As we age, simple tasks like opening cans and tins can become challenging, which is why you may want to consider an electric can opener to significantly transform your kitchen experience. These handy kitchen gadgets offer a hassle-free solution to taking the lids off tins and cans as they do the hard work for you with just the touch of a button or two. The convenience they offer means you can prepare your meals with little to no effort without straining your wrists or hands, which is particularly useful if you have limited arm strength or arthritis.
The ingredients that can be found in cans and tins can be considered kitchen staples. They range anywhere from tomatoes for the base of sauces in pasta dishes or curries to the humble baked beans that are great on top of toast or jacket potatoes. Whether you consider yourself a whizz in the kitchen or you see cooking as a necessary experience and not a joyful one, there’s no denying the frustration of trying to get into a tin or can in a hurry when you’re in the middle of a recipe and struggling to get the tin opener to work. That’s where an electric can opener will be a lifesaver as not only will it save time and allow you to open multiple cans quickly with little to zero effort but it will also reduce the physical strain on your arms, wrists and hands that can come with using a manual can opener.
Best electric can opener at a glance:
• Best overall: Kenwood 3-in-1 Electric Can Opener – Buy now on Amazon UK
• Best handheld electric can opener: Kitchen Mama Can Opener – Buy now on Amazon UK
• Best for versatility: Tower Cavaletto 3-in-1 Electric Can Opener – Buy now on Amazon UK
As well as being more convenient for those who struggle with strength in their hands or pain in their joints, electric can opens are also a more safe option. As they offer more consistency in the cut and are designed to leave smooth edges, they help limit jagged edges, reducing the risk of accidentally cutting yourself on the can after it’s been opened.
At Yours, we’re all here for using kitchen appliances, tools and gadgets that make doing things around the house that bit easier. So, whether you’re preparing the ingredients for an evening meal for the whole family or whipping up a quick lunch for yourself, such as soup, an electric can opener will make opening tins and cans a smoother and safer experience. Take a look at our top picks below that will help you open cans and tins quickly using little to no physical effort.
Best electric can opener
Best overall
Kenwood/AmazonOpening tins of all shapes and sizes from small tins to large cans weighing up to 1.2kg, we think the Kenwood 3-in-1 Electric Can Opener deserves to take the top spot as the best electric can opener. With an automatic start-stop feature, it means that the blade will start cutting the can once you’ve pushed down the lever and stops on its own when the lid has been removed so other than the lever push, it offers completely hands-free opening. It’s also designed with an integrated knife sharpener and bottle opener for your convenience.
Reviews online mention that this electric tin opener offers speedy opening, which is great for when you’re in the middle of a recipe, and it’s also easy to clean, thanks to the fact the blades can be removed so you can give them a more targeted scrub. A handful of reviews mention it takes a bit of time to get used to putting the cans in the right position but they soon got the hang of it after a bit of trial and error.
Pros
- Can open cans of different shapes and sizes, weighing up to 1.2kg
- Automatic start-stop feature that knows when the lid has come off and stops cutting
Cons
- May take some trial and error to begin with to find the perfect position for your cans to be in
Best handheld electric can opener
Kitchen Mama/AmazonWith a whopping 52,000 reviews and counting, the Kitchen Mama Can Opener is a favourite with customers on Amazon. It has an ergonomic design that is made for sitting comfortably in the palm of your hand with a big start/stop button so it shouldn't be any extra strain on your hands while using it to open tins and cans.
As a handheld, battery-powered electric can opener, it is easy to store and you don't need to worry about cables getting in the way when opening your tins. However, you will need to remember to get four AA batteries in to be able to use the tin opener, as they're not included, and to regularly check the performance to ensure the batteries don't run out mid-opening. Customer reviews state it is excellent for anyone with arthritis or any weakness in their hands, mentioning it's easy to use and doesn't leave any sharp edges behind.
Pros
- Designed in a way that is nice to hold and shouldn't put any extra strain on your hands while using
- Handheld size makes it easy to store
Cons
- Requires 4 AA batteries to run but they're not included
Best for versatility
Tower/AmazonThe Tower Cavaletto 3-in-1 Electric Can Opener is much more than a tin opener. It's also equipped with a bottle opener and doubles as a knife sharpener so it's a versatile kitchen gadget. When it comes to opening cans, it has a magnetic lid holder so it keeps the lid in place after the can is open to stop it from falling into its contents below until you're ready to dispose of it yourself.
Customers appreciate that it has an attractive design, saying it looks nice on their kitchen counters, and that it has a variety of functionality than just being a can opener. It claims it can hold tins and cans weighing up to 900g but some customers have stated the magnet could be stronger as it sometimes struggles to hold heavier tins correctly.
Pros
- A stylish can opener that will look nice on your kitchen counters
- Also is a bottle opener and knife sharpener so it has multiple uses
Cons
- Some customers stated the magnet could be stronger as it sometimes struggles with holding heavier tins
Best one-touch electric can opener
JML/AmazonWhether the tin you're trying to open is round, square or has a ring pull, the JML Electric Can Opener will make light work of opening it. All it takes is just one push of a button and it'll remove lids from cans and tins so you don't have to worry about putting strain on your hand trying to remove it. It also does so while leaving smooth edges so it eliminates the risk of accidental cuts and scrapes.
