to give the dog the 'Reveille' name. Despite pets being banned from the dorms, cadets fell in love with the animal and kept her anyway. Reveille X took over as the new mascot in 2021. A souped-up golf cart known as 'Rev Force One' helps transport the collie across campus. Other traditions at Texas A&M include all freshman being required to address her as 'Miss Rev, ma'am'. If she's in a class and she barks, the class is cancelled. The pooch is also the highest-ranking member of the Aggies' Corps of Cadets. Welsh said Reveille will take a brief hiatus from engagements as she recovers. 'According to her veterinary team, we can expect Miss Rev to be back to enjoying all her favorite activities -- cruising on Rev Force One, attending classes, cheering on the Aggies and keeping our campus squirrels in line -- this fall,' he said.


Glasgow Times
11 hours ago
- Glasgow Times
State pension error means parents could be owed thousands
In his latest update, Money Saving Expert founder Martin Lewis is highlighting a State Pension error which saw parents and carers who took time off work between 1978 and 2010 to look after children due £100,000 or more when they retire, known as Home Responsibilities Protection (HRP). The post says: "If you cared for a child or someone with a long-term disability between 1978 and 2010, you could wrongly have National Insurance gaps that reduce your State Pension. 100,000s could be affected, and while the Govt was contacting people, it isn't any longer - as highlighted by former Pensions Minister Steve Webb. Thus the onus is on you to proactively check. The impact can be huge." State Pension error! Did you take time off work (1978 to 2010) to look after children or someone with long term disability? You could be owed £10,000s Full help to check in... In brief: 100,000s wrongly have Nat Insurance gaps that reduce your State… — Martin Lewis (@MartinSLewis) July 23, 2025 What is Home Responsibilities Protection? Home Responsibilities Protection (HRP) was given for full tax years (6 April to 5 April) between 1978 and 2010, if any of the following were true: you were claiming Child Benefit for a child under 16 you were caring for a child with your partner who claimed Child Benefit instead of you you were getting Income Support because you were caring for someone who was sick or disabled you were caring for a sick or disabled person who was claiming certain benefits National Insurance credits for parents and carers replaced HRP from 6 April 2010. Who qualified automatically for HRP? Most people got HRP automatically if they were: getting Child Benefit in their name for a child under the age of 16 and they had given the Child Benefit Office their National Insurance number getting Income Support and they did not need to register for work because they were caring for someone who was sick or disabled If your partner claimed Child Benefit instead of you, you may be able to transfer HRP from a partner you lived with if they claimed Child Benefit while you both cared for a child under 16 and they do not need the HRP. If you reached State Pension age before 6 April 2008, you cannot transfer HRP. If you became a parent before May 2000, you may have Home Responsibilities Protection (HRP) missing from your National Insurance record. This could mean you're missing out on State Pension payments. Check if you can apply for HRP below. ⬇️ — HM Revenue & Customs (@HMRCgovuk) May 19, 2025 HRP for caring for a sick or disabled person If you spent at least 35 hours a week caring for someone with a long-term illness or disability between 6 April 1978 and 5 April 2002, you may also be able to claim. They must have been getting one of the following benefits: Attendance Allowance Disability Living Allowance at the middle or highest rate for personal care Constant Attendance Allowance The benefit must have been paid for 48 weeks of each tax year on or after 6 April 1988 or every week of each tax year before 6 April 1988. If you were getting Carer's Allowance You do not need to apply for HRP if you were getting Carer's Allowance. You'll automatically get National Insurance credits and would not usually have needed HRP, but check - just to be sure. In a post on X, HMRC said: "If you became a parent before May 2000, you may have Home Responsibilities Protection (HRP) missing from your National Insurance record. This could mean you're missing out on State Pension payments." For someone with 13 missing years, who lives for another 20 years, it can be worth as much as £100,000 or more in State Pension payments. Recommended reading: If you were a foster carer or caring for a friend or family member's child You can also apply if, for a full tax year between 2003 and 2010, you were either: a foster carer caring for a friend or family member's child ('kinship carer') in Scotland All of the following must also be true: you were not getting Child Benefit you were not in paid work you did not earn enough in a tax year for it to count towards the State Pension Married women or widows You cannot get HRP for any complete tax year if you were a married woman or a widow and had chosen to pay reduced rate Class 1 National Insurance contributions as an employee (commonly known as the small stamp), or you had chosen not to pay Class 2 National Insurance contributions when self-employed