How to use a can opener

There is probably not a single adult in the world who has not tried to open cans of preserved food. Whatever some unfortunate craftsmen come up with to make their lives easier. Many people open the lids with a regular table knife, while others use a fork or even a screwdriver for this purpose. Meanwhile, all this torment is useless, because humanity long ago invented an ingenious tool - a can opener. Opening cans is not only convenient for them, but also safe.

There are four types of can openers: manual, mechanical, automatic and electric. The difference between them is colossal, and therefore it is more correct to talk separately about the rules for using each of them.

Manual "opener"

This tool was found in the kitchens of our grandmothers. Even then it was called a “bottle opener”. A manual can opener is a simple design with a metal cutting part and a wooden handle. At the same time, with the help of the metal part, you can open not only cans, but also homemade glass sealers by picking up the metal lid with a special “hook”.

It is unsafe to use a hand-held device. It is important that it is sharp, the metal part does not “walk” and is securely fixed to the handle. In addition, when opening, you need to make an effort, so an adult can cope with this task, but it is not recommended to trust this process to a child.

The jar must be held firmly with one hand. With your second hand, you must first pierce the tin surface (with the cutting end), and then open the can with forward movements in a circle. The fulcrum in this case is the metal ring near the cutting part - they should rest on the edge of the can.

Mechanical can opener

Most often, this is an all-metal device with a handle for rotating the cutting wheels and handles. Opening a jar with this tool will require much less effort. At first glance, a mechanical knife seems to be a rather complicated tool, which is not entirely clear how to use. However, everything is not as difficult as it seems.

The device must be held parallel to the can, that is, its disk must be located exactly under the solder of the lid. You can secure the disc using a special wedge. After this, you need to carefully rotate the handle and move around the can. If everything is done correctly, the cut will be neat.

Important! In stores you can see devices with plastic handles. However, they are unsafe and break down quickly. It is better to buy all-metal can openers, which are considered more reliable.

Automatic can opener

A safe device, the cutting part of which is hidden in a plastic case. It is installed near the lid and the jar is opened using a special switch. The knife has an interesting feature - a special magnetic coating, thanks to which it is securely fixed to a metal surface.

This tool is easy to use; anyone can open canned food with it. However, the cost is confusing - an automatic device is significantly more expensive than a manual or mechanical one.

Electric can opener

Inside such a device there is a small, but real motor. Thanks to it, you can open canned food quickly. There are a lot of electric models today. The classic option is a design in the form of a cutting wheel and holder. Modern devices are “packed” in stylish plastic, which makes them even more convenient to use.

By the way! Electric knives come in portable and tabletop varieties. There are multifunctional tools that open different jars.

To operate, the knife is plugged into a power outlet (if it is not powered by batteries), then fixed to the jar using a special holder. The motor is activated using a switch. When the can is opened, the lock is removed from the lid. The entire procedure takes no more than 30 seconds.

So, opening canned food in metal containers is not difficult. Any can opener will do the job perfectly. Of course, if it is in good working order and sharp enough. Everyone decides for themselves which instrument to choose. It is important to consider not only the design of the device, but also the materials from which it is made.