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This article is for those left-handers who are tired of the struggle to use a right-handed can opener. Many of us have used a right-handed can opener for years. One of the only other options is to use an electronic can opener. They make opening cans easy but noisy, and if you have a dog that doesn’t like the noise, you may get more noise than you bargained for to open a can. In this article, we’ll look at the best handheld or manual can opener explicitly made for left-handers.
What Do You Need or Want in Your Left-Handed Can Opener?
There are certain things you expect your can opener to do well. First of all, you need your can opener to open a can. That’s the primary use of a can opener. However, there are other things that you may want. We’ve gone through them below.
What is the best can opener?
Your new can opener should meet some requirements, must-haves, nice to have, and just for looks. Must-haves are those things you need for a can opener to function and do its job. Those items that are nice to have are just that, they don’t make the can opener run, but they do make the can opener a little more useful. Finally, just for looks is just what it says. Perhaps you want a specific shape or color to go with your kitchen décor.
1. Must-Haves
It must be for Left-Handers. So look for a can opener specifically for left-handers and try to be sure that the can opener works left-handed. Though can openers aren’t like scissors, so there shouldn’t be much trouble.
Able to open a can. There are cheap, weak openers out there. Some can’t even open a can.
Simple to set up and use. You want your opener to be easy to use, and if there is any setup to it, you want that to be simple and no-nonsense.
Durable. A can opener should hold up to daily use. Search for can openers that carry a lifetime one hundred percent money-back guarantee. This guarantee can usually tell you that your purchased can opener is of good quality but can have defects that may require you to return it. Also, this gives you the freedom of mind to try the can opener, and if it doesn’t work for you, you aren’t stuck with something you can’t use.
2. Nice to Have
Sturdy. With a handheld opener, you want comfortable grips and a sturdy build so that you know it will be able to cut a can open. For example, a freestanding electric opener shouldn’t tip over from the weight of the can. It should also hold the can and not let it fall.
Easy Maintenance. A manual can opener should preferably be dishwasher-safe. Your electric can opener should have removable cutting blades and mechanisms.
Rust Resistant. Look for a can opener with stainless steel blades. They won’t rust.
Smooth, Safe Edges. Look for can openers with terms like safety, safe-cut, smooth-edge openers. These openers cut the top of the can with a soft edge so that you don’t take a chance of cutting yourself with a sharp edge.
The cutting wheel does not touch food. The best opener for this is the safety openers because they cut into the side of the lid, eliminating the chance the blade will contact the food in the can. However, if your can has a stainless steel blade, you don’t have to worry about contaminating the food.
3. Aesthetics
You may want your can opener to have some of these items as well.
- They are color-coordinated to other appliances or the color of the kitchen
- Looks nice enough to display on the countertop
- Under the cabinet or wall mounted
- Multifunctional – multiple tools in one.
Types of can openers
Manual can openers
You operate a manual can opener by hand. There are several types of manual can openers.
- The first type had the cutter attached to the handle. You open the can by punching a hole in the lid and moving the blade around the can rim with a slight up and down motion toward you. There was also an old-fashioned type with a long handle that you use by moving the blade away from you.
2. The second type has a knob or handles that moves the cutting wheel along the can rim. They’re also called rotary-style openers.
3. Heavy-duty countertop manual openers. These can opener have to be fastened to a sturdy surface. They’re used in light commercial settings. So, this style probably isn’t for you, unless you do lots of cooking or baking where you need to open cans from seven to eleven inches
Electric can openers
Freestanding electric can opener. These openers are electric and made to sit on your countertop.
Battery operated can opener. These openers are the type that you place onto the can top and turn on. They run around the edge of the can, opening it as they move.
Multifunctional electric can opener. This type of opener is either the one that sits on the countertop or mounted under the cabinets or on the wall but has other uses. For example, many have knife sharpeners, bag cutters, and bottle openers.
There are many types of can openers. For example, electric can openers have no handedness and are great for left-handed people. However, our reviews are for those left-handers that would instead use a manual can opener. So, here we go. The can openers below are the best we found for left-handed people.
Left-Handed Can Opener Reviews
KORIN Japanese Can Opener (Ganji Kankiri)
This opener is similar to the P-38 or P-51 used in the military. There are no moving parts to this model. You use it by puncturing the can and moving the blade away from you with slight up and down movement.
Pros
- Easy to use for lefties or righties
- Compact design
- Nearly indestructible
- Nice price
Cons
- Slight Learning curve
- It doesn’t come with a blade cover
- Requires a little more strength to operate
Nogent Classic Mini Kim Metal Left Handed Tin Can Opener
This opener is another one similar to the P-38 or P-51.
Pros
- Well made from high-quality steel and chrome plated nickel
- No moving parts
- Easy to operate
- Rust-resistant with proper care
- Made in France
- Lifetime Guarantee
Cons
- No Bevel making it harder to open a can
- Learning Curve
- Requires a little more strength to operate
OXO Good Grips Soft-Handled Can Opener
This can opener has a sharp cutting wheel made of stainless steel with large, cushioned handles for comfort. It also comes with a built-in bottle cap opener. This tool needs to be hand-washed only.
Pros
- Large, comfortable handles
- Oversized knob
- Sharp stainless steel cutting wheel
- Built-in bottle opener
Cons
- Hand Wash only
- Suspected Fake in some instances
KitchenAid Classic Multifunction Can Opener
The KitchenAid can opener has a large, easy-to-turn knob that makes opening cans easy. It features a sharp stainless steel cutting wheel with an integrated bottle opener at the top. This durable opener comes with bright, colorful ergonomic handles. These openers should be hand washed with warm water and a mild detergent. Rinse and dry immediately to avoid rusting. They come with a one-year hassle-free replacement and lifetime limited guarantee.
Pros
- Stainless steel blade
- Integrated bottle opener
- Easy turn knob
- Comes in fourteen colors
Cons
- Cheaply made in some cases
- Complaints of rusting easily
Conclusion
There are few can openers made for true left-handers. The four reviewed above are the best ones we found for left-handers, and two are made so anyone can use them. Do you have a lefty can opener you use that works great? Have you found a specific type of manual opener that works better for you than another? We’d love to hear from you. Please leave your comments below.