Perhaps the humblest of kitchen gadgets, the manual can opener is also one of the clunkiest and toughest to use. Using one can slow you down, whether breaking out beans for your five-alarm chili or trying to get your pets’ food in their dishes while they hungrily complain.
The solution is a sleek, efficient electric can opener in the style that suits your needs and budget. Ahead, learn what to look for when shopping for a quality electric can opener, and find out why any one of the following models might be an asset in your kitchen.
- BEST OVERALL: Hamilton Beach Smooth Touch Automatic Can Opener
- RUNNER UP: Cuisinart Deluxe Electric Can Opener
- BEST UPGRADE: Oster Stainless Steel Electric Can Opener
- BEST VALUE: Proctor Silex Power Electric Can Opener
- BEST PUSH-BUTTON: Kitchen Mama No Sharp Edge Electric Can Opener
- MOST VERSATILE: BLACK+DECKER EasyCut Extra-Tall Can Opener
How We Chose the Best Electric Can Openers
The best electric can openers are a hassle-free way to open soup cans, dog food, and even soda cans without the hassle of hand-cranking. Many of the above picks were selected for their safety measures, cut type, design, size, and special features.
With safety being the most important consideration for opening cans, each of these can openers ensures safe operation through one-touch or hands-free control. Many of the above picks also include magnetic lid lifters to safely dispose of sharp-edged lids and automatic shut-offs to avoid unnecessary cutting.
The above selection predominantly incorporates stainless steel cutters for durability and long-term effectiveness. The size of the above picks is also a factor as many are small enough to store in your kitchen or do not take up ample counter space. Finally, some of the electric can openers above come with additional tools like bottle openers, knife sharpeners, and scissors for added convenience.
Our Top Picks
From countertop can openers to models that tuck into a drawer, one of the following picks may be the next handy addition to your kitchen.
Photo: amazon.com
Here’s an electric can opener that handles most cans effectively and safely, and looks good while doing it. The Hamilton Beach electric can opener has a streamlined chrome and black finish that’s attractive enough to leave out on kitchen counters, and its extra-tall design means it can handle even larger cans with ease.
Using it is a breeze: Just position the can underneath the cutting assembly, touch the lever, and the device will take it from there, locking the can in place while the cutting blade does its work. This is a safety can opener, so the blade slices from the side, freeing the entire top of the can without any sharp edges left behind. In the back of the unit is a small compartment where the included scissors can be stowed.
Product Specs
- Type: Side cut
- Design: Upright
- Power Source: Plug-in
Pros
- One-touch operation
- Extra-tall construction; works with larger cans
- Leaves smooth edges
- Comes with scissors
Cons
- Cutting mechanism not removable for cleaning
Photo: amazon.com
The Cuisinart Deluxe has great value for its price. The nonslip base keeps it firmly in place while operating. This upright, top-cut opener comes with a sharp stainless steel cutting wheel that powers through can lids with just a push of a lever.
The Cuisinart opener is dependable and easy to use, featuring a magnetic lid lifter that holds the lid when you remove the open can from the unit. The lever on this opener is removable for easier cleaning.
Product Specs
- Type: Top cut
- Design: Upright
- Power Source: Plug-in
Pros
- Stainless steel cutting wheel
- Non-slip base
- Magnetic lid lifter
Cons
- Less durable plastic housing
Photo: amazon.com
For fast, reliable can opening, check out the upright Oster model. This opener offers hands-free operation—just position the can under the rotating wheel, lower the lever to lock the can in place, and start the cutting process.
The Oster top-cut can opener features an automatic shut-off, so you can multitask while the opener is working. It comes with a magnetic lid lifter that holds the lid in place when you remove the can and a heavy-duty stainless steel handle. Also, there’s a bonus bottle opener integrated on the front of the unit. The cord is retractable so you needn’t worry about tucking a long, unwieldy cord out of sight.
Product Specs
- Type: Top cut
- Design: Upright
- Power Source: Plug-in
Pros
- Hands-free operation
- Magnetic lid holder
- Automatic shut off
- Includes bottle opener
- Retractable cord storage
Cons
- Expensive
- Takes up counter/storage space
Photo: amazon.com
This affordable Proctor Silex can opener is a top-cut model with a stainless steel cutting wheel that slices through can lids with the simple press of a lever. The opener also features automatic shut-off so you can stir a pot or cut out biscuits without worrying about the opener continuing to run after the lid is separated.
This model boasts an integrated knife sharpener on the back side and a detachable cutting assembly that can go in the dishwasher for easy cleaning.
Product Specs
- Type: Top cut
- Design: Upright
- Power Source: Plug-in
Pros
- Budget-friendly option
- Automatic shut-off
- Integrated knife sharpener
- Detachable cutting mechanism; dishwasher safe
- Comes in multiple colorways
Cons
- Limited durability with plastic construction
Photo: amazon.com
The Kitchen Mama handheld can opener cuts away can lids with just the simple push of a button. Simply position the Kitchen Mama on the top of the can, tap the button twice, watch it cut all the way around the can’s side, and then tap again to stop the cutting process.
The Kitchen Mama electric opener is a side-cut opener, so it won’t leave a sharp edge on the lid, which is a plus when there are kid cooks in the kitchen. The opener runs on four AA batteries (not included), and you can stow it out of sight in a kitchen drawer.