Customers praise the results of this can opening, saying it saves them the effort of using a manual tin opener while ensuring the tins are free from jagged edges so they don't need to worry about cutting themselves on it. Opinions of the overall build quality in the reviews are mixed as some customers think it's a bit flimsy whereas others say it looks well made.
Pros
- One-button operation to remove lids without leaving sharp edges behind
- Works on a variety of tin shapes, including round and square
Cons
- Some reviewers felt it was a bit flimsy
Best discreet electric can opener
CulinaireDesigned to fit in the palm of your hand, the Culinaire One Touch Can Opener opens cans with minimal effort, which is ideal for those with limited hand, arm and wrist strength. It may be small but that doesn’t mean it’s not powerful; it can open your cans and tins with just a touch of a button. It cuts cans from 5.2cm and larger around the sides to help reduce the chance of sharp edges.
Reviewers online find that this can opener is very simple to use and they like that it’s a small size so it can neatly fit into your cutlery drawer when not in use. It’s battery operated, requiring two AA batteries, but they’re not included with your purchase, which customers online say is a bit annoying as they’ve then had to go out to source batteries before using rather than just getting stuck in with can opening.
Pros
- Small in size but a powerful motor to cut cans open with just one button push
- Can easily be stored in a kitchen drawer when not in use
Cons
- Requires two AA batteries to work which are not included
Best budget countertop electric can opener
CookworksFrom cans of hearty soups to tins of chopped fruit and so much more, whatever’s on the menu, the Cookworks Can Opener will open them with ease for under £20. It also includes a knife sharpener and bottle opener to offer further value for money. The magnetic lid holder ensures cut-off lids are held safely until you’re ready to dispose of them while the cord storage at the back makes sure the power cable is kept tidy at all times.
Online customers rate this electric can opener for how easy it is to use and its convenience of being able to handle cans and tins of various sizes. A few customers reported issues with the durability of the product but others felt it was good quality for the price. Other reviews also mention it can be quite a noisy device so that’s something to keep in mind if you’re sensitive to sound.
Pros
- Offers good functionality for the price
- Cord storage at that back to keep cables tidy
Cons
- Some reviewers reported it is noisy
Best for hands-free opening
Cooks Professional/AmazonThere will be no fuss or mess involved when using the Cooks Professional Electric Can Opener to get into your tins. It doesn’t matter whether you’re left or right-handed as the only things you’ll need to do to get it to work is get the opener into position and press a button and then it’ll spin around on its own to safely open your tins and cans.
This electric tin opener doesn’t leave sharp edges behind according to customer reviews, so the risk of injuring yourself while opening tins and cans is reduced. Some reviewers have reported that it’s difficult to get the shell off the back to put batteries into so if you are opting to use an electric can opener because of limited strength in your hands/wrists, you may struggle more with getting into the battery compartment.
Pros
- Offers hand-free opening once in position and activated with a button press
- Doesn't leave behind sharp edges according to customer reviews
Cons
- Some reviewers say it's hard to get into the battery compartment
Is an electric or manual can opener better?
FAQs
What to look for in an electric can opener:
When it comes to choosing an electric can opener, there are a couple of things to think about to ensure you’re picking the right one for your needs:
Type of can opener:
First off, think about what type of electric can opener you want. They typically come as either countertop or handheld models, with countertop ones generally being more powerful and more stable so you don’t have to worry about holding it whereas handheld models are more portable and easy to store, which is ideal if you have a smaller kitchen.
Ease of use:
Electric can openers are equipped with features that make opening a can as straightforward and simple as possible. Some models have one-touch operation for ease and convenience and others may have automatic shutoff that makes sure the device stops once the can is fully opened for safety purposes.
You may also want to look for an electric tin opener that has a non-slip base to ensure the device and your can stay in place while it’s being opened to reduce the risk of accidents. Some may also be equipped with a magnetic lid holder to help you lift the lid off the can more safely after it’s been opened.
Build quality and materials:
To ensure longevity, check what material your electric can opener is made from. Stainless steel tends to be the most common as it’s very durable and robust. Opening cans can be a messy business and the contents of your tin may end up on the blades of the opener. For that reason, consider how easy it is to clean too.
Is an electric or manual can opener better?
If you have arthritis or limited hand strength, an electric can opener may be a better option for you due to its ease of use. Many offer the convenience of one-touch operation, so it requires minimal effort to get the tin open, and they also offer a more consistent cut to reduce the risk of hurting yourself on sharp edges. Not to mention, they generally can get your cans and tins open more quickly compared to using a manual one. However, electric can openers tend to be a bit bulkier compared to manual models and if you get a countertop one, you’ll need to make sure you’ve got room in your kitchen to store it. Overall though, we think the benefits of an electric can opener outweigh the smaller negatives of them, especially if you struggle with the more physical task of getting tins and cans open with a manual tin opener.
Is a can opener the same as a tin opener?
Yes, a can opener is the same as a tin opener. Can opener tends to be used more by Americans but in Britain, we use a mixture of both can opener and tin opener but whatever name you use, they serve the exact same purpose.
Rosie Floyd is a Senior Home & Pets Product Writer for Yours, specialising in home appliances, décor and furnishings, as well as all things dogs. After completing her Journalism & Media degree from Coventry University back in 2015, she started her career writing about must-visit holiday destinations, moving on to creating content around outdoor living and garden buildings, before joining the team at Bauer.