Product Specs
- Type: Side cut
- Design: Handheld
- Power Source: AA batteries
Pros
- Easy button operation
- Leaves no sharp edges behind
- Simple to store
- Comes in multiple colorways
Cons
Photo: amazon.com
The BLACK+DECKER EasyCut can opener comes with a knife sharpener and a multi-tool for opening bottle tops on the back of the unit. This top-cut can opener features a one-touch lever for ease of use.
The EasyCut is designed with a concave front and stabilized base to accommodate most household can sizes, and its ample height makes it a good choice for tall cans. The cutting assembly on this opener is also removable for easy cleaning.
Product Specs
- Type: Top cut
- Design: Upright
- Power Source: Plug-in
Pros
- Hands-free operation
- One-touch lever
- Accommodates most can sizes
- Comes with a knife sharpener and multi-tool
Cons
- Cord does not retract
- May take up counter/storage space
Our Verdict
Selected for its easy-to-use lever design and ability to accommodate most cans, the Hamilton Beach Smooth Touch can opener is our first pick. This side-cut opener has the length to handle larger cans with a sleek finish that makes it attractive enough to leave on the counter. If you prefer a top-cut model, the Cuisinart Deluxe can opener is a great alternative with a magnetic lid lifter and lower price tag, but it doesn’t work with larger cans.
Types of Electric Can Openers
The first electric can openers debuted in the 1930s, but they didn’t catch on until improved versions appeared in the ‘60s. Today’s models have come a long way and primarily fit into two main categories: top-cut and side-cut openers.
Top Cut
The most common type of can opener, a top-cut model, features a sharp rotary wheel with a blade that cuts along the inside of the can’s top rim. This style of opener usually includes a magnet to hold the lid in place and keep it from falling into the can once it’s severed. While many cooks rely on this tried-and-true can opener style, it does leave a razor-sharp edge on the lid.
Side Cut
As a safer alternative to the top-cut can opener’s sharp lid, consider a side-cut model. It works by cutting away the lid just under its rim, resulting in a smooth edge that cannot cut your fingers. Unfortunately, side cut can openers don’t work on cans with reinforced rims that are designed to hold plastic lids, such as coffee cans.
What to Consider When Choosing the Best Electric Can Opener
All the best electric can openers are easy to use and won’t take up a lot of countertop space, but several different factors and features may make one type better suited to your kitchen and lifestyle.
Design
- Upright versions plug into a standard household outlet and are usually kept on the countertop, pushed toward the back until needed. If countertop real estate is at a premium, however, you might consider a handheld model. Upright electric can openers are available in both top-cut and side-cut models.
- Handheld models are gaining in popularity because all you need to do is position the small device on the top edge of the can, push a button, and let it work its way around the can. Handheld models are most often battery operated, requiring either AA, AAA, or 9-volt batteries, although you can find an occasional plug-in model. Battery-operated, handheld electric can openers are easy to stow out of sight in a drawer. The downside to these devices is the chance that the battery could die right when you most need to use the opener, so consider keeping backup batteries on hand.
Cutting Mechanism
Top-cut electric openers punch a hole in the top of the can and then cut away the lid with a sharp rotating blade. The can is held in place by the cutting mechanism itself through pressure. This works well for removing most standard can lids, but if a can is extra hefty, the opener may not be able to support its weight while cutting.
The cutting mechanism on a side-cut model works similarly by attaching to the can’s rim and holding it securely while cutting around the side. Handheld models are more likely to feature side-cutting mechanisms, while upright openers are more likely to feature top-cutting mechanisms.
Durability
Electric openers come in various qualities, and parts on the least expensive ones may not be as durable as more expensive models made from higher-quality materials. For example, a stainless steel lever on an upright electric can opener will likely outlast a plastic lever on a similar type of opener. Handheld models have a reputation for not being quite as durable as uprights.
Ease of Use
The handles on some manual can openers can be difficult to hold, and the crank can be a challenge to twist. Electric can openers avoid these issues, making them well-suited for those who have arthritis and find a manual opener difficult.
Many of today’s upright electric can openers come with an automatic shut-off that stops the cutting process when the lid is severed. This is a handy feature for busy cooks because they can stir a pot or take cookies out of the oven rather than monitor the progress of the can opener.
Special Features
Though all of the above features are important to the functionality of a can opener, some also include special additives to make your cooking process easier and efficient.
- Lid lifters are incorporated in some upright can openers. This tool lifts the removed lid from the can after opening so it can be disposed of safely.
- Automatic shut-off stops the cutting process once the can has been opened. Found mostly on top-cut, upright models, this feature ends cutting when complete for safety in homes with young children.
- Additional kitchen tools like handheld can openers, bottle openers, multi-tools, knife sharpeners, and scissors are included on the body of the can opener or in attached compartments.
FAQs
Electric can openers are among the handiest of all kitchen power tools, and once you have one, you may never go back to a manual opener. If this is the first time you’ve shopped for an electric model, you may want some more info, so check out the answers to these common questions.
Q: What is the easiest can opener to use?
Electric can openers are much simpler to use than manual openers because they don’t require wrist agility and hand strength to cut away a can lid.
Q: How long does an electric can opener usually last?
The useful life of an electric can opener depends on the quality of the tool. In general, you can expect a good quality opener to last five years or longer.
Q: Do electric can openers need to be washed?
The cutting assembly on an electric can opener can become gunked up with food residue from the cans’ contents. The cutting assembly is removable for easy cleaning on many openers, but if it isn’t, wipe the assembly clean with a damp rag.
